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Russian Absolutism

Russian Absolutism. Background – A Legacy of Strong Rulers. Ties to Byzantium and Orthodox Christianity Byzantium Emperor is autocratic Tartar Yoke – 13c. Legacy of harsh rule No Renaissance No Reformation No Exploration Not part of the “Western Mind”. Throwing off the Yoke.

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Russian Absolutism

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  1. Russian Absolutism

  2. Background – A Legacy of Strong Rulers • Ties to Byzantium and Orthodox Christianity • Byzantium Emperor is autocratic • Tartar Yoke – 13c. • Legacy of harsh rule • No Renaissance • No Reformation • No Exploration • Not part of the “Western Mind”

  3. Throwing off the Yoke • Ivan I (Moneybags) • Gathers lots of cash • Starts building personal power • Ivan III (The Great) • R. 1462-1505 • Threw off Tartar Yoke • Proclaimed Russia the “Third Rome”

  4. Ivan the Terrible 1533-1584 • First Tsar of Russia • Ignored the desires of his boyars and began changing the nobility into a service nobility. • He wanted all commoners to be servants of the Tsar. • Many peasants fled oppressive rule and became “Cossacks.”

  5. Built for Ivan IV • 1555-1561 • Commemorated Ivan’s capture of Kazan • MYTH: Ivan had the two main architects blinded to prevent them from building something so beautiful again.

  6. Coup of 1564 • 1560 – Wife Anastasia dies mysteriously (Did the Boyars do it?) • 1564 – Ivan IV leaves the empire-retires to a monastery • “Don’t you guys miss me?” “Don’t you want your Tsar back?”

  7. They beg him to return • Boyars, townspeople, church • The condition: • Special authority to divide the realm and suspend normal law Feb. 1565 Oprichnia ~~~> special domain with no laws, Ivan does what he wants Zemshchina~~~~~> Rest of the Kingdom where laws prevail

  8. A reign of terror • Secret Police –”Oprichniki” • Black Robes • Black Horses • Entire cities destroyed • The Metropolitan complained and was strangled An Oprichniki Re- enactor?

  9. Line of succession –No Problem • 1581 – Ivan IV kills his only son with his scepter • Sets off a succession Crisis. Woops!

  10. Time of Troubles – 1584-1613 • Period of chaos after Ivan’s death In Russia. He leaves no clear heir. • Power struggle rife with assassination and intrigue. • Cossacks revolt calling for the “true Tsar,” something they will do again. • Time of Trouble ends when Michael Romanov is elected hereditary Tsar in 1613. Tsardom reestablished. Tyranny is better than anarchy. • He is elected in part because Russia is threatened by A Polish invasion and has lost land to Sweden already.

  11. Peter the Great – 1672-1725 • Wanted to “Westernize” or modernize Russia • Spent time studying abroad in disguise • While abroad there is the revolt of the strelski • scarred Peter much the same way the Fronde scarred Louis XIV. As Louis disliked Paris, Peter disliked Moscow.

  12. Return from Euro Trip • Alliance with Denmark & Saxony (Poland) • Great Northern War 1700-1721 Danish Knocked out quickly {Issue: Power position of Sweden at this time} • Battle of Narva(1700) Swedes- 18,000 Russians – 35,000 King Charles XII

  13. Russians are Destroyed • Russians lose due to Swedish -superior firepower -superior discipline -superior leadership • Charles’ mistake gives Peter a 6 year break

  14. Reform during 6 year break • Tighten up service requirements for noblemen • Created schools/universities to produce army technicians • 5 year required education for every young noblemen • Recruited foreign officers • Draft of 100,000 to create a standing army of 200,000---Life term • Tax reform • Serfs obligated to work in newly created military based industries

  15. Second Chance for Peter • June 1709: Battle of Poltava {Ukraine} • Larger Russian army beat smaller Swedish force • Win establishes Russia as formative military power in N. Europe • Peter’s reforms a success?

  16. Decrees lifetime service for all nobles Table of Ranks Military reforms (first navy) Cultural reforms (art, leisure, manners) Western look = Western thought Consequences of Peter’s Reigns

  17. Educational reforms -military schools -built trade schools -Russian academy of Sciences (staffed by foreigners) Built New Capital: St. Petersburg Consequences of Peter’s Reigns

  18. St. Petersburg – A Window to the West

  19. Peter’s Palace: Peterhof

  20. St. Petersburg – Victory Arch

  21. Baroque If its not Baroque don’t fix it

  22. Baroque – Art for the Absolutist • Glorification of St. Ignasus • Used by kings to enhance their image and overawe their subjects • Royal palace was the favorite architectural expression of absolutist power. • A dramatic and emotional style.

  23. The Baroque King • Marie de Medici Disembarking • Not all absolutists loved Baroque – Louis XIV loved neo-classical. • Baroque fit well with the needs of an absolutist monarch • Overwhelming detail • Grandness of scale • Hierarchy in the greatness is discernable

  24. The Baroque City • St. Petersburg was baroque • It had broad, straight avenues. • Houses were built in a uniform line and meant to be imposing and grand • There were parks, canals, and streetlights • Each social group was to live in a specific section.

  25. Peter Paul Rubens • Titleless • Note the Vigorous movement and energy.

  26. Artimesia Gentileschi • Judith Beheading Holofernes • Note the dramatic tension and suffering.

  27. The Night Watch • Note the ambition toward grand unity in Rembrandt’s works.

  28. Nicolas Poussin • Emphasis on balance, order and hierarchy within overawing detail

  29. Jan Vermeer 1632-1675 • Note the use of diagonals and curves

  30. Annibale Corracci • Note the individual quality and detail in this self-portrait

  31. Diego Velazquez 1599-1660 • Note the realistic use of colors, texture and substance

  32. Baroque Music • Johann Sebastian Bach is considered the ultimate Baroque composer • Others include: • Monteverdi (1547-1643) • Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741) • George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)

  33. Questions to Consider • How did baroque blend with the spirit of Absolutism? • What made St. Petersburg a Baroque capital?

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