Central European Monarchs Clash

1. Central European Monarchs Clash Chapter 21, Section 3 Page 526

2. But First…. • What religion did France follow? • Catholicism • Which European family did Frances’s kings and cardinals view as their biggest competition? • Hapsburg Family (Spain, Holy Roman Empire, Netherlands) • Which religion was the Hapsburg family? • Catholic

3. For a short time, it seemed the Peace of Augsburg (German Princes could choose religion of their state) had settled religious differences After the peace agreement, Catholic and Lutheran princes of Germany eyed each other closely while trying to gain followers Churches in Germany could be Catholic or Lutheran but not Calvinist

4. Protestants vs. Catholics • As tension mounted, Lutherans joined together in the Protestant Union, and Catholic princes formed the Catholic League • Any spark between the two would set off war

5. That spark came in 1618 Ferdinand II, head of the Hapsburg family, and ruled the Czech kingdom of Bohemia

6. The Thirty Years War • Protestants in Bohemia didn’t trust Ferdinand because he was catholic and a foreigner • Ferdinand closed some Protestant churches, leading to revolt and giving some Protestant princes a chance to challenge the Catholic Emperor • This began the Thirty Years War- a conflict over religion, territory, and power among European families

7. The First 12 Years- Hapsburg Triumphs • The Thirty Years War lasted from 1618-1648 • There were 2 main phases: The Hapsburg triumphs, and Hapsburg defeats • For the first 12 years, Hapsburg armies from Austria and Spain crushed troops hired by Protestant princes, and defeated the German Protestants who supported the Czechs

8. Ferdinand paid his army of 125,000 by allowing them to rob German villages Huge army destroyed everything in its path

9. A Shift- the Hapsburg Defeats • 1630, Protestant Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden drove Hapsburg armies out of northern Germany with his army of 13,000 • Cardinals Richelieu and Mazarin of France dominated the remaining years of the war even though they were Catholic

10. Catholic Cardinals Fight The Catholics • The 2 cardinals feared the Hapsburgs more than the Protestants, and didn’t want any ruler in Europe to have as much power as the French king • Richelieu sent French troops to join German and Swedish Protestants against the Hapsburg armies

11. Damage • War did damage to Germany: -population dropped from 20 million to 16 million -agriculture was disrupted -economy ruined • Damage caused delay in Germany becoming a unified state until the 1800s.

13. Peace of Westphalia • 1648 ended the war, but had important consequences 1)Weakened the Hapsburg states of Spain and Austria 2)Strengthened France by awarding it German territory 3) Made German princes independent of the Holy Roman emperor 4) Ended religious wars in Europe 5) Introduced new method of peace negotiations still used today

14. Beginning of Modern States • Treaty got rid of the idea of a Catholic empire that would rule Europe • Recognized Europe as a group of independent states • The beginning of a modern state system was the most important result of the 30 Years War

15. Central Europe • Formation of nation states happened slowly in central Europe • Major powers of region were Poland, Holy Roman Empire and the Ottoman Empire

17. Economy of central Europe developed differently than western Europe • In the west, serfs headed to towns for freedom, joining the middle class • In central Europe, nobles passed laws forbidding the serfs to leave the land, and worked them 6 days a week to produce harvests that they sold to western Europe

18. NOT an Absolute Monarchy • Land owning nobles in central Europe blocked the development of strong kings • Poland, for example, elected the Polish king, and limited his power by allowing little income, no law courts, and no standing army • 2 empires once huge became weak -the Ottoman Empire due to weak leaders -the Holy Roman Empire by the 30 Years War

19. More Hapsburgs • In the late 1600s, 2 German-speaking families decided to try and take power by becoming absolute rulers themselves • One was the Hapsburgs of Austria • Even after the Thirty Years War, Austria remained the strongest state within Holy Roman Empire • During the war they were able to recapture Bohemia, wipe out Protestantism there,. And create a new Czech nobility that pledged their loyalty • Created a standing army and took Hungary from Ottomans

20. 1711 Charles VI became Hapsburg ruler • He spent his entire reign persuading other leaders in Europe to sign an agreement recognizing his daughter, Maria Theresa as full heir to all his territories • He had hoped hers would be a peaceful reign, but instead was filled with war

21. Rise of Prussia • Like Austria, Prussia rose to power in late 1600s • Like Austria’s ruling family, the Hapsburg’s, Prussia’s ruling family the Hohenzollerns, also had plans to upset the balance of power in central Europe

22. The Hohenzollerns-Fredrick William • Fredrick William, 20 years old, thought a strong army was the only way to ensure safety • He moved toward an absolute monarchy and created a standing army- the best in Europe- 80,000 men • Prussia’s landowning nobility, the Junkers, resisted the kings power • William bought their cooperation by giving them exclusive right to be officers in the army

23. Fredrick William He could’ve been a rock star!

24. Fredrick the Great • Fredrick William was worried his son, Fredrick II, was not military enough to rule • The prince loved books, reading, philosophy, music, poetry and art • When Fredrick and his close friend were caught trying to run away, his father, the king, ordered his son to witness his friends beheading

25. Frederick the Great • Despite his bitter memories, Frederick II became known as Frederick the Great • He followed his fathers military policies • He did soften some laws because he thought a ruler should be like a father to his people

26. Maria Theresa • Became ruler of Austria months after Frederick became king of Prussia • Had 16 children-most famous was Marie Antoinette • As empress, she decreased the power of the nobility and cared more for peasants well being

27. Maria vs. Frederick • Frederick wanted the Austrian land of Silesia, which bordered Prussia and Poland • Frederick assumed since she was a woman, Maria Theresa wouldn’t defend her lands • In 1740, he sent his army to occupy Silesia, beginning the war of the Austrian Succession

29. Please Help!! • Even though Maria Theresa had just given birth, she went to Hungary, and holding her infant in her arms, she begged the Hungarian nobility for aid • Hungarian nobles resented their Hapsburg rulers, but offered to give Maria an army

30. Bigger Powers Take Sides • Great Britain also joined Austria to fight its long time enemy France, who was Prussia’s ally • Maria Theresa did stop Prussia’s aggression, but lost Silesia at the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle in 1748

31. Switch-a-roo • Maria Theresa decided that the French kings were not a threat to Austria, and made an alliance with them • When Frederick heard of this news, he signed a treaty with Britain-Austria’s former ally

32. Austria ‘s France And Great Britain ‘s Prussia

33. Now, Austria, France, Russia and some others were allied against Britain and Prussia • Not only had Austria and Prussia switched allies, but for the first time, Russia was playing a part in European affairs

34. The Seven Years War • In 1756, Frederick attacked Saxony, an Austrian ally • Soon every great European power was involved in a war that was fought in Europe, India and North America • The war lasted until 1763, called the Seven Years War • The end result didn’t change the territorial situation in Europe

35. Saxony is part of Germany