Section III: The Rulers of the Section III: The Rulers of the Holy Roman Empire, Prussia, and RussiaHoly Roman Empire, Prussia, and Russia

(Pages 397-401)(Pages 397-401)

Section III: The Rulers of the Section III: The Rulers of the Holy Roman Empire, Prussia, and RussiaHoly Roman Empire, Prussia, and Russia

(Pages 397-401)(Pages 397-401)

This section is about:This section is about: The civil war in Germany The civil war in Germany

that ended the reign of that ended the reign of the Holy Roman Empire.the Holy Roman Empire.

How politics and war How politics and war helped to make both helped to make both Russia and Prussia major Russia and Prussia major European powers.European powers.

Important historical Important historical figures such as Fredrick figures such as Fredrick the Great, Peter the Great, the Great, Peter the Great, and Catherine the Great.and Catherine the Great.

In “Main Ideas:” letter A is something we knew was coming, but it’s been a long time since we don’t have this group in power.

We knew a little about letter C, but there’s more now.

We should look at the two maps – the first is on page 398.

The second: on page 400

The Thirty Year’s WarThe Thirty Year’s War

Absolute rulers in Absolute rulers in Europe used the Europe used the military and military and economics to expand economics to expand their power.their power.

Germany was not one Germany was not one of these places: of these places: Germany was just Germany was just dozens of small and dozens of small and independent “states.”independent “states.”

Even the Holy Roman Even the Holy Roman Empire couldn’t unite Empire couldn’t unite them. them.

Germany and Civil WarGermany and Civil War

In 1612: Ferdinand II came In 1612: Ferdinand II came to power in Bohemia to power in Bohemia

He was a Hapsburg who He was a Hapsburg who wanted to get wanted to get Protestantism out of the Protestantism out of the Holy Roman Empire.Holy Roman Empire.

The Bohemian nobles The Bohemian nobles didn’t agree, and forced didn’t agree, and forced Ferdinand to step down – Ferdinand to step down – replacing him with a replacing him with a Protestant ruler.Protestant ruler.

This began _ _ years of This began _ _ years of war.war.

………………………………………………

Peace came in 1635, Peace came in 1635, but….Cardinal Richelieu but….Cardinal Richelieu worried about Hapsburg worried about Hapsburg power and started the war power and started the war again – now against Spain again – now against Spain and in the Netherlands, and in the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, and Italy, Spain, and Scandinavia. Scandinavia.

The war was fought mostly The war was fought mostly by by mercenariesmercenaries (hired (hired soldiers) who would do soldiers) who would do anything for money.anything for money.

If they didn’t get money, If they didn’t get money, they’d just take whatever they’d just take whatever they could find of value.they could find of value.

At the end of the war, 1/3 At the end of the war, 1/3 of Germany’s population of Germany’s population had been killed, or died had been killed, or died from undernourishment from undernourishment (and sometimes the (and sometimes the plague).plague).

The Peace of WestphaliaThe Peace of Westphalia Peace talks started in 1640 Peace talks started in 1640

– and lasted until 1648 – and lasted until 1648 (The Peace of Westphalia).(The Peace of Westphalia).

The Hapsburgs were The Hapsburgs were forced to give upon their forced to give upon their idea of a Roman catholic idea of a Roman catholic Europe.Europe.

Protestants would now Protestants would now have religious freedom.have religious freedom.

Germany became weak, Germany became weak, and France grew much and France grew much more powerful.more powerful.

The Holy Roman Empire The Holy Roman Empire was divided into 300 was divided into 300 separate “states.”separate “states.”

This was the end of the This was the end of the Holy Roman Empire as a Holy Roman Empire as a political force in the world.political force in the world. Imperial Crown of the Holy Roman

Empire

The Rise of Prussia The Rise of Prussia as a European Poweras a European Power

At this time, Prussia At this time, Prussia was starting to was starting to become a power.become a power.

Prussia was in Prussia was in northeastern northeastern Europe and is now Europe and is now parts of Poland, parts of Poland, Germany, and Germany, and Russia.Russia.

A Military StateA Military State

In the early 1600’s (Thirty In the early 1600’s (Thirty Year’s War), Prussia came Year’s War), Prussia came under the control of Fredrick under the control of Fredrick William.William.

He began a policy of He began a policy of militarismmilitarism (military needs and values are (military needs and values are most important).most important).

He wanted to build a strong, He wanted to build a strong, capable army in case he was capable army in case he was ever attacked.ever attacked.

The next Fredrick (III) was The next Fredrick (III) was asked to supply some of his asked to supply some of his soldiers for the Spanish.soldiers for the Spanish.

He said he would, if he was He said he would, if he was named King of Prussia, so now named King of Prussia, so now he was King Fredrick I.he was King Fredrick I.

He developed a huge He developed a huge standing standing armyarmy (1/5 of his citizens). (1/5 of his citizens).

(professionally trained, prepared, and paid soldiers)

Fredrick the GreatFredrick the Great

Fredrick II (the Great) comes Fredrick II (the Great) comes along next (1740-1786).along next (1740-1786).

He loved literature, He loved literature, philosophy, the arts, religious philosophy, the arts, religious liberty, and was a brilliant liberty, and was a brilliant military leader.military leader.

One of his acts was to invade One of his acts was to invade and control Silesia (Poland).and control Silesia (Poland).

Austria, Russia, and France Austria, Russia, and France didn’t like that, so they went didn’t like that, so they went after Fredrick the Great in after Fredrick the Great in the Seven Years War.the Seven Years War.

Even though he was Even though he was outnumbered 10-1, he was outnumbered 10-1, he was able to save his kingdom.able to save his kingdom.

Fredrick the Great’s Fredrick the Great’s style of rule is called style of rule is called enlightened despotism.enlightened despotism.

This is when an absolute This is when an absolute ruler uses their power to ruler uses their power to bring changes that help bring changes that help their subjects.their subjects.

He’s called the Great, so he was He’s called the Great, so he was good overall for Prussia, but he good overall for Prussia, but he was bad at being prepared: he was bad at being prepared: he never named his successor, so…never named his successor, so…

Prussia became weak – enough Prussia became weak – enough that 20 years after his death, that 20 years after his death, they were successfully invaded they were successfully invaded by a French General named by a French General named Napoleon.Napoleon.

The Russian Empire The Russian Empire EmergesEmerges

In the late 1600’s, Russia wasn’t In the late 1600’s, Russia wasn’t really even an organized really even an organized country:country:

They had little contact with They had little contact with Europe.Europe.

They had a little different religion They had a little different religion (Russian Orthodox – from (Russian Orthodox – from Constantinople and not Rome).Constantinople and not Rome).

They had been invaded often They had been invaded often (Mongols, etc…).(Mongols, etc…).

They have a lot of geography to They have a lot of geography to deal with (big place, tough deal with (big place, tough place).place).

They don’t have many warm They don’t have many warm weather ports.weather ports.

We had already talked about We had already talked about Ivan the Great and Ivan the Ivan the Great and Ivan the Terrible, but this is a little later Terrible, but this is a little later than them.than them.

Peter the GreatPeter the Great

Peter I started Peter I started organizing Russia into organizing Russia into one nation.one nation.

When he was 25, he When he was 25, he went to Europe for a went to Europe for a year.year.

He wanted to make his He wanted to make his country more like Europe country more like Europe (culturally, economically, (culturally, economically, militarily, socially, etc…).militarily, socially, etc…).

……………………………………

This is for page “F” in your packets

Peter I actually shaved the noblemen’s beards himself to get the process going. Ha, what guts. He was determined to modernize Russia and take them away from their old-fashioned habits. Oh I guess I should say now that beards were considered a gift from God and a man without one was an effeminate beast. Needless to say the Russians were outraged and fearful God would deny them admittance into heaven without there traditional beards. To assuage his people’s fears, Peter I decided to allow beard-growth on any man (what about bearded ladies?) so long as he paid a beard tax and had a beard license. I found this picture of what the men with beards were given after paying their beard tax. Notice the beard replica at the bottom of the token.

One of the first things he One of the first things he did – attack and get some did – attack and get some new lands in the Baltic Sea new lands in the Baltic Sea region.region.

He also built a new home – He also built a new home – in a new city (Saint in a new city (Saint Petersburg) which was Petersburg) which was going to be a symbol of a going to be a symbol of a new Russia.new Russia.

He adopted a system of He adopted a system of mercantilism – mercantilism – encouraged mining, textile encouraged mining, textile production, trade, exports, production, trade, exports, education.education.

He was also an absolute He was also an absolute monarch – and that was monarch – and that was hard on the peasants and hard on the peasants and serfs. serfs.

One thing he didn’t do: One thing he didn’t do: have a successor. He had have a successor. He had his own son executed for his own son executed for treason (tortured to treason (tortured to death). He didn’t believe death). He didn’t believe the next ruler should be a the next ruler should be a descendant.descendant.

Catherine the GreatCatherine the Great No true heir to the throne: No true heir to the throne:

meant chaos in Russia for meant chaos in Russia for about 30 years.about 30 years.

Finally, in 1762, Catherine Finally, in 1762, Catherine proclaimed herself Tsarina.proclaimed herself Tsarina.

She admired some French She admired some French philosophers and was philosophers and was tolerant of different tolerant of different religions, but she enjoyed religions, but she enjoyed being in power (often at being in power (often at serfs/peasants expense).serfs/peasants expense).

She did add to Russia’s She did add to Russia’s territory. She also won (in territory. She also won (in a war) a port on the Black a war) a port on the Black Sea.Sea.

Catherine was actually German and not Russian. Catherine was actually German and not Russian. Her marriage to Peter, the heir to the Russian Her marriage to Peter, the heir to the Russian throne was arranged by Peter’s mother in 1743. throne was arranged by Peter’s mother in 1743. Once Peter assumed the throne, he proved to be Once Peter assumed the throne, he proved to be an ineffective ruler, and the royal couple grew to an ineffective ruler, and the royal couple grew to hate each other. The nobles and common people hate each other. The nobles and common people of Russia were happy when Catherine overthrew of Russia were happy when Catherine overthrew her husband, had him murdered in 1762, and her husband, had him murdered in 1762, and assumed the throne herself.assumed the throne herself.