Absolutism in EuropeAbsolutism in Europe

17th and 18th Centuries

Unit Objectives• Understand how the fundamental powers of government are

acquired, shared, maintained, and/or lost.• Examine the development of both absolute and constitutional

monarchies in Europe.• Discuss how religious warfare between Protestants and

Catholics affected European society as well as contributed to the formation of absolute monarchs in Europe.

• Evaluate the effect of absolute monarchs on the people; identify the benefits and drawbacks of having a ruler whose power is absolute or total.

• Show how France, Prussia, Austria, Russia, and England emerged as great European powers of the 17th and 18th centuries.

Preview Questions• Why study the absolute monarchs of Europe?

• What might people gain or benefit from having a ruler whose power is total or absolute?

• What are the potential drawbacks of an absolute monarch?

•What factors might weaken the power of an absolute monarch?

Absolutism in Europe• The political, social, and religious turmoil of the

17th Century Lead to Absolutism

– The Theory of Absolutism: Rulers want complete power and total control.

• Make Laws

• Levy Taxes

• Administer Justice

• Control the State’s Officials (Bureaucrats)

• Determine Foreign Policy (War, Trade, etc)

– Divine Right: Rulers represent God on Earth.

Spain’s Empire and Absolutism.

• Terms: Philip II, Lepanto, Spanish Armada (1588), El Escorial, Dutch Revolt, William the Silent, Elizabeth I, El Greco, Velázquez, Miguel de Cervantes, Absolutism, Divine Right

• Questions:– Evaluate the rule of King Philip II of Spain. What might be

considered successes? shortcomings?– Identify the impact of each battle: Lepanto in 1571, the

Dutch Revolt in 1579, and the Spanish Armada in 1588.– Given it’s small size, how did the United Provinces of the

Netherlands become so powerful?

Overview: In response to religious turmoil and economic instability, Phillip II attempts to consolidate his power and rule the Spanish Empire with a strong hand.

Spain’s Empire and Absolutism• Philip II rules the

Spanish Empire from 1556 to 1598. (Map of the Empire)

• Major goals:– Consolidate and increase

his control of the Empire.– Save Catholic Christianity– Promote Spanish culture.

Philip II in Armor, Titian.

A Powerful Spanish Empire• Philip II’s Empire:

– Insists on strict support for the monarchy in the territories of Spain, the Netherlands, portions of Italy, and in the Americas.

– "I inherited, I bought, I conquered“ Portugal in 1580– Gold and silver from the America’s make Spain

extremely wealthy.• Defender of Catholicism:

– Uses military force to defend Catholicism from Protestant heretics and Muslims.

– Inquisition– Forms the Holy League and defeats the Ottoman

Turks in the Battle of Lepanto in 1571.

King Philip II’s Spanish Empire

• The Dutch Revolt, 1579.– Rich Protestant nobles

resented Phillip II’s policies to consolidate power and defend Catholicism.

– William the Silent leads the rebellion and declares independence for the northern provinces in 1579.

William the Silent Prince of Orange

Note: Philip II called him a "pest on the whole of Christianity and the enemy of the human race“ and placed a 25000 crown bounty on his head.

King Philip II’s Spanish Empire• The Spanish Armada, 1588.

– Causes: • Queen Elizabeth I repealed the

laws of Mary I favoring Catholics.• England’s fleet threatened Spain’s

world economy.• Elizabeth supported the Dutch

protestants in the Dutch Revolt against Spain.

– Results:• Sir Francis Drake of England

defeats the Spanish Invasion.• England’s world power increases.

Elizabeth I, Queen of England Map of the Invasion of Britain

Spain’s Golden Age

• Philip II promotes significant artistic achievement – El Greco uses unusual techniques to convey

religious themes. – Velázquez paintings show court life.– Miquel de Cervantes writes Don Quixote,

1605.– El Escorial, a royal palace and monastery

becomes the largest building in Europe at the time.

El Greco and Velázquez

“The Burial of Count Orgaz” “Las Meninas, 1656-7”

El Escorial

The Spanish Empire Weakens• Reasons for Spain’s decline:

– Inflation and Taxes prevent the development of a middle class.

– Unfavorable balance of trade—Spain’s desire for foreign goods makes her enemies rich.

– Philip II declares bankruptcy three times due to weak economy and many wars.

– Philip II lacked a strong heir.• "God, who has given me so many Kingdoms to govern, has

not given me a son fit to govern them." - Philip II

SECTION REVIEW

France under Louis XIV

• Terms: Louis XIV, Cardinal Richelieu, Intendants, Cardinal Mazarin, La Fronde, Versailles, Jean-Baptiste Colbert, War of Spanish Succession (1701), Duke of Saint-Simon.

• Questions:– How does Cardinal Richelieu strengthen the monarchy of

France?– What strategies did Louis XIV use to control the French nobility?– Why is Louis XIV considered the model absolute ruler of the

seventeenth century? – What is the lasting impact of Louis XIV’s long rule in France?

Overview: After a century of religious and political turmoil, Louis XIV becomes the most powerful monarch of his time.

Centralizing Power In France• Cardinal Richelieu (1585-

1642)– Advisor to Louis XIII– Took political and military

rights away from the Huguenots

– System of Intendants –agents loyal to the throne who collected taxes and spied on locals.

– Executed conspirators• “Give me six lines written by the

most honorable of men, and I will find an excuse in them to hang him.” - Richelieu

Absolute Rule in France• Cardinal Mazarin

– Rules for Louis XIV who is only 4 years old when he becomes king in 1643.

– Crushes the efforts of the nobles in La Fronde (1648-1653), a civil war which attempted to reverse policies established by Richelieu.

– People conclude that a strong king was the best chance for lasting stability.

Louis at the end of La Fronde.

The Sun King

• Louis XIV (1638-1715)– Becomes sole ruler at

age 23– Famous saying: “Je

suis l’état.” or “I am the state.”

– Establishes the myth of himself as the ‘Sun King’

The Sun King

The Early Modern Château

Vaux-le-Vicomte

The Palace of Versailles(Video)

Architect-Le Vau, Painter-Le Brun, Landscaping-Le Nôtre.

A Palace for Louis XIV• Rationale for Versailles’ Construction:

– A home fit for the ‘Sun King’ (A Day in the Life of Louis XIV)

– Relocated chief offices of the state away from Paris.– Weakened the influences of the nobility. Read Saint-

Simon, “Memoires: The Aristocracy Undermined”p. 218.

– Center of the arts: Ex: Tartuffe by Molière

Most Importantly: Louis controlled the policy-making machinery of government.

Policies of Louis XIV

• Repealed Edict of Nantes (1685)– Destroyed Huguenot churches and closed their

schools….200,000 skilled workers flee France.• Jean-Baptiste Colbert

– His mercantilist policies financed Louis’ court life at Versailles and his many wars.

• Foreign Policy:– Maintained an army of 400,000 soldiers– Waged four wars between 1667 and 1713. – War of Spanish Succession (1701) added some

lands and placed his grand-son on the throne of Spain

The Legacy of Louis XIV• A Mixed Legacy

– France was debt-ridden.– Major military power now

surrounded by enemies– Weakened the nobility to

increase internal stability.– Made France’s cultural

achievements the envy of Europe—especially Versailles.

– Burdened the lower class with heavy taxes.

Section Review

MercantilismDefinition:

– The power of the state could be greatly expanded by the accumulation of wealth as measured by the amount of gold/silver bullion.

Favorable Balance of Trade:– Wants value of exports to be greater than

the value of imported goods. How do you do this?

Trade with Colonies– Supply home country with wealth—gold

and silver or raw materials. Buy manufactured goods from the home country.

Absolute Rulers of Russia

• Terms: Ivan IV, Boyars, Times of Trouble, Romanovs, Czar, Peter the Great,1613

• Questions:– Why did Peter the Great believe that Russia’s future

depended on having a warm water port?– Describe the Western customs, practices, and

manners that Peter the Great introduced to Russia.– In what ways is Peter the Great comparable to Louis

XIV of France?

Overview: Peter the Great uses absolute power to make Russia seem more like Western Europe.

The First Czar of Russia

• Ivan IV (Ivan the Terrible)– 1553 – Takes title of czar, Russian for caesar.– Struggled for power with the boyars-the

landowning nobility in Russia.– 1560 – Crushes the boyars—seizing their

land and kills many.– Expanded Russian territories eastward. – 1584 – Ivan’s heir is weak, leading to a period

of anarchy and turmoil called the Time of Troubles.

MAP

The Romanov Dynasty Begins

• Michael Romanov– Selected by a

national assembly to become the new czar in 1613.

– Ends the Times of Trouble.

– The Romanovsrule until 1917.

The Times of Trouble

Russia Under Peter the Great• Peter the Great

– Sophia Romanov ruled as regent for Peter until 1696

• Several Goals:– Westernization—adoption of

European technologies, methods, customs, and etiquette.

– Create a large, powerful army trained by European officers.

– Create a “Police State” governed by law and absolute control. Peter the Great

St Petersburg

• St. Petersburg– Seaport on the Baltic to make travel

easier to the West.– Warred with Sweden to acquire the

necessary lands.– 1703-Construction begins; building takes

many years and many serfs die.– Forced nobles and officials to move to

St. Petersburg.– It was the Russian capital until 1917.

Legacy of Peter the Great• What is Peter’s lasting accomplishments?• By Peter’s death in 1725, Russia is an

important European power.– Introduced potatoes helps feed the serfs– Advanced education, started the first newspaper,

elevated the status of women.– Consolidated the czar’s power by bringing the

Orthodox church under state control and reducing the power of landowners.

– Modernized the army.

Two Quotations

• "I have conquered an empire but I have not been able to conquer myself.“~ Peter the Great

• There is little that can withstand a man who can conquer himself. ~ Louis XIV

REVIEW ACTIVITY

• Directions: On a half-sheet of paper, please show how the following terms relate to each other from yesterday’s study of Russian leaders.

• IVAN IV, BOYARS, TIMES OF TROUBLE, ROMANOVS, CZAR, PETER THE GREAT, WESTERNIZATION, 1613.

• Ps, Don’t forget your name.

The English Monarchy

• Terms: James I, Charles I, Petition of Right, Oliver Cromwell, Roundheads, Cavaliers, Charles II, Habeas Corpus, James II, William and Mary, Glorious Revolution, English Bill of Rights.

• Questions:– List the causes, participants, and outcome of the

English Civil War.– Why was the death of Charles I revolutionary?

Overview: Parliament gains power as absolute monarchs are overthrown in England.

Monarchs Defy Parliament• James I

– King of Scotland and now England too in 1603.

– Strong advocate for the Divine Right of Kings

– 1605 survives the Gunpowder plot.

– Arts continued to flourish– Made peace with Spain– Struggles with Parliament

over money and Church reform.

– Goal: Rid England of Puritans

• Charles I– King of England, 1625– Fights Parliament over

issues of money.– Suspends Parliament,

boards troops in homes, and uses martial law in peace time to suspend individual rights.

– Goal: Rid England of Puritans and Calvinists

Parliament pushes back• 1628 – Short Parliament passes the Petition of

Right.– Forbid collection of taxes or loans without consent.– Forbid imprisonment without just cause– Troops could not be lodged in private homes– Forbid martial law in absence of war

• King Charles I signs it, but ignores it. Dissolves Parliament in 1629.

• Long Parliament – Puritan majority passes a law to further limit the king’s power in 1641.

English Civil War

• English Civil War (1642-1649)– Cavaliers = King’s cavalry, nobles,

landowners– Roundheads = Parliament, Puritans– Oliver Cromwell wins decisive military

campaigns against the Cavaliers using the New Model Army.

– Purifies Parliament of all non-Puritans– Charles I is sentenced and executed.

Cromwell and the New Model Army

The English Civil War

Oliver Cromwell• Member of Parliament in both the Short and

Long Parliaments , became loyal to Parliament and was strongly against Charles I

• Became Military Commander for the English Civil War, fought some battles, early fights became more or less indecisive

• As the war rages on, he forms the New Model Army and takes command, won two decisive victories and brought victory for the “Roundheads”

The New Model Army

• Highly trained, highly organized military body

• One of the first professionally trained and equipped full-time armies (opposed to the normal short term militia's and mercenary armies)

• When they took to the field the royalists had little hope of victory, for they faced an army far more efficient than any that had been seen before

The Battles of the English Civil War

• Edgehill(1642)-long fighting leads to inconclusive results, both sides declare a draw

• Adwalton Moor(1643)-Parliament holds of Royalist attack, then they counter attack and are driven back

• Roundaway Down(1643)- Two Royal armies surround and soundly defeat the Parliaments army

• First Battle of Newbury(1643)-Back and forth, declared a draw• Marston Moor(1644)-Parliament successfully defeats the Royalist

army, their first significant victory• Second Battle of Newbury(1644)-Both sides sustain heavy losses

and it is declared a draw• Naseby(1945)- Back and forth between the two forces for a long

time, until Cromwell shows up with his finally prepared New Model Army, within a few hours, the Royalist army is severely crippled and the war is nearly won for the forces of Parliament

• A few smaller skirmishes latter and the New Model Army secures victory

English Civil War• Cromwell’s rule

– In 1649, Cromwell abolishes the monarchy and House of Lords.

– Becomes Lord Protector of the Commonwealth

– Military Dictatorship– Suppresses rebellion in Ireland

• Puritan Morality– Puritans abolish activities they find

sinful like gambling, drinking, dancing, swearing, missing church, etc.

• After Cromwell dies in 1658, government collapses

• Parliament asks Charles I’s son to rule.

The RestorationCharles II – The Merry Monarch (1660)– Loved social life of parties, games, and

entertainment.– Only Anglicans can worship freely.– Habeas Corpus – law requiring the king to

charge a prisoner with a crime.– Submits to the Magna Carta and Petition of

Right.

The Glorious Revolution• James II

– Charles’ Catholic brother becomes king in 1685– Named Catholics to high positions in government, armed forces,

and universities. – Whigs = support exclusion of James II’s Catholic son from the

throne.– Tories = support for hereditary monarchy

• The Glorious Revolution, 1689– Parliament encourages the Dutch leader, William of Orange who

is married to James’ daughter Mary to lead an army against James II.

– James II and his family flees with little bloodshed.– William III and Mary II become England’s new monarchs

Limits on the Monarch’s Power• Bill of Rights – 1689

– Establishes a constitutional monarchy—legal limits on royal power.

– Forbid taxation or raising a military without Parliament’s consent.

– Parliament held often and freedom of debate.– Right to trial by jury.– Right to bear arms.– Outlawed cruel and unusual punishments– Limited amount of bail.– Right to appeal to the Monarch or Parliament– Banned Catholics from the throne of England.

Historical Significance

• By deposing one king and establishing another, parliament destroys the concept of divine right theory of kingship.

• Many rights gained by the English are included in the United States’ Constitution.

Section Review

Thomas Hobbes– Leviathan: Political

Order and Political Theory – 1651. p. 207-208.• Why do men form a

commonwealth? • Why do they give such

power to the sovereign?

• Why would parliament criticize this argument?

Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679)A royalist in the English Civil War

REVIEW GAME

• Review Chart• Review Game Link