Monarchs of Europe
I.
FRANCE
• Henry IV
– Ushered in the “House of Bourbons”
– Issued the Edict of Nantes
• Protected freedom of religion
– Could not solve tax problem
– Murdered in 1610
• Cardinal Richelieu
– Chief minister under Louis XIII
– Worked to reduce strength of nobles and to
reform the economy
• The Thirty Years’ War
– Protestant rebellion against Holy Roman
Empire
– Ended with Treaty of Westphalia in 1648
• Gave independence to Netherlands, Germany, and
Switzerland
• Overall it weakened the Holy Roman Empire
The Sun King
• Louis XIV became king of France
– 72 years reign
– Ruled during French Exploration of New
World
– Believed in divine right of king
• Said, “I am the state”
• Versailles
– Expense of palace strained the French economy
• Domestic and economic policies
– Absolute power for king
– Reformed tax system
– Leading naval power
• Louis XIV’s legacy
– France became a leading European power
• Caused destruction
• Loss of life and resources
• Loss of territory
II. RUSSIA
• Isolation
– Asian influence (Mongols)
– Religious differences
• Eastern Orthodox vs. Roman Catholic or
Protestantism
– Geographically separated from Europe
– Michael Romanov united Russia
Peter the Great
• Westernizing Russia
– Improved training and weaponry
– Western architecture
– Modernization in society
Catherine the Great
• Catherine’s policies
– Domestic policies were meaningless or harmful to most
Russians
– Foreign policies won new territory and extended the
Russian empire
• Poland
– Russia split Poland with Prussia and Austria
• Expansion eastward
– Siberia and Alaska
III. CENTRAL EUROPE
• Habsburgs
– Maria Theresa
• Pragmatic Sanction allowed her to inherit all
Habsburg lands
• Frederick William I
– Sought to make Prussia a great power
– Efficient system of government
• Moved away from French influence
• Cut lavish spending
• Frederick the Great
– Highly intelligent
– Expanded territory and prestige
Conflict Between Prussia and Austria
• The Diplomatic Revolution
– Reversal of alliances resulted in France and Austria
opposing Prussia and Great Britain
• The Seven Years’ War – 1756 to 1763
– Began in North America as the French and Indian War
• The years of peace
– European powers reluctant to fight again
– Rebuilt and strengthened kingdoms at home
IV. ENGLAND
• House of Tudor
– Henry VII was the first Tudor to rule
– Henry VIII followed and established a new
religion
• Anglican Church
– Married 6 times, had 3 children
• Edward VI
– Youngest of Henry’s offspring, but only male
heir
– Took power at age of 9
– Though young, was responsible for many
reforms in the Anglican Church
– Chronic health problems, fell ill & died at 15
– Named his Protestant cousin, Jane Grey, as his
successor
• Mary I
– Eldest of Henry VIII’s children
– Daughter of Catherine of Aragon, Henry’s 1st
wife
• Spanish princess, devout Catholic
– Had Jane Grey beheaded & claimed power
– Mary I married Philip II of Spain
– Persecuted Protestant clergy
– Failed because persecutions were too extreme
– “Bloody Mary”
Elizabeth I
• Elizabeth and Mary Queen of Scots
– Mary plotted to kill Elizabeth
• Catholics again attempting to end Anglican rule
– Elizabeth had Mary beheaded
• The Spanish Armada
– English ships defeated “Invincible Armada”
– English had smaller faster ships
• Religious problems
– Puritans wanted to rid church of all Catholic practices
– Tudors persecuted non-Anglicans
• Relations with Parliament
– Parliament challenged royal power
– Elizabeth managed them skillfully
English Parliament (congress)
• House of Lords
– Made up of nobles and
clergy
– Born into position
• House of Commons
– Made up of gentry and
burgesses
– Gentry were
landowners with no
formal titles
– Burgesses were
merchants and
professional people
James I
• Son of Mary Queen of Scots
(Stuart Family)
– Ruled England and Scotland
• Strong supporter of Anglican
Church
• King James Version of Bible
• Lacked economic and
diplomatic skill
• Believed in divine right of
kings, did not like sharing
power with Parliament