Ch. 15 Absolute Monarchs - State Building & Search for order in 1600s

Question 1

Causes of Absolutism

Answer 1

-Weakened Influence of Catholic Church: Due to growing acceptance & tolerance of Protestant practice & lack of interest in religious warfare after Peace of Westphalia
-Economics: Merchant classes expanding rapidly during period of global trade & desired absolute monarchs for economic & political stability they could provide

Question 2

Cardinal Richelieu 1624-1642

Answer 2

-Minister of Louis X|||
-turned Huguenots into more reliable subjects (no political/military rights but did have religious privileges)
-eliminated nobles as threat
-strengthened power of monarchy

Question 3

Fronde
1648-1650
1650-1652

Answer 3

-Noble Revolt w/Parliament over centralized administrative power @ expensive of nobles & taxes
-humiliated nobles (fought against each other)
-emphasized crown as only hope and stabilizing force

Question 4

Louis XIV 1643-1715

Answer 4

-Only 5 when he took the throne
-Cardinal Richelieu (father’s) & Mazarin (his) minister of King
-The Sun King: “One King, One law, One Faith”
Jean Baptiste = finance minister
-Increased State control: centralized bureaucracy & administration of state, limited noble power & ecclesiastical authority, increased revenue & control of finances

Question 5

How did Louis X|V reflect absolutist policies/values?

Answer 5

-Intendant system: sent intendants to French districts –> all 2 obey his will
-Palace of Versailles: involvement w/activities @ palace = prereq 4 nobles to obtain offices/titles & pensions only he could grant –> secured their favor & loyalty this way & able to control & dominate them
-Religious Uniformity: Edict of Fontainebleau (revoked Edict of Nantes–> ALL CATHOLIC)
-Wars of Expansion: incessant activity, more destructive, but military control & gained some land
-Jean-Baptiste Colbert = adhered to mercantilism policies, decreased France’s debt, new domestic industries, expanded colonial holdings & favorable balance of trade (Louis has bad expense habits)

Question 6

How did Louis’s absolute monarchy differ from absolutism in theory?

Answer 6

-France has overlapping authorities
-Provinces has own regional courts, local estates & laws; power/control mostly thru bribes
-Means ppl could obstruct execution of Louis’s policies if they wanted

Question 7

Bradenburg-Prussia

Answer 7

-success largely b/c of Hohenzollern dynasty; Fredrick William the Great Elector laid foundation
-followed Mercantilism Policies
-established General War Commissionaire to levy taxes for competent & efficient standing army he created
-nobles support w/agreement: all power to him & nobles= unlimited power over peasants, no taxes & highest level of command & army ranks–> reinforced Serfdom

Question 8

Austria

Answer 8

-led by Leopold | for eastward movement & conquered formerly Ottoman Empire lands
-benefited from War of Spanish Succession: gained Spanish Netherlands (their rule instead)
-BUT never highly centralized b/c of many different national groups

Question 9

Russia

Answer 9

-Peter the Great: Beard Guy! (enforced); adopted & adapted advanced European/Western Models; introduced western customs, practices & manners
-Mercantilism Policies
- reorganization of army & creation of navy
-reorganized central government –> senate–> to impose this more effectively = divide provinces 8->50
-demanded all landholding class in military/civil office: Table of Ranks (to create opportunities for non-nobles to serve state & join nobility)
-Reorganized Russian orthodox church: eliminated role of Patriarch (Russian pope) & replaced w/Holy Synod which Peter populated w/official & ministers who would do his bidding