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Chapter 5: Absolute Monarchs in Europe, 1500-1800. Philip II of Spain. Shy, serious, and—like his father—deeply religious. Believed it was his duty to defend Catholicism against the Muslims of the Ottoman Empire and the Protestants of Europe.
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Philip II of Spain • Shy, serious, and—like his father—deeply religious. • Believed it was his duty to defend Catholicism against the Muslims of the Ottoman Empire and the Protestants of Europe. • Hard working, yet agonized over decisions—halting government action. • Aggressive for the sake of his empire • Incredible wealth provided by his empire. • Large standing army of 50,000 soldiers.
Philip II of Spain (cont.) • Palace • Gray granite palace—The Escorial • Massive walls and huge gates to demonstrate his power. • Monastery inside.
Louis XIV of France • Most powerful ruler in French history. • Began his reign as a five-year-old boy • Took control of government at age 23 • Hated cities and loved to travel through France’s countryside. • Wanted to know EVERY detail of his government. • Very hard working
Louis XIV of France (cont.) • Spent a fortune to surround himself with luxury. • Required nobles to live with him • Palace—Versaille • Immense—stretched for a distance of about 500 yards • Like a small royal city
Louis XIV of France (cont.) • Under Louis, France was the most powerful country in Europe. • However, plagues France with many years of wars while he tries to expand the empire. • French people long for peace. • Poor harvest=struggling, starving, suffering for French people • Last years=more sad than glorious. • Regretted the suffering he had brought on his people. • News of his death prompted rejoicing throughout France.
Maria Theresa of Austria • Main enemy= Prussia • She faced many years of war. • Devoted herself to her family • Married for love • 16 children—10 of which reached adulthood • Decreased power of the nobility • Cared more for the peasants' well-being than most rulers. • Limited amount of labor that nobles could force peasants to do.
Maria Theresa of Austria (cont.) • SchönbrunnPalace • Built to outshine the palace of Versaille, however costly wars made them have to settle for a more modest design. • She designed it to be comfortable for her family and friends to stay with her.
Frederick the Great of Prussia • Loved music, philosophy, and poetry • Not military enough to rule. • Tried to run away from the palace as a young boy. • Father ordered him to witness the beheading of his friend whom he had tried to runaway with. • Ended up following his fathers rigid military policies, yet softened some of his father’s laws because he believed a ruler should be a father to his people.
Frederick the Great of Prussia (cont.) • Married a woman he never cared for and neglected • Died without a son to succeed him • Encouraged religious toleration and legal reform. • Lived in the Sanssouci palace • Also tried to compete with Versaille
Ivan the Terrible of Russia • 1533—came to throne at the age of three. • Boyars (landowning nobles) fought to control young Ivan. • Finally took power at the age of 16 and crowned himself czar. • First to use this title meaning caesar. • Married the beautiful Anastasia, related to an old boyar family, the Romanovs. • 1547-1560 = “good period” • Won great victories, added lands to Russia, code of laws, and ruled justly.
Ivan the Terrible of Russia (cont.) • “bad period” began in 1560 after Anastasia died. • Accused the boyars of poisoning his wife and turned against them. • Organized his own police force • Hunt down and murder “traitors” • 1581—violent quarrel with his oldest son • Killed him • The Palace of Facets • Used mainly for terror
Peter the Great of Russia • 1696—became sole ruler of Russia at the age of 24. • Had large goals to “Westernize” Russia, that is, to make it more like European countries. • Reduced power of landowners • Hired European officers to train and build army • Imposed heavy taxes • Introduced potatoes to the Russian diet • Started first newspaper • Raised women’s status • Ordered nobles to give up traditional clothes for Western Fashions
Peter the Great of Russia (cont.) • Wanted a seaport to make it easier to travel east • St. Petersburg in Sweden • Winter Palace • Based on ideas of European palaces. • Used by Russian rulers for many decades following.
Charles I of England • 1625—took the throne. • Always needed money because he was at war with both Spain and France. • Parliament said they would not grant him any more money unless he signed the Petition of Right. • Would not imprison subjects w/o due cause • Would not levy taxes w/o consent. • Would not house soldiers in private homes • Would not impose martial law in peacetime. • After agreeing and getting the money, Charles ignored it.
Charles I of England (cont.) • Supporters and opponents of Charles I fight a civil war. • The Puritans win the civil war. • Charles I is executed. • Whitehall Palace. • over 1,500 rooms • layout was extremely irregular • different architectural styles • looked more like a small town than a single building