Age of Absolutism
How did Spain come under the rule
of an absolute monarch?
CHARACTERISTICS OF 17TH
CENTURY ABSOLUTISM
• APPEAL TO “DIVINE RIGHT” TO RULE
• POWER RESTED WITH THE MONARCH
– (NOT THE NOBILITY NOR PARLIAMENT)
• ECONOMY WAS TO SERVE THE STATE
– (MERCANTILISM)
• LARGE STANDING ARMY
• NOBILITY WITH PRIVILEGE BUT LITTLE IF
ANY REAL POLITICAL POWER
• STATE BUREAUCRACIES RUN PRIMARILY
BY MIDDLE CLASS GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS
APPOINTED
Charles V- Holy Roman Empire
• Also known as Charles I of Spain. Ruled both
the Holy Roman Empire and Spain.
• Spent the riches of Spain to finance wars.
• By 1556, he abdicated and divided his empire
between his brother and son. He left Austria
to his brother Ferdinand. He gave Spain and
its territories to his son Philip II.
Philip II
• Philip II (son of Charles • Intensely religious
• Pro catholic; fought
V) ruled Spain from
heretics
1556 to 1598. During
his reign, Spain was the • Believed in the divine
most powerful nation in
right of kings
Europe.
• Philip centralized royal
power in Spain and
governed as an absolute
monarch.