The European State in the Renaissance
The New Monarchies and the Papacy of the Renaissance
Focus Question: Why do historians sometimes refer to the monarchies of the late fifteenth
century as “new monarchies” or “Renaissance states”? How did the nation-states of western
Europe evolve in this period?
Growth of centralized monarchical governments in Western Europe during second half of
15thC
Rulers in central and eastern Europe weak and unable to impose authority
The Growth of the French Monarchy
France devastated after 100 Years’ War
Difficult for king to assert authority
Dead farmland, depopulation, ruined commerce, unruly nobles
War also developed sense of nationalism – advantage to king
Charles VII (r. 1422-1461)
Established first permanent royal army
Levy annual taille – tax on land/property, & gabelle – salt tax
Pulled power away from Estates-General
Pragmatic Sanction of Bourges – gave crown control of appointment of church officials
in France
King Louis XI (r. 1461-1483) the “Spider King”
Wily and devious
Promoted new industries to support French economy
Established commercial treaties with England, Portugal, and Hanseatic League
Defeated independent nobles to bring more land under French authority
Created base for strong French monarchy
Marriage of Louis XII (r. 1498-1515) to Anne of Brittany
Francis I & Pope Leo X – Concordat of Bologna
England: Civil War and a New Monarchy
Also experienced heavy cost of 100 Year’s War
War of the Roses in 1450s - 1485
House of Lancaster (red) vs. House of York (white)
Many aristocratic families involved in war
Henry Tudor, duke of Richmond, defeated Richard III (Yorkish king, r. 1483-1485)
Henry VII (r. 1485-1509)
Reduced internal dissension and established strong monarchical gov’t
Abolished “livery and maintenance” – private armies of aristocrats
Creation of Royal Council
Court of the Star Chamber – no jury, allowed torture to be used to extract confessions
Control irresponsible activity of nobles/dissenters
Used diplomacy to avoid expensive wars
Won favor of middle class by not overburdening them with taxes – created strong
support for monarchy
Created stable and prosperous government in England
The Unification of Spain
Iberian peninsula a series of independent kingdoms after reconquista
Aragon, Castile, Navarre, Portugal, Granada
Marriage of Isabella of Castile (1474-1504) and Ferdinand of Aragon (1479-1516) in 1469 –
Beginning of unification
Dynastic, not political union
Both kingdoms retained separate governments, but I & F worked together to strengthen
royal control of gov’t in each
Reorganized military forces to create stronger royal army – best in Europe by 16thC
Controlled Catholic church in Spain
Promoted strict religious uniformity – create unity and bolster royal power
Large groups of religious minorities – Jews and Muslims
Spain had remained tolerate of them through Middle Ages
Jews had lots of influence in economic and intellectual affairs
14thC – Increased persecution of Jews led to majority of Spanish Jews to convert to
Christianity
Complaints of Jews secretly reverting to Judaism
Inquisition of 1478
Torture, persecution of conversos
Conquest of Muslim Granada – 1492
Expulsion of all Muslims
Expulsion of Jews – 1492
150,000 of 200,000 Jews left Spain
Spain = Catholicism
The Holy Roman Empire: The Success of the Habsburgs
HRE failed to develop a strong monarchical authority
After 1438 fell to Habsburg dynasty
Wealthy landowners in Europe
Success of family due to well-executed policy of dynastic marriages
Maximilian I (r. 1493-1519)
Attempted to centralize the administration by creating new institutions common to the
entire empire
Opposed by German princes – failed attempt
Only real success in marriage alliances
Philip of Burgundy (Max’s son) marriage Joanna, daughter of Ferdinand and Isabella
Produced Charles V – inherited Habsburg, Burgundian, and Spanish territories
Became leading monarch of his time
The Renaissance Papacy
Encompasses line of popes from end of Great Schism to beginnings of the Reformation
Temporal preoccupations overcame spiritual guidance of church
Julius II (r. 1503-1513) – “Warrior Pope”
Pope most involved in war and politics – personally led armies against his enemies
Popes relied on nepotism to promote their families’ interests
Pope Sixtus IV (r. 1471-1484) made five of his nephews cardinals
Pope Alexander VI (r. 1492-1503) known for debauchery and sensuality
First pope to acknowledge children
Encourage his son Cesare Borgia to create a state for himself in Italy
Renaissance popes great patrons of Renaissance culture
Julius II rebuilt St. Peter’s Basilica
Leo X (r. 1513-1521) also a patron of the arts
Son of Lorenzo de’ Medici
Made Rome literary and artistic center of High Renaissance