Rise of European Absolute Monarchs: Power, Conflict, and Luxurious Reign

1. Ch. 5 Absolute Monarchs in Europe 1500-1800 • World History • Mr. Curtis

2. Spain’s Empire and European Absolutism • Charles the V of Spain split up half of his empire and gave a large portion to his brother Philip II. (Spain, Spanish Netherlands and American colonies) • Philip II was a strong leader who was very aggressive in trying to strengthen his empire and protect Catholicism. • 1580, He seized Portugal after their King died. (including Portugal territory in Africa, India and the West Indies) • Accumulated tons of gold from American mines (339,000 lbs. of gold) • 1571, Led attacks on the Ottoman Empire (Muslim) • 1588, Ordered an attack on Protestant England to punish Protestants. The Spanish Armada- (Spain’s massive navy) was defeated by English warships.(pg. 156)

3. The Spanish Empire Weakens • Inflation- Spain’s population was growing which led to higher demand for goods---merchants were able to raise prices. • The silver bullion flooded the market causing its value to go down. • Taxes- Spain’s nobles did not have to pay taxes. The poor had to pick up the slack which led to the poor staying poor. (no middle class) • Making Enemies Rich- Cloth and manufactured goods were expensive in Spain. Most Spaniards bought goods from other countries making them rich. Expensive wars made Spanish kings borrow money from other countries which put Spain in debt.

4. Absolutism in Europe • Like Philip II, many Monarchs would claim the authority to rule without limits on their power. • Absolutism- idea that kings and queens held ALL power within their states’ boundaries. Their goal was to control every aspect of society. • Absolute monarchs believed in Divine Right- the idea that God created the monarchy and that the monarch acted as God’s representative on earth. Answered only to God. • Elizabeth I

5. Absolutism • What caused absolutism to grow? • The growth of national kingdoms led to more centralized authority. • The breakdown of the church during the Reformation opened the door for monarchs to gain even more control. • Warfare and conflict in Europe caused governments to build huge armies and raise taxes. This caused revolts which gave monarchs an excuse to increase their own power. • Dutch Revolts • Monarchs wanted to regulate everything and free themselves from limitations from nobility and representative bodies like Parliament.

6. Religious War and Power Struggle in France • Henry of Navarre took the throne in France in 1589 becoming Henry IV. As king, he was decisive, fearless in battle and a clever politician. • Henry IV was a Huguenot- a French Protestant. Most Catholics in France opposed him because of his religion. For the sake of his country Henry converted to Catholicism. • In 1598, Henry took another step to save his country from war. He declare that Huguenots could live in peace in France and set up their own churches. This toleration was known as the Edict of Nantes. How did Henry die?

7. Continued….. • Henry’s son, Louis XIII took the throne. He was a weak king but appointed a minister to control France behind the scenes. • Cardinal Richelieu took action to increase the power of the Monarchy: 1. He forbade Huguenot cities to have walls in case they defied the king. 2. He also weakened the nobles by forcing them to take down their fortified castles and give up their authority.

8. Writers in France • Writers turned to a style of writing called skepticism. (idea that nothing can be known for certain) To doubt ideas was the first step to finding the truth. • Michel de Montaigne- created a new type of literature called the essay (a short work that expresses thoughts or opinions). He believed that humans could never have absolute knowledge of truth. • Rene Descartes- Meditations on First Philosophy, Descartes argued that no one could be certain of anything. His ideas helped develop the scientific method.

9. Louis XIV • Louis XIV was the most powerful ruler in French history. He was 4 years old when he took the throne. (1643) Cardinal Mazarin (replaced Richelieu) ruled until Louis was 22 years old. • King Louis XIV weakened the nobles by excluding them from his councils. He increased the power of intendants- government agents who collected taxes and administered justice. • Louis promoted economic growth in France by making France self-sufficient (what is this economic goal called?) High taxes on imports. A mistake was cancelling the Edict of Nantes which caused Huguenots to leave France

10. The Sun King’s Grand Style • Louis spent a fortune to surround himself with luxury. • Every meal was a feast. (500 cooks, waiters, servants) • Every morning 100 nobles were ready to serve him. • Lesser nobles served Louis throughout the day. • Versailles was the location of the extravagant palace that Louis built 11 miles southwest of Paris. Described as a small royal city. (pg. 166) • Louis was also a big supporter of the arts. He believed the purpose of art was to glorify the king (unlike the past)(God, human potential) and promote the king’s absolute rule.

11. Louis XIV and War • Under Louis, France was a super power. 20 million people and the largest military in the world. Louis attempted to expand France’s territory. • Invaded the Spanish Netherlands (gained several towns but did not conquer) • Additional wars were stopped by an alliance of small countries. (balance of power) • Other larger countries used the same strategy to match France. Constant warfare and high taxes (to finance wars) hurt the people of France. • The Spanish King in 1700 promised his throne to Louis’ grandson. When he died, the grandson took the throne. The two most powerful countries in Europe are know ruled by French Monarchs. England, Austria, Portugal and others banded together to stop this threat. • This war was known as the War of the Spanish Succession (lasted 13 years) Louis grandson remained in control of Spain as long as they were not united with France.

12. Central European Monarchs Clash • For a brief time, German rulers were at peace thanks to the religious treaty known as the Peace of Augsburg (1555). It allowed the Prince of each territory would determine the religion of the people. (Lutheran or Catholic) • Competition to gain followers of Catholicism and Protestantism led to high tension between the two religions. There was also the threat of Calvinism.

13. The Thirty Years’ War • The first skirmish between Protestants and Catholics occurred in 1618. Ferdinand II of Bohemia (who was Catholic) shut down some Protestant churches which caused Protestants to revolt. Several Protestant Princes took this opportunity to challenge the Catholic ruler. • This was the beginning of the Thirty Years War. (1618-1648) • Hapsburg Triumphs- Catholic rulers dominated the first 12 years of the war. They crushed Protestant uprisings and revolts. • Hapsburg Defeats- In 1630, Protestants from Sweden drove the Hapsburg armies out of North Germany. Cardinal Richelieu and Mazarin of France would also dominate the rest of the war. (Why would these two help the Protestants?)

15. Peace of Westphalia • Peace of Westphalia- (1648) treaty that ended the Thirty Years War. • Consequences of the Treaty included: • Weakened Spain and Austria • Strengthened France by awarding them German territory. • German Princes were now independent of the Holy Roman Empire. • Ended religious wars in Europe. • New method of deciding peace treaties (all sides meet to decide terms of peace) (still used today) • The most important outcome of the TYW was the recognition of Europe as a group of equal independent states.

16. Rise of Prussia Frederick the Great • Prussia rose to power in the late 1600’s. • Frederick William took power of two German states (Brandenburg and Prussia) where he made reforms to strengthen the military and move towards absolute monarchy. • The Junkers- landowning nobility in Prussia, resisted William’s greed for power. King Frederick William I bought their cooperation by giving the Junkers the privilege of being officers in the military. • Frederick the Great would carry out his fathers wishes by maintaining Prussia’s military strength and weakening the Noble’s power.(Seven Years War and war of Austrian Succession pg.173 ) (How did his dad toughen him up?)

17. Absolute Rulers of Russia • Ivan IV-(1533) known as Ivan The Terrible. He came to the thrown at age 3. The landowning nobles in Russia called Boyars fought to control young Ivan. At 16, Ivan was crowned Czar (Caesar) • Good Period- 1547-1560, won wars, added land to Russia, created a code of laws for Russia and was a just ruler. • Bad Period- began in 1560 after his wife died. He blamed the Boyars for her death and created a police force to hunt down and kill people he thought were traitors. Many Boyars were murdered. • He also killed his eldest son during a fight. His younger and weaker son was left to rule. (Led to rule by the Romanovs, 300 years)

18. Peter The Great • Czar Peter I- known as Peter the Great became the Czar of Russia in 1696. • When Peter came to power Russia was still a land of boyars and serfs. • Russia was disconnected from much of western Europe due to geography and culture: • Russia was blocked by Mongol rule during the Renaissance and Reformation. • The only Russian seaport was covered in ice most of the year. • Religious differences also separated Russia and western Europe. • Peter would make many visits to the western Europe to learn their customs and manufacturing techniques. He believe Russia needed a warm-water port to compete with western Europe.

19. Westernization in Russia • Peter believed in westernization- using western Europe as a model for change in Russia. • Some major reforms included: the Orthodox Church was put under state control, reduced the power of the boyars, hired European officers to train his military. • Other tactics to westernize Russia included: • Introduction of potatoes, (became a staple of Russian diets) • Started Russia’s first newspaper. • Raised women’s status by allowing them to attend social gatherings. • Ordered nobles to give up traditional clothing for European styles. • Advanced education by opening schools for navigation, arts, sciences.

20. Read pg. 177 and write a brief summary about the Russian capital in St. Petersburg. • Also, explain why you think the location of this capital would have a lasting effect on Russia and the rest of the world. • (20 min)

21. Parliament Limits the English Monarchy • Queen Elizabeth I of England constantly struggled against Parliament. (mainly over money) • Elizabeth had no children. Her cousin James Stuart (King of Scotland) took the throne in 1603. He inherited the same problems of his cousin. (KJV bible) James died in 1625. • James’ son, Charles I took the English throne. Because of costly wars with Spain and France Charles always needed money. Parliament refused the money until Charles agreed to certain terms:

22. Petition of Right • He would not imprison subjects without due cause. • He would not levy taxes without Parliaments consent. • He would not house soldiers in private homes. • He would not impose martial law in peacetime. • After Agreeing to the petition, Charles ignored it….(Charles was not popular with the people) • It was very important though because it set forth the idea that law was higher than the king.

23. English Civil War • Charles continuously offended the Puritans in England (mainly by upholding rituals of the Anglican church) • In 1641, Parliament tried to limit Charles’ power. Charles responded by attempting to arrest members of Parliament. Angry citizens protested outside of the palace. • Charles fled to North England where most people were loyal to him.

24. English Civil War • From 1642-1649, supporters and opponents of King Charles fought the English Civil War. • Supporters of Charles were called Royalists or Cavaliers • Opponents were Puritan supporters of Parliament (roundheads) • At the beginning, neither side could gain an advantage. By 1644, the Puritans found a General who could win- Oliver Cromwell • By 1647, the Puritans turned the tide of war and held the King Prisoner.

25. Cromwell’s Rule • Cromwell abolished the monarchy. He established a republican form of government. • Cromwell also had a Constitution drafted for England. (the first written Constitution of any modern European state) • He eventually tore up the document and became a military dictator.... Cromwell was a strict ruler using Puritan ideas to reform society. He ruled until his death in 1658.

26. Charles II Reigns • Cromwell’s military government collapsed after his death. • The people were tired of military rule and Parliament asked King Charles’ oldest son to be King, Charles II. (Restored the Monarchy!!) The period of his rule is known as the Restoration. • Parliament established an important freedom to citizens during this time- habeas corpus- “to have the body” gave citizens the right to appear before a court to specify charges.

27. James II and the Glorious Revolution • Read pg. 182 (bottom)- 183 • 1. Why did English Protestants oppose James II? • 2. Who replaced James? • Define the following: • Glorious Revolution • English Bill of Rights • Constitutional Monarchy • Parliament