…or as Mel Brooks said, “It’s good to be the King.”

Absolute monarch – has total control over all aspects of
life within their kingdom

Divine right – belief that their power comes from God,
because God “chose” them to be the king through birth

What allows “absolute monarchs” to gain power?
 decline of feudalism – no more nobles to fight with for power
 growth of cities – lots of people in one place are easier to
control
 growth of middle class – merchant class liked kings because
they kept the peace and wouldn’t disrupt trade




King of a Protestant nation, but has a Catholic
wife and alliances with Catholic countries
Country is losing money as a result of numerous
wars
Parliament refuses to give Charles more money
unless he gives up some of his power
ENGLISH CIVIL WAR (1642)


Chased out of the country by Cromwell
After Cromwell’s death, Charles II is asked to return
and be king (after they just fought a war to get rid of
a king!!!)
 The “Restoration”


Forced to support Anglicanism (doesn’t really care)
Known as the “merry monarch” 
lots of parties and
no “legitimate” children


Charles II was secretly Catholic…James II is OPENLY
Catholic…how’s that work in England?
The English people and Parliament are distrustful of
a Catholic monarch in England demand that he
resign as king.
 James has a daughter named Mary
 Mary has a husband named William, who is King of the
Netherlands (the Dutch)
 Parliament asks William and Mary to invade England and
take the throne.
 Lead the “Glorious Revolution” to
overthrow James II (her dad!!!)
 Ensure that England remains Protestant
(Anglican)
 Sign the English Bill of Rights
 Founded the College of William
and Mary in 1693!!

Louis XIII & Cardinal Richelieu (1610 – 1643)
 Louis XIII is a weak king who relies on Richelieu for
advice
 France is divided between Catholics and Huguenots
(French Protestants)
 Richelieu makes the decision to attack the Huguenots in
order to protect the Catholic monarchy
 France gets involved in 30 Years War to weaken the
Hapsburgs’ power and make France stronger

Spain starts the 30 Years War against Protestants in
Germany
 Close Protestant churches and send in the army

1st half of war (12 years) goes well for Spain
 Hapsburgs win victory after victory
 Allow army to pillage conquered towns instead of paying
them

2nd half of war (18 years) goes really badly for Spain
 German Protestants form alliance with France (Catholic) and
defeat Hapsburgs

Peace of Westphalia
 Ends 30 years war
 Weakens all parts of Hapsburg empire (Spain &
Austria)
 Weakens Germany because of severe loss of life
(about 4 million people died)
 France becomes most powerful country in Europe
 Is the last major religious conflict in Europe
Louis XIV (1643 – 1715)
 King at age of 5, officially takes power at 23
 victory in 30 Years War makes France the most
powerful country, and makes Louis the most
powerful monarch
 builds Palace of Versailles to
emphasize his importance
 famously says “L’état c’est moi!” 
“I am the state!”
Frederick II – “Frederick the Great” (1712 – 1786)
 said that “a ruler should be like a father to his
people”
 His own father tried to “toughen him up” by making
him watch the execution of his best friend
 Was very interested in military conquest
 Builds the strongest army in Europe

encouraged religious toleration (between Catholics
and Protestants)
Seven Years War (1756 – 1763)
 Maria Theresa makes an alliance with France in an
attempt to weaken Prussia
 Frederic forms an alliance with Britain
 Frederic invades a small ally of Austria
 A “world war” begins between these powerful countries
which is fought in Europe, India and North America
 Started by the “French and Indian War” in the USA


Outcome: British get control of French colonies in India
and N. America
Outcome: 1.4 million dead across Europe

How was Russia different from Western Europe?:
 serfdom lasts much longer  until the 1800’s
 Little contact with outside world because of conquest and
climate
 religious differences  Russians were Eastern Orthodox
Christians and viewed European Catholics and
Protestants as heretics who didn’t follow the true word of
God

Peter the Great (1672 – 1725)
 “the Grand Embassy” – a long visit to Western European
nations to see how they did things differently
 “westernization” – goal to modernize Russia using
Western Europe as a model





reduces power of nobles (Boyars)
hires Europeans to train the army
introduces potatoes  increases population
starts a newspaper  increases literacy rate
gives women rights  takes away the whip
 by the time of his death, Russia had become a major
power in the Eastern Hemisphere