Absolutism

Rise of Absolute Monarchs

MedievalAbsolute Monarcho Medieval: Weak kings, little power over

feudal lords, ruled only lands belonging to family

o Kings begin to assert power over the nobles (Sp, Rus, Prus, Eng, Fr, Aus)• By 17th C. king had become an absolute

monarch

Strengthening of Powero Crusades killed many lordso Rising middle class supported monarch for

protection of property and tradeo Gunpowder: monarch had a powerful

weapon against feudal lordso Reformation: monarch got power from

Churcho Awakening nationalism

Divine Right of Kingso Theory justified absolute power

• King ruled by God’s authority• Obedience to king was obedience to God• King could do no wrong

Sun Gate a Versailles

England 1066 William the Conqueror takes

Englando Strengthens power of king

• Domesday book for collection of taxed

• Made all feudal lords swear direct allegiance to him

Hundred Years’ War (1337-1453)o England claimed the French Throneo Spurred nationalism (proud of

victories, Loss of French territory made them focus on English land)

War of the Roses (1455-1485)o Civil War over claims to the Throne;

Henry VII (Tudor) crowned kingo Made the king powerful by:

• Killing many nobles, thus removing rivals for power and increasing wealth as king claimed dead nobles’ property

• Middle class supported king because of suffering during war

• Tudors were capable rulers

House of York: white RoseHouse of Lancaster: Red Rose

Tudors Henry VII (1485-1509)

o Re-established monarchy's authority over nobles, furthered trade and prosperity

Henry VIII (1507-1547)o Began the Anglican Church (Church of

England) Elizabeth I (1558-1603)

o Protestanto Defeated Spain, thus making England a

world power Summary

o Tudors expanded government authority, dominated Parliament

o Economic prosperity, England a world power

o Nationalism, immense popularity After Elizabeth dies, her cousin

James I (Stuart) becomes kingo Stuarts are unpopular and English

people rebel

France 8th-10th C. Charlemagne and his

descendants rule Capetian Rule (10th-14th C)

o Hugh Capet becomes king in 987, controlled only area around Paris

o Struggled to weaken feudal lords, seized Normandy from England (feudal lord), Forced Church into “Bablylonian Captivity”

Hundred Years’ Waro Spurred nationalismo Lords died, strengthening

monarch’s power along with wealth from seized British lands

In the 15th C. French Kings consolidated power (Louis XI)

More France Religious Wars

o Civil Wars in France ended when Catholic Henry IV (Henry Navarre) takes throne• For 200 years the Bourbons (Henry’s line)

would rule France

Cardinal Richelieu, minister to King Louis XIII, Guides France (1624-1642)o Attained supremacy for king

• Destroyed nobles’ castles, transferred local power from nobles to government officials

o World power for France• Richelieu led France in 30 Years’ War in

support of Protestants• Defeated Hapsburg rivals (ruled Austria

and Spain)

Louis XIV Height of Absolutism

o Ruled by Divine Right, the Sun Kingo “L’état c’est moi”o Build palace of Versailles, extravagant

courto Never convened the Estates-General

Economicso Finance minister: Jean Baptiste Colbert

• Better farming methods• Roads and canals• Protective tariffs• Established colonies

o Louis revoked Edict of Nantes• Thousands of Protestants fled France (hurt

economy)

Louis tried to expand France’s borders, to limited success

After Louis’ death, French are tired of wars, taxes, absolutismo Louis XVI will be overthrown by the

French Revolution

Spain Unification of Spain (11th-15th C.)

o Christians and Muslims in Spain warring, Christian rule expands

Ferdinand and Isabellao 1469 Ferdinand and Isabella married, unifying

Christian Spain• 1492 conquered Grenada, last Moorish stronghold

o Increased power by:• Weakening nobility by destroying castles• Weakened church by gaining right to appoint Church

officials• Enacted laws without approval of Spanish legislature

(Cortes)o Reconquista

• Persecuted and eventually drove Muslims and Jews from Spain • Lost merchants and skilled workers

o Foreign Affairs• Financed Columbus• Political marriages for their 3 daughters

• Joanna married Phillip of Hapsburg Charles V

Ferdinand and

Isabella

Fear the Ruff!!

HRE Charles V Charles V = Hapsburg:

Controlled Spain, Netherlands, Sicily, southern Italy, Austriao 1520, becomes the Holy Roman

Emperor Fought French, Turks, Protestant

Germans 1556 Renounces the throne and

joins a monasteryo Brother Ferdinand becomes ruler of

Austria and HREo Son becomes Phillip II of Spain

Reign of Phillip IIo Unable to suppress Dutch revolto Could not stop English raids on

ships in Caribbeano Armada defeated by Elizabeth Io Inefficient government, crushing

taxes, and stagnant economy led to Spain’s decline as a world power

Russia Brief History

o Settled by Norse and Slavs in 8th and 9th C.

o 10th C. Converted to Eastern Orthodox by Byzantine

o 13th C. Conquered by Mongols – 200 years

Ivan the Great (1462-1505)o Grand Duke of Moscow, overthrew

Mongolso Gained power by: extending land

and limiting power of nobleso Grandson: Ivan the Terrible, used

cruelty to extend power, first to be called Czar• Ivan died, civil wars fought for throne• 1630 Michal Romanov seized throne,

Romanovs would rule for 300 years

Ivan the Great

Ivan the Terrible(He’s

watching you!!)

More Russia Peter the Great (1682-1725)

o Strengthened position by• Creating strong, loyal army• Crushing revolts of nobles• Royal governors to replace local officials• Extended control over Church

o Westernization of Russia• Admired Western culture; introduced ideas of

science, education, military, industry• Ordered males to shave and don western

garments• Little impression on majority of populace

o Sought a warm water seaport, fought Sweden and gained new seaport and capital, St. Petersburg

Catherine the Great (1762-1796)o German wife of czar, deposed himo Fought the Turks

• Gained northern coast of Black Sea, right to sail through Dardanelles to Med. Sea

o Joined with Austria and Prussia to eliminate Poland (divided it into 3)

o Made Russia into a major power

Prussia (yes, it’s really a country)

Hohenzollern Rule (15th-18th C.)o Family of German nobles acquired

Prussia and established • Autocratic Government• Well-trained army• Expanded territory by marriage, war,

and diplomacyo 500 years Hohenzollerns ruled Prussia

• 1871 Prussia unified German states, Hohenzollern king became king of Germany

o Frederick the Great (1740-1786)• Military genius, aggressive foreign

policy• 1740 seized province of Silesia from

Austria; eventually evolved into the Seven Years’ War (1756-1763) (Aus, Ger, Fr, Vs. Pr, Eng)

• Shared in Partition of Poland• Made Prussia an 18th C. European power

Prussia and Hohenzollern land in

Germany

Austria Hapsburgs Acquired Austria in the 13th C.

o Ruled Austria for 600 years Hapsburg Rule

o Failures: • Lost Switzerland in the late 15th C• 16th C. failed to stop Protestantism in Germany• 17th C. failed to defeat France in 30 Years’ War

o Achievements• Greatly expanded domain through marriages and alliances• Ended Turkish Siege of Vienna in 17th C. and drove Muslims

from Central Europe• 18th C. ruled a vast Austrian empire

Rulerso Maria Theresa (1740-1780)

• Most European rulers wanted to forbid her rule, she endured• Lost Silesia to Prussia, but gained part of Poland• Governed efficiently and promoted Prosperity

o Joseph II (1780-1790)• Subjected Catholic Church to state control and seized church

lands• Weakened nobles by taxing them and cancelled many

obligations of their serfs• Abolished local self-government

Summary Achievements

o Unified countries and provided strong central Governments Weaknesses

o Nation depended on ability of one person, often sacrificed nation for own interest

o Countless warso Disregarded needs of common people

Absolutism Attackedo 18th C. philosophers in the Enlightenment

Enlightened Despotso Some rulers tried to justify absolutism “Enlightened Despots”

Catherine the Great, Frederick the Great, Joseph IIo Failed because: did not remove class distinctions, autocracy, unfair

taxes, warso Could not ensure good government by their successors