The Era of Absolutism (1550 – 1800)

• Absolute Monarchs –rulers with complete authority over the government and people. They share power with nobody!

• Divine Right – Belief that this power is derived from God.

King Charles V From 1519 to 1556

•Ruling two empires involved Charles in constant warfare. As a devout Catholic, he fought to suppress Protestantism in Germany. •He faced military threats from the French, from German Protestant princes, and from the Ottoman Empire under Suleiman.

•Charles V provided five ships to Ferdinand Magellan, whose voyage was the first sail around the world.•New Spain were considerably extended by conquistadores like Hernán Cortés and Francisco Pizarro.

The Empire of Charles V (Hapsburgs)

•In 1556, an exhausted Charles gave up his titles and divided his empire. His brother Ferdinand became Holy Roman Emperor, and his son Philip ruled Spain, the

Netherlands, and the vast Spanish overseas empire.

King Philip II From 1556-1598

•Philip wanted to control all aspects of government, believing that he ruled by divine right, that is he believed that his authority to rule came directly from God. •He conducted the Inquisition to eliminate Protestants, Jews and Muslims.

•During his 42 years reign, Philip II expanded Spanish influence, strengthened the Catholic Church and made his own power absolute. •Thanks to silver from the Americas, he made Spain the foremost power in Europe.

Spain’s Golden Century• The Hapsburgs were patrons of the arts in

Spain. • Among the most famous painters of the

period was El Greco. His most famous work was the Burial of the Count of Orgaz.

Spain’s golden century also produced outstanding writers like Cervantes who wrote Don Quixote, the first modern novel in Europe which makes fun of medieval tales of Chivalry.

Economic DeclineIn the 1600s, Spanish power slowly declined. Costly overseas wars drained

Spain of its wealth. Even though it ruled a huge colonial empire in the Americas, its strength slipped away.

The British defeated the

Spanish Armada in

1588.

By the time the last surviving ships reached Spain, half of the original Armada was lost and some

15,000 men had perished.

THE RISE OF ABSOLUTISM

IN FRANCE

“L’etat, c’est moi (I am the state)” –

Louis XIV

THE RISE OF ABSOLUTISM IN FRANCE

Louis XIIICardinal Richelieu

• Louis XIII died in 1643

• Cardinal Richelieu died in 1642

• Louis XIV crowned in 1643

• reduced power of nobility

• restricted local authorities

•Richelieu’s spies uncovered series of planned revolts•Punishments were severe, including death for treason•wanted to reduce power of Huguenots, strengthen monarchy

Punished Nobles

THE RISE OF ABSOLUTISM IN FRANCE

Can you compare these tactics to other Absolute rulers?

BUILDING ABSOLUTISM

Young Louis XIV Cardinal Mazarin

• Louis XIV becomes king at young age, with mother as regent

• Cardinal Mazarin, chief minister after Richelieu, provided advice

• Louis raised to be king, taught skills needed from childhood

Rise of the Sun King

• Young king supremely confident in ability to rule

• When Mazarin died, 18-year-old Louis declared he would run government himself – takes reigns of government in 1661

• “I am the state,” he declared

Confident in Ability to Rule

RULE OF LOUIS XIV

Absolute Monarchy

• Louis XIV retained absolute power – Declared Divine Right Rule

• Began tradition of absolute monarchy to last more than century

• Demanded to be in charge of all military, political, economic initiatives

RULE OF LOUIS XIV

Versailles

Central Government

• Drew power to himself, deprived nobles of influence

• Built palace outside Paris at Versailles; demanded nobles visit and live there

• Nobles gained prestige being servants at Versailles court, not by fighting

• Additionally, Louis urged nobles to develop expensive new habits of dressing, dining, and gambling

• As nobles grew poorer, had to depend on king’s generosity just to survive

PALACE OF VERSAILLES

Versailles

Versailles was a grand spectacle of kingly power • Louis XIV’s style, ceremony emphasized political strength• Practically every moment of king’s day required rituals by

bowing courtiers– Eating, dressing, walking in garden, all required a ritual– Louis always knew who had given what he considered proper attention

Film Clip

THE SUN KING

Louis XIV chose the sun as his personal symbol, implying that the world revolved around him. He thus became

known as the Sun King.He was God’s representative on Earth!

RULE OF LOUIS XIV

Religious unification

• Louis smashed power of Huguenots

• Edict of Nantes had protected Huguenots since reign of Henry IV• Even Richelieu had not be able to eliminate that protection• 1685, Louis revoked Edict of Nantes, outlawed Protestantism in France

• Over 200,000 Huguenots fled—prosperous merchants, artisans

• Loss of their skills, wealth helped cause financial crisis

“One king, one law, one faith”

RULE OF LOUIS XIV

• Louis’ finances always a concern• Grand lifestyle cost great deal of

money• Limited imports, increased exports• Mercantilist System

Money and the Military

• Louis needed cash to build up military, expand French territory

• Enlarged army to more than 200,000 disciplined soldiers

• Spent money on good equipment• Was most powerful ruler in Europe,

taking France to war four times

Most Powerful Ruler

ABSOLUTISM IN FRANCE

Dependant on many advisors & bureaucrats

Many old privileges & customs continued to exist

Estates General – Representative law making body – had to be called to meet by the King

•Pinnacle of power, wealth, prestige

•Overseas exploration & expansion – New World, Africa, SE Asia

•Cultural & intellectual leader – Art, Fashion, Cuisine, Philosophy

THE SUN KING

Base your answer to the following questions on the cartoon

1. What image did Louis XIV use as a symbol of his power? ___________________________________________________________2. Why do you think he used this image as a symbol of his power? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________3. What is the overall meaning of this cartoon? ____________________________________________________________