Absolutism & the Old RegimeAbsolutism & the Old Regime

OUTLINE Defining AbsolutismDefining Absolutism France & Louis XIVFrance & Louis XIV Absolutism ElsewhereAbsolutism Elsewhere

Prussia & Frederick Prussia & Frederick IIII

Austrian Empire & Austrian Empire & Maria TheresaMaria Theresa

Russia & Peter the Russia & Peter the GreatGreat

IDENTIFICATIONSIDENTIFICATIONS AbsolutismAbsolutism Louis XIVLouis XIV FrondeFronde ParlementParlement VersaillesVersailles Frederick II (the Great)Frederick II (the Great)

Defining Absolutism A “centralized form of government dominated by A “centralized form of government dominated by

a monarchy that shared little power with any a monarchy that shared little power with any other national institutions.” Example: France other national institutions.” Example: France under Louis XIVunder Louis XIV

Other Attempts:Other Attempts: Hohenzollerns under Frederick the Great Hohenzollerns under Frederick the Great

(Prussia)(Prussia) Holy Roman Empire (ruled by the Habsburgs) Holy Roman Empire (ruled by the Habsburgs) Russia under Peter the GreatRussia under Peter the Great

Declining PowersDeclining Powers Holy Roman EmpireHoly Roman Empire PolandPoland Ottoman TurkeyOttoman Turkey

Europe: The Age of Europe: The Age of AbsolutismAbsolutism

Cardinal Richelieu Cardinal Richelieu (d. 1642)(d. 1642)

Armand du Plessis, duc Armand du Plessis, duc de Richelieu de Richelieu (b. 1585)(b. 1585)

Chief minister to Louis XIII, Chief minister to Louis XIII, Richelieu sought to Richelieu sought to enhance royal power and enhance royal power and reduce noble ambition.reduce noble ambition.

Introduced the use of Introduced the use of intendents, royal officials intendents, royal officials who implemented and who implemented and oversaw royal policy oversaw royal policy throughout the country.throughout the country.

Regency of Anne of Austria Regency of Anne of Austria & Cardinal Mazarin (1643-1661)& Cardinal Mazarin (1643-1661)

Queen Anne of Austria (1602-1666) & Queen Anne of Austria (1602-1666) & Cardinal Mazarin (1602-1661)Cardinal Mazarin (1602-1661)

Peace of WestphaliaPeace of Westphalia (1648) (1648)Brought an end to the Thirty Years’ WarBrought an end to the Thirty Years’ WarFrance & Sweden vs. Holy Roman France & Sweden vs. Holy Roman

Empire & SpainEmpire & Spain Mazarin wanted to pursue the policies of Mazarin wanted to pursue the policies of

Louis XIII by continuing to curb the powers Louis XIII by continuing to curb the powers of the French nobility & strengthen the of the French nobility & strengthen the power of the monarchy.power of the monarchy.

The FrondeThe Fronde (1648-1653) (1648-1653) Led by nobles & judicial leaders Led by nobles & judicial leaders

((parlementairesparlementaires))ParlementParlement of Paris = a court of law, not a of Paris = a court of law, not a

representative assemblyrepresentative assemblyWanted to limit the growing authority of the Wanted to limit the growing authority of the

crown.crown. Princes and great nobles (Princes and great nobles (les grandesles grandes))

Also wanted to limit the power of the Also wanted to limit the power of the monarchy & protect their privilegesmonarchy & protect their privileges

The Fronde was the last attempt of the nobility The Fronde was the last attempt of the nobility to resist the king by arms.to resist the king by arms.

ResultsResultsHumiliation of the noblesHumiliation of the noblesStrengthening of royal authorityStrengthening of royal authorityDisruption of the French economyDisruption of the French economy

Louis XIV Louis XIV (Reigned: 1643-1715)(Reigned: 1643-1715)

Reigned for 72 years, for 54 of them Reigned for 72 years, for 54 of them he personally controlled the French he personally controlled the French government. government.

Louis XIV of France ranks as one of Louis XIV of France ranks as one of the most remarkable monarchs in the most remarkable monarchs in history.history.

Le Roi SoleilLe Roi Soleil (The Sun King) (The Sun King) His rule has been hailed as the His rule has been hailed as the

supreme example of absolutism.supreme example of absolutism. Under Louis XIV, France became Under Louis XIV, France became

stabilized, centralized, & one of the stabilized, centralized, & one of the strongest powers in Europe. strongest powers in Europe. Louis XIV

Painting by RigaudLouvre

Louis XIV’s Drive Toward Louis XIV’s Drive Toward AbsolutismAbsolutism

Saw himself as God’s vicar on earth for Saw himself as God’s vicar on earth for FranceFranceDivine Right or Divine Rule Divine Right or Divine Rule The king rules through God’s grace The king rules through God’s grace

Completely reorganized France, making it Completely reorganized France, making it into a highly-centralized, well-functioning into a highly-centralized, well-functioning modern nation-state.modern nation-state.

Basis of reorganization: CentralizationBasis of reorganization: CentralizationGovernment administrationGovernment administrationFinancial resourcesFinancial resourcesArmy was reserved as occupation for Army was reserved as occupation for

nobilitynobility

Developed of trade & manufacturing Developed of trade & manufacturing (mercantilism) under direction of J-B (mercantilism) under direction of J-B ColbertColbert

He believed that the state & the sovereign He believed that the state & the sovereign were one.were one.He thought that all power should be He thought that all power should be

concentrated in one place - in him. concentrated in one place - in him. ““L etat, c’est moi.” (“I am the State.”)L etat, c’est moi.” (“I am the State.”)

He attempted to strengthen the crown He attempted to strengthen the crown by diminishing the individual privileges by diminishing the individual privileges of French nobles.of French nobles.

Sun King (Sun King (le roi soleille roi soleil))

Louis XIV’s Drive Toward AbsolutismLouis XIV’s Drive Toward Absolutism

Palace of Versailles

La Chateau de Versailles

Built under the direction of achitect, Louis le Vau, beginning in 1668.

Gardens of Versailles

Gardens of Versailles

Grand cour de Versailles

Palace of Versailles (Hall of Mirrors)

The best example of Baroque architecture at the time.Designed by Charles Le Brun

Palace of Versailles (Hall of Mirrors)

Palace of Versailles (Royal Chapel)

Imagery at Versailles (Le Roi Soleil)

Louis XIV’s WarsLouis XIV’s Wars 1667 invaded Spanish 1667 invaded Spanish

NetherlandsNetherlands Defeated by the British & Defeated by the British &

DutchDutch 1672-1678: Louis aligned with 1672-1678: Louis aligned with

the Charles II (England) against the Charles II (England) against the Dutchthe Dutch France gained territoryFrance gained territory

War of the League of Augsburg War of the League of Augsburg (1668-1697)(1668-1697) Grand Alliance against Grand Alliance against

FranceFrance France lostFrance lost

War of the Spanish Succession War of the Spanish Succession (1701-1713)(1701-1713) France lost most of the France lost most of the

battles but achieved it goalbattles but achieved it goal—the installation of a French —the installation of a French prince as king of Spain.prince as king of Spain.

Limited Monarchy: The Limited Monarchy: The Dutch Republic and EnglandDutch Republic and England

The Golden Age of the Dutch The Golden Age of the Dutch RepublicRepublicThe United ProvincesThe United ProvincesInternal dissensionInternal dissension

The House of Orange and the StadholdersThe House of Orange and the StadholdersThe States General opposes the House of The States General opposes the House of

OrangeOrangeWilliam III (1672 – 1702)William III (1672 – 1702)Trade damaged by warsTrade damaged by wars

England and the Emergence of England and the Emergence of Constitutional MonarchyConstitutional Monarchy

Revolution and Civil WarRevolution and Civil War James I (1603 – 1625) and the James I (1603 – 1625) and the

House of StuartHouse of Stuart Divine Right of KingsDivine Right of Kings Parliament and the power of Parliament and the power of

the pursethe purse Religious policiesReligious policies

The PuritansThe Puritans Charles I (1625 – 1649)Charles I (1625 – 1649)

Petition of RightPetition of Right ““Personal Rule” (1629 – Personal Rule” (1629 –

1640): Parliament does not 1640): Parliament does not meetmeet

Religious policy angers Religious policy angers PuritansPuritans

Civil War (1642 – 1648)Civil War (1642 – 1648)

Oliver CromwellOliver Cromwell New Model ArmyNew Model Army Charles I executed Charles I executed

(January 30, 1649)(January 30, 1649) Parliament abolishes Parliament abolishes

the monarchythe monarchy Cromwell dissolves Cromwell dissolves

Parliament (April 1653)Parliament (April 1653) Cromwell divides Cromwell divides

country into 11 regionscountry into 11 regions Cromwell dies (1658)Cromwell dies (1658)

Restoration & Glorious RevolutionRestoration & Glorious Revolution Charles II (1660 – 1685)Charles II (1660 – 1685) Declaration of Indulgence (1672)Declaration of Indulgence (1672) Test Act (1673) – Only Anglicans Test Act (1673) – Only Anglicans

could hold military and civil could hold military and civil officesoffices

James II (1685 – 1688)James II (1685 – 1688) Devout CatholicDevout Catholic Declaration of Indulgence Declaration of Indulgence

(1687)(1687) Protestant daughters: Mary Protestant daughters: Mary

and Anneand Anne Catholic son born in 1688Catholic son born in 1688 Parliament invites Mary and Parliament invites Mary and

her husband, William of her husband, William of Orange, to invade EnglandOrange, to invade England

James II, wife and son flee to James II, wife and son flee to FranceFrance

Mary and William of Orange Mary and William of Orange offered throne (1689)offered throne (1689)

Bill of RightsBill of Rights The Toleration Act of 1689The Toleration Act of 1689

Responses to the RevolutionResponses to the Revolution

Thomas Hobbes (1588 – 1679)Thomas Hobbes (1588 – 1679) Leviathan (1651)Leviathan (1651) People form a commonwealthPeople form a commonwealth People have no right to rebelPeople have no right to rebel

John Locke (1632 – 1704)John Locke (1632 – 1704) Two Treatises of Government Two Treatises of Government Inalienable Rights: Life, Liberty and PropertyInalienable Rights: Life, Liberty and Property People and Sovereign form a governmentPeople and Sovereign form a government If government does not fulfill its duties, people If government does not fulfill its duties, people

have the right to revolthave the right to revolt