Absolutism Flashcards
King of Spain AND Holy Roman Emperor
Ruler 2 Empires had him constantly involved in warfare
Devout catholic, sought to suppress Protestantism in the HRE(eventually forced to allow German princes to choose their own religion)
Scattered empires were too scattered for any one to rule effectively, so he divided it up between his brother, Ferdinand(HRE) and his son, Philip(Spain)
Charles V (HRE)
Devoted most of his time to gov. work (very unlike other monarchs)
Reigned as an absolute monarch
Defended Catholic Church+turned back rising protestant tide in Europe
Fought wars in an attempt to advance Spanish Catholic power (EX:Netherlands)
Marriages - Maria-Alliance:Portugal// Mary Tudor-Alliance:England// Elizabeth Valois-Alliance:France// Anna-Alliance:Austria
War-gained control of portugal
Wealth - Silver and gold from colonies in the Americas fueled the spanish economy and ensured spanish power
1580-Saw Elizabeth I(England Queen) as his enemy b/c she supported Dutch against Spain + encouraged English captains to plunder spanish ships + loot spanish cities in Americas
1588-prepared huge armada to invade England, he lost due to English having better ships
Made Spain foremost European power
Expanded Spanish influence
Strengthened Catholic Church
Made his power absolute
Philip II (Spain)
1589 , Huguenot prince, inherited French throne
Fought against catholic opposition for 4 years
Converted to Catholicism to end conflict
Issued Edict of Nantes(1598) to protect protestants
Granted Huguenots religious toleration and other freedoms
Henry IV (France) -
Appointed Chief Administer for Louis XIII(13)
Strengthened Central gov. (extending royal power)
Wanted to destroy Huguenots and nobles, 2 groups that didn’t bow to royal authority
Handpicked his successor, Cardinal Mazarin
Cardinal Richelieu (France)
Inherited throne at 9
Louis XIII (France) -Henry’s 4th son
Inherited throne at age 5
Believed in his divine right to rule
Used sun as symbol for his absolute power
Sun is at the center of the solar system, so “Sun King” stands at center of nation
Estates General(Medieval council made up of all french social classes) didn’t meet once during his reign, they played no role in checking royal power
Expanded bureaucracy, appointed intendants(royal officials who collected taxes) from middle class(this cemented ties w/ middle class+checked the power of nobles+church), recruited soldiers(French army became strongest in Europe+army used to enforce his policies at home and abroad), used mercantilist policies to bolster economy, cleared land for farming, encouraged mining and other basic industries
Made the palace of Versailles the most magnificent building in Europe(served as his home and seat of gov.)
Hade nobles live with him and fight to please him to stop them from rebelling against him
Waging war to expand France drained France’s $$//Expelled Huegnots, lost $$
Wanted to maintain balance of power, disruption of military and economic power among European nations to prevent any 1 country from having to much power
Louis XIV (France) -
Wanted to suppress protestants + assert royal power over nobles
signed peace of ausgburg granted limited tolerance to protestant
Ferdinand (HRE)
Gained the loyalty of Prussian nobles by giving them positions in the government and army, which reduced their independence and increased his own control
Placed great emphasis on military values and forged one of the best-trained armies in Europe
He made sure that from a young age, his son was trained in the art of war
Frederick William I (Prussia)
Harsh Military training made his army strong, coming to power in 1740
Seized Silesia+sparked war of Austrian succession
Used army several different ways to make Prussia a great power + gained his title
Formed alliances with Prussia, France, Britain, Russia, and Austria
Further consolidated power in Prussia
Seized Silesia in Austria, expanded Prussia’s territory
Built a strong army+used the army to build a strong state
Forced other nations to recognize Prussia as a great power
Brought Prussia from a weak and poor state to a strong and wealthy state
Military success+domestic reform brought land and prosperity to Prussia
Was an absolute ruler but lived under the principle that he was “First servant of state”
Always ruled under guidance of what was most beneficial to Prussia
Frederick II the Great (Prussia) - (1740-1786)
Many did not recognize her because she was a woman
Appealed to the Hungarian assembly for help, they agreed
Despite resistance, she was able to preserve her empire+win support of most her people
Strengthened Hapsburg power by reorganizing the bureaucracy+improving tax collection
Forced nobles to pay taxes, eased the tax burden on peasants. Formed a strong catholic state
First woman to rule Hapsburg lands in her own name
Fredrick II of Prussia seized the Hapsburg province of Silesia, sparked 8 year war of Austrian succession
Support from Britain + Russia, She preserved her Empire + strengthen Hapsburg power by reorganizing bureaucracy + improving tax collection
Maria Theresa (Austria) - (Charles VI daughter)
Continued strengthening central authority, asserted royal authority over the Church, promoted religious tolerance, tried to improve economic conditions.
Reformed judicial system + rationalized laws
Enacted far-reaching reforms of rural social structure
Abolished serfdom
Joseph II (Austria) - (1765-1790)
Took the throne at age 10(1682) / took control of gov. In 1689
Traveled to the west in 1697 to learn about western ways for himself, brought experts, teachers, + soldiers he recruited back to Russia. Embarked on policy of westernization(the adoption of western ideas, tech., and culture)
Persuading Russian people to change was difficult. To impose his will, he became the most autocratic of Europe’s absolute monarchs, meaning he ruled with unlimited authority
Goals-Strengthen the military, expand Russian borders, westernize Russia, centralize royal power // Actions to accomplish his goals-Brought all Russian institutions under his control, forced the boyars(landowning nobles) to serve the state in civilian or military positions while allowing them to maintain control over their land(which forced peasants into serfdom), forced changes in social customs+pushed reforms (imported tech., improved edu., etc.)
With autocratic methods he pushed through social and economic reforms. Imported Western tech, improved waterways and canals, developed mining+textile manufacturing, backed new trading companies. To pay for these reforms, he adopted mercantilist policies, such as encouraging exports. He had no mercy to any who resisted his new order. Tortured those who revolted.
Tried to gain warm-water ports(in black sea), failed and was defeated to the ottoman empire
The Great Northern war (1700-1709), against Sweden(dominated the Baltic Region). Russia suffered humiliating defeats but after rebuilding the army, he defeated the Swedes+won territory along the Baltic Sea. Used land to build a new capital=St.Petersburg(“Window on the West”)- Italian architects designed palaces, etc. Became a symbol of his effort to forge a modern Russia
Peter I (Russia) -
Capable and ruthless absolute monarch
Reorganized the provincial gov. And codified laws, Began state-sponsored edu. For both girls and boys, embraced western ideas, worked to bring Russia fully into European cultural+political life. Allowed boyars to increase hold on peasants, forced more peasants into serfdom. Peasants rebelled, taking firm action to repress them.
Waged the Russ-Turkish war against the Ottoman Empire, gained her a warm-water port on black sea in 1774
Catherine II “The Great” (Russia) -
Married to a devout french catholic
When he did not get what he wanted from parliament, he dissolved it in 1625
Money came from taxing people, but He was decreasing in popularity amongst the people
Called parliament and asked for their help. They agreed but took this opportunity to impose limits of the monarch’s power
1629-1640 he dissolved parliament+ruled personally
He tried to arrest parliament’s leaders in January 1642, but they escaped
A mob of Londoners raged outside the palace, resulting in him fleeting London + raising an army in the North of England, where people were loyal to him
Cromwell+Puritans brought him to trial for treason, found him guilty, and sentenced him to death
The execution of him was revolutionary, because although kings were often overthrown, killed in battle, or put to death in secret, never had a reigning monarch facade a public trial and execution before his own people
Signed Petition of Right which imposed limits of monarchs power, back and forth led to civil war with parliament(dissolving, then calling, then trying to arrest parliament), publicly executed for treason(1st time a reigning monarch has faced publication and execution by his own people)
Charles I (England) -
Son of James 1 (reigned 1625-1649)
Took the throne from 1660-1685
restored the monarchy and restablished the balance of powers between Parliament and the throne
Charles II (England) -
