Absolute Monarchs in Europe

Chapter 21

What is Absolutism?

• Political belief that one ruler should have total (ABOLUTELY ALL) power– Despot-Ruler with total power– Absolute Monarch-King or Queen with total

power

What is Absolutism?

• Based on the Divine Right of Kings– God created the monarchy– Monarch is God’s representative on Earth– Monarch answers only to God.

Not to His/Her subjects

Louis XIV• Frances most powerful

ruler – Sun King– “I am the State”– Built Palaces at Versailles

to show his power and make other monarchs jealous

Causes of Absolutism• Long-term causes

– Decline of Feudalism– Rise of cities and

middle class– Rise of nationalism– Loss of Church

authority

Causes of Absolutism

• Short-Term Causes– Religious/territorial conflicts– Build-up of armies– Increasing taxes– Revolts by peasants or nobles

Religious Wars

• Conflict between Catholics & Protestants (Huguenots) led to EIGHT civil wars in France form 1562 - 1598

Religious Wars

• Thirty Years War in Germany

(1618 – 1648)

Key royal house

= Hapsburg

Religious Wars

• Thirty Years War in Germany

(1618 – 1648)

– Started when Bohemian Protestants revolted against the Catholic Hapsburg rulers

– Conflict over religion, territory & power of ruling families involved almost all major Euro. powers

Religious Wars

• Thirty Years War in Germany

(1618 – 1648)

Effects: – Devastated Germany’s Economy– Weakened Spain and Austria– Strengthened France– START OF MODERN STATE SYSTEM IN

EUROPE.

Some Absolute Monarchs

• Maria Theresa– Austria– Only inherited the

throne after other European powers agreed to recognize her as heir

Some Absolute Monarchs• Frederick the

Great– Prussia

– Believed that a ruler should be like a father to his people

Some Absolute Monarchs

• Philip II– Spain

– Defended Catholicism & helped stimulate art and literature

Some Absolute Monarchs• Ivan the Terrible

– Russia

– Took Power from the Boyars (nobles) after accusing them of poisoning his wife

There were Alternatives

• United provinces of the Netherlands– Religious tolerance– Elected governors

depended on landowners & merchants for power

There were Alternatives

• England– Parliament struggled with absolute rulers over

money, religion and individual rights

There were Alternatives• England

– Conflict eventually led to the English Civil War between Puritans and Royalists

(Parliament) (the King)

There were Alternatives• England

– English Civil War• After the Puritans won

Their leader, Oliver Cromwell

became a military dictator

There were Alternatives

• England

–English Civil War• The Monarchy was restored after his death…but it WAS NOT absolute

There were Alternatives

• England

– Glorious Revolution• William & Mary

came to power• They agreed to a

Constitutional Monarchy, where laws limit the rulers power

Effects of Absolutism

• Short term effects– Rules about social gatherings & religion

controlled the spread of ideas– Huge building projects– New government bureaucracies– Loss of power for nobility & legislatures

(Parliament)

Effects of Absolutism

• Long term Effects– French Revolution– Western European influences on Russia– English political reforms influence U.S.

Democracy

• French Spanish

• British German