Absolute Monarchs in Absolute Monarchs in Europe, 1500-1800Europe, 1500-1800

Spain’s Empire and Spain’s Empire and European AbsolutismEuropean Absolutism

France’s Ultimate MonarchFrance’s Ultimate Monarch Russian Czars Increase Russian Czars Increase PowerPower

Characteristics of the Characteristics of the New MonarchiesNew Monarchies

They offered the institution of monarchy as a They offered the institution of monarchy as a guarantee of law and order.guarantee of law and order.

They proclaimed that hereditary monarchy was the They proclaimed that hereditary monarchy was the legitimate form of public power legitimate form of public power all should accept all should accept this without resistance.this without resistance.

They enlisted the support of the middle class in the They enlisted the support of the middle class in the towns towns tired of the local power of feudal nobles. tired of the local power of feudal nobles.

They would have to get their monarchies sufficiently They would have to get their monarchies sufficiently organized & their finances into reliable order.organized & their finances into reliable order.

Characteristics of the Characteristics of the New MonarchiesNew Monarchies

They would break down the mass of feudal, They would break down the mass of feudal, inherited, customary, or “common” law in which inherited, customary, or “common” law in which the rights of the feudal classes were entrenched.the rights of the feudal classes were entrenched.

The kings would MAKE law, enact it by his own The kings would MAKE law, enact it by his own authority, regardless of previous custom or authority, regardless of previous custom or historic liberties historic liberties What pleases the prince has What pleases the prince has the force of law!the force of law!

The Theory of The Theory of AbsolutismAbsolutism

These rulers wanted to be absolute monarchs, These rulers wanted to be absolute monarchs, kings or queens who believed that all power kings or queens who believed that all power within their state’s boundaries rested in their within their state’s boundaries rested in their hands.hands.

1.1. Their goal was to control every aspect of Their goal was to control every aspect of society. Absolute monarchs believed in divine society. Absolute monarchs believed in divine right, the idea that God created the monarchy right, the idea that God created the monarchy and that the monarch acted as God’s and that the monarch acted as God’s representative on earth. An absolute monarch representative on earth. An absolute monarch answered only to God, not to his or her subjects.answered only to God, not to his or her subjects.

Spain’s EmpireSpain’s Empire Philip II of Spain 1527 – 1598Philip II of Spain 1527 – 1598 Inherited Spain, the Spanish Inherited Spain, the Spanish

Netherlands, and the American coloniesNetherlands, and the American colonies During a time of religious and economic During a time of religious and economic

instability, Philip II ruled with a strong instability, Philip II ruled with a strong hand hand

He seized the Portuguese kingdomHe seized the Portuguese kingdom Gained an estimated 339,000 pounds of Gained an estimated 339,000 pounds of

gold from American Minesgold from American Mines

Spain’s EmpireSpain’s Empire Philip II – Defender of CatholicismPhilip II – Defender of Catholicism Europe was facing religious wars Europe was facing religious wars

due to the Reformation when Philip due to the Reformation when Philip took powertook power

Spanish Art Spanish Art El Greco’s techniques showed the El Greco’s techniques showed the

deep Catholic faith of Spaindeep Catholic faith of Spain Don Quixote published in 1605 is Don Quixote published in 1605 is

often called the birth of the modern often called the birth of the modern European novelEuropean novel

Spain’s EmpireSpain’s Empire Problems Weaken the Spanish EmpireProblems Weaken the Spanish Empire Inflation and TaxesInflation and Taxes Financing of wars Philip had to declare Financing of wars Philip had to declare

the Spanish State bankrupt three timesthe Spanish State bankrupt three times The Dutch Revolt – Protestant mobs The Dutch Revolt – Protestant mobs

swept through Catholic churches swept through Catholic churches destroying paintings and statuesdestroying paintings and statues

1579 – The United Provinces of the 1579 – The United Provinces of the Netherlands declared their independenceNetherlands declared their independence

France’s Ultimate MonarchFrance’s Ultimate Monarch

After a century of war and riots, France was After a century of war and riots, France was ruled by Louis XIV, the most powerful ruled by Louis XIV, the most powerful monarch of his time. monarch of his time.

Conflicts between Catholics and Huguenots – Conflicts between Catholics and Huguenots – French Protestants French Protestants

Huguenots and Catholics fought eight Huguenots and Catholics fought eight religious wars between 1562 and 1598 religious wars between 1562 and 1598

France’s Ultimate MonarchFrance’s Ultimate Monarch

Louis XIV Rules AbsolutelyLouis XIV Rules Absolutely In Louis’s view, he and the state In Louis’s view, he and the state

were one and the same.were one and the same. Louis XIV took control in 1661 Louis XIV took control in 1661

when he was 23 years oldwhen he was 23 years old Louis weakened the power of the Louis weakened the power of the

nobles by excluding them from nobles by excluding them from his councils his councils

France’s Ultimate MonarchFrance’s Ultimate Monarch

Economic Growth Economic Growth Louis’s minister of finance was Jean Baptiste Louis’s minister of finance was Jean Baptiste

Colbert who believed in the theory of Colbert who believed in the theory of mercantilism: the idea that nations should mercantilism: the idea that nations should protect their home industries and export more protect their home industries and export more than they importthan they import

France’s Ultimate MonarchFrance’s Ultimate Monarch

Louis Grand StyleLouis Grand Style The Palace at VersaillesThe Palace at Versailles 15,000 acres of gardens 15,000 acres of gardens 1,400 fountains1,400 fountains About 2,000 roomsAbout 2,000 rooms 36,000 laborers and 6,000 horses worked on 36,000 laborers and 6,000 horses worked on

the palacethe palace

France’s Ultimate MonarchFrance’s Ultimate Monarch

Louis fights disastrous wars Louis fights disastrous wars France had been weakened by constant warfare and poor France had been weakened by constant warfare and poor

harvests. harvests. Louis raised the taxes to finance his warsLouis raised the taxes to finance his wars 1701 - War of the Spanish Succession1701 - War of the Spanish Succession Countries joined together to stop France and Spain – England, Countries joined together to stop France and Spain – England,

Austria, the Dutch republic, Portugal, and several German and Austria, the Dutch republic, Portugal, and several German and Italian statesItalian states

Louis realized that his wars had ruined France and died in Louis realized that his wars had ruined France and died in 1715 regretting what he had brought upon his people1715 regretting what he had brought upon his people

Russian Czars Increase Power Russian Czars Increase Power

Peter the Great made many changes in Russia Peter the Great made many changes in Russia to try to make it more like western Europeto try to make it more like western Europe

A great reformer he took the throne in 1696A great reformer he took the throne in 1696 Peter the Great stood 6 feet 8 inches tallPeter the Great stood 6 feet 8 inches tall

Russian Czars Increase PowerRussian Czars Increase Power

Peter was 24 years old when he became sole Peter was 24 years old when he became sole ruler of Russia. In l697, just one year later, he ruler of Russia. In l697, just one year later, he embarked on the “Grand Embassy,” a long embarked on the “Grand Embassy,” a long visit to western Europe. Peter’s goal was to visit to western Europe. Peter’s goal was to learn about European customs and industrial learn about European customs and industrial techniques. With him were 200 servants and techniques. With him were 200 servants and 55 boyars. Never before had a czar traveled 55 boyars. Never before had a czar traveled among Western “heretics.”among Western “heretics.”

Russian Czars Increase PowerRussian Czars Increase Power

Peter’s goal of westernization, of using Peter’s goal of westernization, of using western Europe as a model for change, was not western Europe as a model for change, was not an end in itself. Peter saw it as a way to make an end in itself. Peter saw it as a way to make Russia stronger.Russia stronger.

Introduced potatoes Introduced potatoes Started first Russian newspaperStarted first Russian newspaper Raised women’s status by having them attend Raised women’s status by having them attend

social gatheringssocial gatherings A new capitol – St. Petersburg A new capitol – St. Petersburg