Age of Absolutism
The Domestic Policies of the Sun
King--- Louis XIV
After the 30 years War…..




Treaty of Westphalia- independent
Northern Netherlands
Goals of Cardinal Richelieu- expand
French land at Hapsburg expense
Treaty of the Pyrenees- end rivalry with
Spain
Little Louis XIII- regent Marie D-Medici
with Richelieu to Mazarin
Goals of Richelieu/Mazarin




Manifest Destiny
Restore France to one religion
Control economy
Increase power of the king by reducing
power of the nobility
The Fronde!!!





Nobility to fight back one more time!!
Take over ParisInvade the Tuilleries
Frighten little Louis XIV
Mazarin puts revolt down but fate of
nobility is sealed!!
Louis XIV takes control…






Intendents- royal officers report directly
to king
Spies to ferret out conspiracy of nobility
Creates a national army- Louisvois
Builds Versailles- control court life
Yearly payment to favored nobility
Parlements- regional courts/councils
Colbert controls economy..







Mercantilism
growth of French academies/arts
Encouraged farming
improved infrastructure
Ends stealing by gov officials
Tariffs on foreign goods
Enlarged navy- improved trade
Grandeur of The Sun King




Domestication of nobility
Life revolves around him- keep the
nobility busy!!!
L’estat c’est moi!!!!
Louis meets his goals domestically
Dark Side of Louis -- His wars!






“You’re so Vain!!!” and ambitious!
Extravagant
Money for favorites
Building of and Court life at Versailles
Tax burden only on “3rd Estate”
Can you spell “economic crisis” in the
future???
1667- Invades Spanish
Netherlands





Owned by Hapsburgs
Invents “claims “ to border lands
claiming it belonged to his Spanish wife!
French troops capture border towns +
Franche-Compte
Holland has Eng and Sweden join in
Triple Alliance against France.
Forced to make peace. Fr keeps some
border towns. Gives back some F- C.
1672– It’s Holland’s Turn!!




Envies Holland trade. Breaks up Triple
alliance by bribing Charles II-Eng.
Invades Northern Netherlands
William of Orange opens levees/stops
French advance!
War ends with compromise– Louis
leaves North Netherlands in exchange
for Franche-Compte
1689-97- I want PALATINATE!



Wants this rich HRE territoryAlliance forms against France with
North Netherland AND the new English
King– William of Orange!!!
After 8 years of indecisive battles, Louis
agrees to make peace.
THE WAR OF SPANISH
SUCCESSION!!! (the big one!)




King of Spain leaves no heir.
Louis’ grandson, Phillip, in line along
with son of HRE Leopold (both had
married Spanish sisters)
King of Spain dies leaving throne to
little Phillip
Louis accepts for Little Phillip– War
begins!!
New Alliance against Louis






Eng, Netherlands and Austria
Duke Of Marlborough for Eng
Eugene of Savoy for Austria
Queen Anne’s War in colonies- fighting
between France and England
All battles go against France– both land
and sea.
Louis forced to make Peace!!
English Absolutism 1603-1688







James I ( son of Mary Queen of Scots)
Charles I ( chop chop)
English Civil War
Interregnum
Charles II
James II
Mary and William ( she’s the Stuart- she
gets top billing in my book!!!)
James I (also James VI of Scotland)




1603-1625
Poor working relationship with
Parliament
Search for Catholic wife for son Charles
Did not like “Dissenters” in Parliament
Parliament’s reply to James I




Help protestants in 30 years war
Enforce anti-Catholic laws
Reduce spending
Urged son Charles to take protestant
wife
“Great Protestation”



when James decrees Parliament has no
influence in these areas, Parliament
issues “Great Protestation”
Document outlined Parliaments
jurisdictions
James tears up document dismisses
Parliament for remainder of his rule
Charles I 1625-1649






Same attitude toward Parliament but….
Needed money for wars so….
Called Parliament (still sore from James
I) and they say no money
Charles begins creative methods of
collecting revenue
“LOANS” from wealthy middle class
Additional tariffs on imported goods
Petition of Right 1628






Parliament defines King’s power
Major document in constitutional
process
Charles signs it …then ignors it
“Shake down continues”
Dismissed Parliament 1629
Rules 11 years without Parliament
Sidebar on Charles +religion





Married French Catholic
William Laud, Arch. Of Canterburyautocratic
Prosecute clergy who didn’t use “Little
Edward’s Prayer Book”
Court of High Commission-( English inquisition?)
Hatred for Church of England grew
1600- Protestant sects in England




Presbyterians(largest),Puritans, Baptists,
Quakers
Many migrated from persecution in
France + HRE
often called dissenters
Separatists- had no association with
other sects but wanted religious
freedom
Charles I against Scotland



Charles tried forcing adherence of
Presbyterians in Scotland to Anglican
Church.
Scots rebelled
Charles wanted an army to put Scottish
rebellion down but needed money from
Parliament to do so.
OH NO Charles calls Parliament!!



Needs money for war against Scotland
Charles calls Parliament in 1640 and
begins a series of events that will lead
to Civil War.
Called “Long Parliament” meets for 13
years
Parliament never forgets…..





The “Long Parliament” begins where the
“Petition of Right” left off.—
They called to account Charles’ officials and
charged them with treason.
Parliament also passed laws so they could not
be dissolved.
had to meet every 3 years even if the King
did not call them
abolished the “Court of High Commission”
Parliament never forgets…(continued)




Forbade Charles to collect illegal taxes
Put an end to Charles despotic rule
Drew up the “Grand Remonstrance”
which stated the Kings offenses and
proposed reforms.
THIS LEADS TO “CIVIL WAR”!!!
English Civil War (1642- 1660 )



Both sides begin to gather troops
Cavaliers- support Charles
Roundheads- Support Parliament
The Opponents
Roundheads mean business



Puritans in Parliament outlaw Anglican
Church (1642).
Roundheads find a leader in Oliver
Cromwell. Charles gets support from
Ireland and Northern England.
War goes against Charles from the
beginning
Charles is
captured !!!
Charles is
surrounded.
expecting good
treatment—Charles
surrenders to the
Scottish army who
immediately turn
him over to
Cromwell and
Parliament
Charles was
imprisoned for 2
years.
Death sentence for Charles I


In 1648, The Puritans kept all known
royalty sympathizers out of Parliament—
they then voted to condemn Charles on
charges of treason.
On Jan 30, 1649, Charles was beheaded
in front of his palace in London
(A
small group of extremists put Charles to
death)
English Commonwealth under
Oliver Cromwell 1649-1660



Also known as Interregnum
May 19, 1649- “Rump Parliament” declares
England a commonwealth ( a republic without
a King or House of Lords)
Oliver Cromwell was the real ruler with a
50,000 man army. Common people still felt
Charles I was the rightful ruler albeit a “bad
ruler”.
Cromwell- trouble on all sides- particularly
Ireland and Scotland


Ireland- supports Charles II as kingCromwell takes army and crushes them
Irish Catholics still have not forgotten or
forgiven(roots of current “troubles”)
Scotland- Charles II returns to Scotland
from England- Cromwell totally
annihilates Scottish army—“Chuck” II
returns to France
More trouble for Cromwell

1651- Navigation Act- forbade bringing
goods to England except in English
vessels (leaves out Dutch trade!! Oh no
not supporting fellow Protestants—Oh
that’s right—they’re not the Dissenters
type of Protestant!!!)SOOOOO--- 1654
brief war with Dutch over trade!!
“Rump” Parliament becomes
unpopular by 1653




despite all their piety--Took bribes
Practiced extreme nepotism—(not to be
confused with extreme sports)
Held office for 13 years
Rump Parliament must GO…


April 1643- Cromwell dismisses Rump
Parliament and chooses his own
Parliament
Using same technique to kill Charles I—
Cromwell’s more radical members arrive
early to Parliament—exclude the more
moderate members and vote Cromwell
“Lord Protector”!!! Then dismiss
themselves!!
Cromwell then rules as dictator until
his death in 1658



Used strong army to keep peace
Created good foreign relations
But could not establish secure
government due to much opposition—
royalists, Anglicans, proponents of true
republicanism
Confusion!! 1658-1660


Cromwell’s son takes over after father’s
death/what does this sound like??
Most people began to look to the return
to “legitimate” Monarchy
New Parliament 1660




Charles II contacts them from France—
willing to return and promised to :
Pardon all who took part in rebellion
Permit confiscated lands to remain with
current owner
Consent to bill granting religious
tolerance
RESTORATION OF STUART
RULE


the “puritan revolution” is over!!!
Charles II never defies Parliament-swore to uphold Great Charter(Magna
Carta), Petition of Right
Parliament—made up of mostly Cavaliers—( and
mostly as reaction to Puritan Revolution



Re-establish the Anglican Church
Pass a number of intolerant acts—
aimed at Dissenters and ensuring the
Anglican Church
Attempted to keep Presbyterians and
Independents from holding political
office
Parliament passes:


1662- Act of Uniformity- required use of
Edward’s Prayer book or clergy/teacher
loses job
1672 Parliament passes “Test Act”denies all but Anglican from holding
political office( this will survive into the
19th century!!)
Charles issues:

“Declaration of Indulgence” to suspend
enforcement of laws against Catholics
and Dissenter.(Charles favored
tolerance- tried to block all legislation
prohibiting worship outside the Anglican
Church) Parliament protested his
interference—Charles II withdrew
“Declaration”
Charles’ war and death


Charles II has second war with
Netherlands over trade- no decisive
victory but England gets control of New
York!!!
Charles II succeeded by brother James
II (Charles makes a death bed
confession that he is a true Catholic!!!!)
James II




has short memory—acts much like Charles I
(chop-chop)
J is ardent and openly Catholic
English people tolerate James II as long as they
felt he would be succeeded by his Protestant
daughter Mary who was married to protestant
William of Orange from Netherlands. BUT--James marries a second time –a Catholic and
has SON!!! Who now is in succession to the
throne!!!
GLORIOUS REVOUTION OF 1688


Parliament sent for William and Mary—asked
them to accept throne of England
No bloodshed—(OK maybe someone broke a
fingernail….) James II flees England as
nobility march through London – pledging
support to Mary and William. Parliament
declares the throne vacant because James II
had not lived up to Magna Carta—( see
Locke’s theory on Social Contract in this???)
William and Mary
Parliament Passes “Bill Of Rights”
in 1689






Defines rights of people
Limits power of the monarchy
King may not suspend laws of realm
Can not free subjects from obeying law
May not levy taxes or maintain army
without consent of Parliament
May not interfere in elections, free
speech proceedings of Parliament
What were the Goals of the
Glorious Revolution?



Parliament Passes “Toleration Act”
1689- freeing dissenters from penalties
by failing to attend Anglican Church
services.
Dissenters were recognized but still
could not hold public office.
King “owed” the crown—not divine right
as justification to rule but will of
Parliament!!
Settles Succession Question:

“Act of Settlement” 1701 – provided
that heir to English throne was
protestant—if no protestant heir in
reigning family then goes to nearest
protestant relative. (after the death of
Anne- Mary’s younger sister—throne
will go to German House of Hanover)
ABSOLUTISM- OUT!
CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHY - IN!!





Glorious Revolution ended the struggle
between King and Parliament.
Taxes: instead of lifelong guarantee for
king; now year by year
Funds for army voted annually
King no longer controls army
King could not accumulate wealth at
expense of citizens
Absolutism Epilogue


William III outlives Mary by 8 years—
throne goes to Mary’s sister Anne(17021714)
1707- union of Scotland and Englandone parliament/one flag--- the Union
Jack– Finally!
Absolutism Epilogue


1714-none of Anne’s 14 children survive
her—Act of Settlement invoked
Son of James I’s granddaughter Sophia
who was married to Elector of Hanover
is new king- George I—German and
member of HRE
Positive Consequence of
English Civil War

Birth of political Parties in England

Cavaliers to Tories to Conservative

Roundheads to Whigs to Labour