Absolute Monarchs RULE
because of…
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Development of Absolute
Monarchies when feudalism
collapsed, kings/queens believe
all power rests in their hands
What is feudalism?
a social system that existed in
Europe during the Middle Ages
in which people worked and
fought for nobles who gave them
protection and the use of land in
return
Intense competition for land and
trade lead to many wars,
religious differences sparked civil
wars
17th century (1600s) was a period
of huge upheaval in Europe so
monarchs impose order by
increasing own power
Vs. Huguenots vs. Catholics
b/w 1562 and 1598
Huguenots (French
Protestants) and Catholics
fought 8 religious wars
In Spain, Phillip II defended
Catholicism against Muslims of
Ottoman Empire. His country
was weakened by war and poor
economic choices from colonies.
Nantes- Issued by Henry IV
in 1598 the Edict of Nantes
which promised religious
toleration of Huguenots
(Protestants) in
France.
Everything! LOUIS the XIV (14 )
th
Became king in 1643, cancels Edict of
Nantes
“L’Etat c’est moi!”= “ I am the State”
$$$ = LUXURY for King, not his
people: it was to glorify himself
Nobles have social prestige ONLY –
NO POWER!
Louis XIV: (1643-1715)
The Sun King’s Palace at Versailles
The Hall of
Mirrors
The Queen’s
Bedroom
Louis XIV
Loved to
Spend
Money!!!
The Chapel at
Versailles
The King’s
Bedroom
Religious conflict – The Thirty Years War
Peace of Augsburg 1555: German princes
choose religion within their territories
Protestant and Catholic Princes watched
each other and Calvinists suspiciously
It lasted 30 years…
War began in 1618: Religious,
territorial, & political conflict between
Europe’s ruling families
1648: Peace of Westphalia ends Thirty
Years’ War
German territories are devastated
b/c of 30 Yrs. War:
Trade & agriculture are destroyed,
population loss of 4 million,
economy ruined
Hapsburgs still remained a powerful
European monarchy despite losses
from 30 Yrs. War
Formed a strong Catholic nation in
Austria led by leader,
Maria Theresa
Threat to Austria’s power and
dominance is
Prussia
Divine Right
•Belief God created monarchy
& they act as God’s
representatives on earth
•Answer only to God, not
his/her subjects
Prussia
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1640 - Frederick William inherits throne of Prussia
HUGE army (taxes everyone)  rigid, military society
weakened the power of officials & certain territories
Junkers (landowners) challenge Frederick’s absolutism  he
makes them officers in the army  they get power & prestige
 he gets their support
• FREDERICK II (“The Great”) continued military policies of
dad, but loosened some laws b/c he was an enlightened despot &
believed he should act as a father to his people
• expansionist – wants control of Austrian land w/ many
resources ($ & trade)  invades in War of Austrian Succession
• New alliances are formed – Austria signs treaty w/ France;
Prussia joins Britain & Russia to balance the power
Russia
•1613 – Romanov family rules RUSSIA
•1696 Peter the Great becomes czar (tsar)
•serfs cannot leave land  boyars (landowners) powerful!
•Peter embarks on “Great Embassy” mission to explore parts of Weste
•Europe to learn about industry, education & science
•Wants to compete militarily & commercially westernization
•Centralizes power becomes head of Church & reduces the power of
boyars by giving away their land to lower-class families to ensure loya
from larger groups of the population
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huge army w/assistance from Europeans raises taxes
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opened schools for arts & sciences; starts 1st newspaper
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allowed women to attend public social gatherings
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forces nobles to dress western & cut their beards
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seaport on Baltic Sea for trade & travelSt. Petersburg
AND IN….
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E -Elizabeth dies
(without an heir)
• Elizabeth’s cousin: King James I (1603-1625) is
King (absolute monarch)
• “Kings are justly called gods, for that they exercise a
manner of resemblance of divine power upon Earth”
• Struggles over $ = Gets rid of Parliament
• Raises taxes, wages war
• James (a Calvinist) persecutes Puritan (those who
want to purify the Anglican Church of Catholic
influences)
N - Needing Parliament
• Charles I (son of James I) inherits throne &
rules without Parliament
• Charles needs $$ from Parliament for wars
with Spain & France
• Parliament tries to limit power of Charles
 forces him to sign Petition of Right
• Conflict erupts  begins English Civil War
G - Governing England
• English Civil War 1642 - 1649
• Parliament led by Oliver Cromwell, a
Puritan member of Parliament.
• Royalists led by Charles 1
• Parl. wins and Charles I is tried &
executed
• *1st time King is publicly executed!*
L -Leader (Dictator) Cromwell
• Cromwell becomes military dictator of
England (abolishes monarchy)
• He passes strict laws against “sinful” acts
(closes theatres, outlaws gambling & dancing,
bans books, etc.)
A - A Period of Calm
• When Cromwell died, so did his
government  English people sick of
military rule
• English invited Charles II (older son of Charles I)
(1660-1685) to restore monarchy
• Horrible Histories: Cromwell and Charles 2
• http://vimeo.com/50491299
N -New King, New Conflict
• On Charles’ II death, his brother James II
became king
• He was pro-Catholic, which angered many
• When his young wife produced an heir,
Parliament feared a renewed period of
turmoil and removed king from power
D -Daughter of James II
• Mary (Protestant) is
invited by Parliament
to jointly rule with her
husband, William of
Orange (Pr. Of Neth)
• Both agreed to follow
Parliamentary laws
and accepted English
Bill of Rights
• England became the
only limited monarchy
in Europe
James II and the Glorious
Revolution
• 1685- Charles died and James II became
king- he was a Catholic king and he moved
against the English protestants
• Glorious revolution- bloodless overthrow of
James in 1688 when James’s protestant
daughter and husband, William of Orange
in the Netherlands
Political Changes
• Constitutional monarchy- laws limit the power of
the ruler
• Bill of rights, which the U.S. uses to create its own
Bill of Rights later
– Habeas corpus- can’t imprison anyone without a trial
• Cabinet system- cabinet was the link between the
monarchy and parliament
• Leader of the cabinet is the leader of the majority
party in parliament and also prime minister
• After 1688 there was no British monarch and king
was unable to rule without consent of parliament