Age of Absolutism Flashcards
abdicate
the renounce of a throne, high office, dignity, or function (ex: a monarch)
- Charles V abdicated and divided the Hapsburg Empire
absolute monarchy
system of government where the head of the state is a hereditary position and the King/Queen has almost complete power
Hapsburgs
- royal dynasty of Austria that ruled over a vast part of Central Europe while battling with the Turks over Hungary
- supported the Roman catholic Church during 30 Years War
- longest reigning family
Constitutionalism
philosophy that allows for a government authority to be constrained by a constitution and supported by the people
Charles V
ruled the Holy Roman Empire in Rome, the Netherlands, and Spain; part of the Hapsburg family
divine right
belief that ruler’s authority comes directly from god
Phillip II
King of Spain, the Netherlands, Portugal, Naples, and Sicily
- workaholic
- VERY Catholic
- believed in divine right
- ABSOLUTE MONARCHY
The Netherlands
- Dutch republic that defied the pattern if absolutism
- centralized control that dominated over other european nations during the 17th century
- Spain ruled the Netherlands when Holy Roman Emperor Charles V inherited the Spanish throne in 1516
- beginning of Hapsburg rule in Spain
Mary I (Bloody Mary)
England’s Catholic Queen who executed many Protestants
Elizabeth I
- “virgin” queen
- ruled for 50 years
- one of most successful monarchs in English History
- supported arts and exploration of the New World
- increased the treasury
- built up the military
- established the Church of England as the “main” region in England
Spanish Armada
a huge fleet of Spanish warships meant to end English plans
Edict of Nantes
document that granted religious freedoms to the Huguenots
The Fronde
French rebellion caused by Mazarin;s attempt to increase royal revenue and expand state bureaucracy, caused Louis XIV to distrust the state and turn to absolutism
Henry IV of France
Protestant who converted to Catholicism to rule France
- issued Edict of Nantes and protected Huguenots
Huguenots
French Protestants influenced by John Calvin
intendents
government agents who collected taxes and administered justice
Louis XIV of France
- “Sun King”
- most powerful long lasting ruler in France
- 72 years of rule
- gained absolute power over nation
- lived in the Palace of Versailles
Cardinal Richelieu (France)
- became Cardinal in 1620, became chief advisor in 1624
- responsible for divine right monarchy
- eliminated Huguenots
- unified France
- careless with national finances
- dies within a month of Louis’ death
- coined the term “raison d’etat”
Richelieu’s goals
- Make King louis XIV supreme in Europe
- Make France supreme in Europe
St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre
- Catholics and Huguenots gather for a royal wedding on August 24, 1572
- mass slaying of huguenots (3,000 killed)
- in Paris
Versallies
- a palace built by Louis XIV outside of Paris
- home to Louis XIV and Marie Antoinette
“L’etat, c’est moi”
“I am the state”
- said by Louis XIV, showing his absolute rule over France
“Paris is well worth a Mass”
the reason Henry IV gave when he converted to Catholicism; France was worth Henry becoming Catholic
Thirty Years War
between Protestants and Catholics in Holy Roman Empire
- eventually included other countries
- began with Defenestration of Prague
- VERY destructive
- France supported Protestants
