Absolutism in Western Europe

Characteristics

Monarchs not subordinate to elected assemblies

Nobility effectively brought under controlBureaucracies loyal to the king only (“nobility

of the robe”)French and Spanish kings gained control of

Catholic ChurchLarge standing armiesSecret police

Philosophy

Jean Boudin (1530-1596) Theoretical basis for absolute states Only absolutism could provide order and force people to

obey governmentThomas Hobbes (1588-1679)

Wrote “Leviathan” Life in a state of nature was “nasty, brutish, and short” Needed strong, benevolent ruler to bring order to society

Bishop Jacques Bossuet (1627-1704) Advocate of divine right of kings God put kings in power, they are accountable to no one else

Wars of Louis XIV

First Dutch War (1667-1668) Louis invaded Spanish Netherlands (Belgium), gained some

territorySecond Dutch War (1672-1678)

Louis invaded southern Netherlands for their opposition in first war

France gained some more territory, especially region of Alsace

War of the League of Augsburg (1688-1697) L of A: HRE, Spain, Sweden, Bavaria, Saxony, Dutch

Republic Formed to oppose another invasion Balance of power William of Orange brought England in against France Ended with status quo antebellum

War of Spanish Succession

Louis XIV’s grandson to inherit throne

Europe feared end to balance of power

France would become too strong

Countries allied to stop succession

Treaty of Utrecht (1713) Maintained balance of power Spain’s possessions were

partitioned Britain got asiento (slave trade) New kings in Sardinia and Prussia

Europe in 1700

Compromise in Central and Eastern

Europe

Differences

Kingdoms less economically developed than in West Brandenburg-Prussia German states Austria Poland

Landowners still controlled vast estates worked by serfs

Serfs bound to land, not mobileNobles avoided erosion of wealth that

weakened nobility in France and England

Compromise

In West, middle class had made the difference Money could help finance their allies Could supply people for fighting

In East, middle class failed to develop wealth and numbers

Balance in power between monarchs and nobles

Created need to compromise

Leopold I of Austria

Tsarist Absolutism in Russia

The Exception

Tsars gained absolute power with agricultural economy based on serf labor

Romanov family bought loyalty of noblesGave nobles complete control over classes

below themLaw Code of 1649

Consolidated various lower economic classes into one (serfs)

Wealth came from aggressive expansion into Asia

Peter the Great pushed Westernization

Peter the Great

Revolts

Some periodic revolts against RomanovsMostly due to decreasing power of peasantsCossack revolts in 1660s and 1670s brutally

repressedTsar was simply too powerful

Increasingly modern military Creation of state bureaucracy based on the West Russian Orthodox Church emphasized traditional

hierarchy

Constitutionalism in

Great Britain

The Stuart Monarchy

English ParliamentAssembly of elites who

advised the kingDifferent from

continental assemblies: Members elected Eligibility for election

depended on property ownership

Members voted individually, not as a class

Saw itself as a body representing interests of all people

Glorious Revolution (1688)

Parliament turned to James’ sister, MaryOffered throne to her and her husband,

William of Orange He was from the Netherlands

Parliament’s armies teamed up with Dutch invasion

Kicked James II out of the countryReign of William and Mary was establishment

of constitutional monarchy Kings limited by laws of Parliament Theoretical support provided by John Locke (natural

rights)

William and Mary

English Bill of Rights

Laid foundation for constitutional monarchyListed rights of Parliament vs. monarchical

powerExamples:

No suspending laws without approval Right of petition No peacetime army Freedom of speech No excessive bail or cruel and unusual punishment Parliament must meet frequently

Baroque Architecture

The Palace of Versailles

Paris, France

Schonnbrun PalaceVienna, Austria

Winter Palace, Russia

The ResidenzMunich, Germany