Absolute Monarchs in Europe

Spain’s Empire

Quick Introduction…

• What is an ABSOLUTE MONARCH?• A king or queen who has total power, and seeks to control

all aspects of society

• What gives the king their power?• Divine Right – belief that God gave the king his “right” to

be king (God’s Representative)

Feudalism Renaissance Growth of Cities

Growth of Nationalism

Need for Central Power

Evolution of Absolutism

Ferdinand and Isabella

• 1469-1504• United Spain and caused its borders to grow• Funded conquistadores (including Christopher

Columbus) to expand their empire to the New World

• Turned Spain Catholic• Got rid of all Muslims living in Spain

I. Spain’s Rise to Power

• In the 1500s Spain gained land, this meant that Spain gained “power and influence.”

• Spain had an ABSOLUTE RULER, Charles V.• Ruled from 1519-1556• What he controlled:

• Spain• Spain’s colonies in the New World• Parts of Italy, Netherlands, and Austria• Much of Germany

• Charles V split his land, and retired to a monastery

Phillip II of Spain• His dad was Charles V (from the other slide)• His dad left him Spain, and many of his other holdings• Ruled from 1554 to 1598• Spain became very rich from their colonies in the New

World, this made Phillip very wealthy and powerful.

• Philip was a defender of Catholicism, (he hated the Muslims and Protestants) so he sent his large naval fleet to England to punish all non-Catholics.

Defeat of the Spanish Armada

• Who: English vs. Spanish• When: 1588• Where : English Channel• Details:

• 130 Spanish Ships attacked the English navy• English Navy outmaneuvered Spanish, and used long

range guns on them

• Results:• Spain was weakened• English Navy became the strongest navy on the

Planet

Problems within the Spanish Empire

• The massive wealth that Spain acquired, led to long-term financial problems.

• Inflation – value of money is worth less, because so many people have lots of it.

• Tax Problems for the Lower Class, led to the near elimination of Middle Class.

• King had to borrow money from other countries, and 3 times he had to declare bankruptcy.

Absolutism Dominates Europe• Why did monarchs gain power?

1. Decline of feudalism2. Rise of cities3. Merchants supported monarchs4. Crises

Religious and territorial conflicts Monarchs tried to regulate this by gaining more power

Absolutism in France:The Reign of Louis XIV

14th

III. Setting the Stage for Louis XIV (14)A. Henry IV (4)• Ruled from 1589-1610

• There were BIG problems in France with religious connotations.

• The Catholics and the Huguenots (French Protestants) were constantly fighting.

• There was a time of peace when Henry of Navarre (a Huguenot prince) came to power

• He converted to Catholicism in order to help the country• Signed the Edict of Nantes – meant religious toleration for

the Huguenots in France.

• He was assassinated by a fanatic who did not like him

Setting the Stage for Louis 14: Louis 13

• B. Louis 13th

• Ruled from 1610-1643

• WEAK king• Richelieu was his main “advisor”

• He pretty much ran the kingdom, not Louis• He hated the Huguenots• Strengthened his own power by weakening the nobles influence (made

them take down their fortified castles)

• New Thinking & Writing in France• Skepticism – NOTHING CAN BE CERTAIN • Descartes – took these ideas and applied them to science

C. Louis XIV (14)The Most Powerful Ruler of France

• “I am the state” – meaning that he was France • Called himself “the Sun King”- the source of

light for all his people• Began his rule when he was 5 years old• Ruled from 1643-1715

• Ruled for 72 years: longest reign of all the monarchs

• Because he was so young when he took over, he had an advisor – Cardinal Mazarin.

• Mazarin’s “rule” caused the nobles to revolt. Louis hated this and made up his mind that he would become so powerful that the nobles would NEVER rise against him.

• Louis excluded them from councils and taxed them

The Actions of Louis XIV • Expanded the economy

• Jean Baptist Colbert – Minister of Finance used Mercantilism to build France’s bank accounts

• Focused on making money in the New World (fur trade)

• Over-turned the Edict of Nantes• Persecuted the Huguenots, so they left, and took jobs

and money with them.

• Pampered himself• Lived in TOTAL luxury, had 500 servants, cooks, etc.

who looked after his every desire.

• Patron of the Arts• Ballet and the Opera

Louis XIV Extends France’s Borders• Under Louis’ leadership, France became

the most powerful nation in Europe.• Largest Population• French Army: Best trained, best weapons,

most soldiers

• With this large army, Louis began to expand the French borders.

• Early in his campaigns he had success• Eventually his luck ran out• Hurt the people, b/c the high cost of war was

paid with taxes

D. One Last War for the French

• The French people wanted peace.• What they got was another war

• The War of Spanish Succession• France and Spain were on the verge of unification• Other countries of Europe were scared that this would be too

much power for the Bourbon Kings.• Result: Spain and France were beaten, and the thrones were not

permitted to be unified.

French Expansion

Louis XIV: Legacy & Death

Positives that Louis Brought• Strengthened France in Art &

Literature• Strengthened French Military and

influence in Europe• Strengthened the French Colonies

in the New World

Negatives that Louis Brought• Constant Warfare• Lost of debts (palace and fighting)• High Taxes for the people• Set the stage for the French

Revolution

• Louis died in his bed in 1715. The French people celebrated when they heard the news.

Louis’ Palace: The Palace at Versailles

• The Palace at Versailles was 14 miles outside of Paris.

• 5,000 acres of forests, gardens, and lawns• 1,400 Fountains, so many that they could

not even run them all at the same time. (The workers would just turn them on when Louis walked by, and turn them off when he walked away.)

• The cost to build them palace was approximately $2.5 billion.

• It took 36,000 people to build the Palace at Versailles.

People who wanted to speak to the king could not knock on his door. Instead, using the left pinkie finger, they had to gently scratch on the door, until they were granted permission to enter. As a result, many courtiers grew that fingernail longer than the others

Palace at Versailles

Palace at Versailles

Central European Monarchs Clash

IV. The 30 Years War• When: 1618 – 1648• Where: Bohemia (Czech Republic)• Who: Protestants (with Lutheran help) and Catholics• Details: Conflict over religion, territory, and for power among

European ruling families• Results:

• Hurt Germany most (lost 4 million people)• Treaty: Peace of Westphalia• This was the last religious war in Europe • Europe became a group of independent countries, rather than a Catholic

Empire• After the war, there were over 300 German states. Of these, Prussia and

Austria emerged as two great European powers

The Emergence of Prussia

Frederick the Great

• Ruled from 1740-1786• Built large and efficient standing army• Set up committee to levy taxes • Won the Seven Years’ War

The 7 Years War• When: 1756 - 1763• Where: Europe, India, North America• Who: England vs. France (and their allies)• Results: England gained the most

• They took all of France’s holding in the New World• England gained trading domination in India

V. Formation of European Countries

Western Europe• Serfs gained independence and

moved to cities to form the middle class

• Strong Empires• Strong Leaders

Central Europe• Serfs were restricted from

leaving their farming lifestyles, stuck in the lower class

• Weak Empires• Weak Leaders

• Central European Countries developed slowly. Western European countries developed quickly.

Absolute Rulers of Russia

Russia’s Absolute Ruler: Ivan IV

• Ivan IV a.k.a “Ivan the Terrible”• Came to the throne when he was only

3 years old.• At the age of 16 he crowned himself

czar (Caesar) and took control• Why would he want to be recognized as

“czar?”

Two Stages of Ivan’s Life• “Good Stage” – 1547-1560

• Married Anastasia• Expanded Russia’s lands• Cleaned-up the Russian legal system

WIFE (ANASTASIA) DIED / He thought she was poisoned.

““Bad Stage” – 1560-1584Bad Stage” – 1560-1584Ivan put together a “secret Ivan put together a “secret police” who went around police” who went around hunting those suspected of hunting those suspected of being traitors (killed 1000s)being traitors (killed 1000s)

Killed his own son (oldest)Killed his own son (oldest)

Details about killing his son• In 1581, Ivan beat his pregnant daughter-

in-law for wearing immodest clothing, causing a miscarriage. His son, also named Ivan, upon learning of this, engaged in a heated argument with his father, which resulted in Ivan striking his son in the head with his pointed staff, causing his son's (accidental) death. This event is depicted in the famous painting by Ilya Repin, Ivan the Terrible and his son Ivan on Friday, November 16, 1581 better known as Ivan the Terrible killing his son

Russia’s Struggles• After Ivan killed his oldest son there was only his weak,

youngest son to rule. • He was too weak to lead effectively.• He died without an heir.• Then there was a question of who would now become

czar…enter Czar Peter the Great• This began the rule of the Romanov Dynasty in Russia (lasts

300 years)

Czar Peter I• Known as Peter the Great• 6’8” tall• Took over in 1696-1721• Strengthened the power of the czar (that is added to his

ABSOLUTE POWER)• When Peter took over Russia was very backwards, in that

they still based their society on Vassals, serfs, etc., Peter was determined to change this.

Peter’s Reforms• In 1697, Peter made a grand tour of Western Europe.• Peter wanted to learn about their customs and manufacturing

techniques.• In order to “Westernize” Russia, Peter had to strengthen his

ABSOLUTE POWER. Here’s what he did:• Controlled the Russian Church• Reduced the power of the Upper Class, and created a Middle Class• Enlarged the Russian Army (raised taxes to pay them)

Peter’s Westernization of Russia

• The Westernization Process• Introduced Potatoes as a part of their diet• Started a newspaper• Allowed women to attend social gatherings• Had the Nobles start wearing Western Fashions• Education Focus: Navigation, Arts, and Sciences• St. Petersburg: Russia’s warm water port (named after Peter’s

Patron Saint)

Results of Peter’s ActionsResults of Peter’s Actions: Russia became modernized, : Russia became modernized, and better off as a result of his efforts.and better off as a result of his efforts.

Catherine the Great

• Ruled from 1762-1796• Her reign is called Russia’s Golden Age• Russia was revitalized under her reign, growing

larger and stronger than ever• Became recognized as one of the great powers of

Europe

• Continued to modernize Russia• Presided during the age of Russian Enlightenment

England

Henry VIII

• Reign from 1509-1547• Led to the creation of the Anglican Church (English

Reformation)• Separating from the Catholic Church

• Married 6 times

Queen Elizabeth

• AKA Elizabeth Tudor• Became queen in 1558• Led her kingdom to become leader of the

Protestant nations of Europe• Laid foundation for a world empire• Repealed laws favoring Catholics• Act of Supremacy named Elizabeth ruler of both

church and state• Balanced power between Spain and France

Parliament Limits theEnglish Monarchy

Monarchs Defy Parliament

• First, you need to understand that a MONARCHY is a form of ABSOLUTISM.

• The Monarchs (Kings and Queens) felt that they were above the law (i.e. – Parliament)

• Parliament – English version of Congress

Monarchs vs. ParliamentQueen Elizabeth – she had

problems with the parliament regarding money

James I – he had problems with the parliament regarding religion

Charles I – fired the Parliament – just got rid of it!

Details: Charles I vs. Parliament

• Charles fired Parliament• Then he needed them back to get him some money –

• He “re-hired” them.• The only way that Parliament would give him money is if he signed the

Petition of Right.• No false imprisonment• No taxes w/o Parliament’s consent• No housing of soldiers in homes• No martial (absolute) law in peace time

• Charles signed it – then he IGNORED it.• Parliament then withheld money – He fired them again…

English Civil War

• Why? – because the people were mad at Charles for firing the Parliament (and Parliament was mad too)

• When? – 1642 – 1649

Loyalists

•Supported Charles

•Called “Cavilers”

Also called “Royalists”

Puritans

•Supported Parliament

•Called Roundheads

•Leader was Oliver Cromwell

VS

Results of the English Civil War

• Oliver Cromwell’s Roundheads defeated the Cavilers and imprisoned Charles

• They put him on trial, sentenced him to death – chopped his head off.

Changes in Power• Oliver Cromwell took over following the civil

war• Formed a military state• Very strict

• Charles II in power• After Cromwell died, the people wanted

to have a king – Charles II (Charles I son) took over.

• He got along better with the Parliament, restoration took place in England.

Glorious Revolution

• 1685 Charles II died with NO heir• His brother James II took over (but he was catholic!)

• He soon offended Parliament and voted some Catholic friends into high office (against the law)

• Parliament protested, so he fired them• His wife then had a son and the people were scared that a long

line of Catholics would rule.

Glorious Revolution (cont’d)

• HOWEVER, James had an older Protestant daughter (Mary) who married William of Orange.

• Parliament invited William to overthrow James II. He brought and army, James II was scared and fled the country

• Thus, the Glorious Revolution began and ended with no fighting• William and Mary begin their reign and develop aCONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHY :

There is a monarch in place, however they are limited in their power