Absolutism

1. Absolutism The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

2. What is it? • Where the monarch rules with absolute power over all political and social institutions (including the church) • King owns all land • King can make laws, tax, administer justice without nobility input • King controls administrative system and foreign policy

3. Dominant form of govt in the 16th and 17th C. • Valued stability, order and fixed standards • Set standards of social behaviour • Change from Medieval practices in response to the age of reason and rationalism

4. So, How do I get to be one? • Centralized political authority • Introduced national languages • Fostered and managed national economies • Change from agricultural economies to economics of trade and commerce • Rule by divine right (god granted power) and rule alone • Connected to idea of Natural Law – only true law comes from God

5. A Who’s Who The Good The Bad and The Ugly

6. Louis XIV of France (1643 – 1715)(the good) • Most famous absolutist – inherited power from father Louis XIII and his powerful minster Cardinal Richelieu: • increased power of the crown by alienating nobles • destroyed noble castles and crushed conspiracies • divided country into districts run by royal Intendant (with executive power)

7. Tax riots after Richelieu’s death (the Fronde) showed Louis the need for absolute rule • Louis XIV brought France to height of power and created national pride – became known as “The Sun King” • Created first modern standing army • Created support services for armies (ambulance corps) • Centralized govt to keep an eye on it at his Versailles palace • Put members of upper middle class in govt to keep nobles out of power • Bribed officials to ensure loyalty

8. Controlled the church • Pressured papacy to give more control to govt • Revoked the Edict of Nantes • Economic growth under policy of Jean-Baptiste Colbert – new domestic industries and colonies • France became the leading power of Europe with an overseas empire (but with a large tax burden) which became a large problem for his successors

9. The English Civil War (the bad) • James I of England (1603 – 1625) • Also James VI of Scotland • Ended years of war with Spain and worked to keep England out of continental wars • Reinstituted long forgotten dues in order to satisfy his debts • Sold titles and monopolies (angered the nobility)

10. The Gunpowder Plot (Nov 5, 1605) • Disappointment over failed attempts for Catholic rights • 36 barrels of gunpowder were hidden under the Parliament buildings guarded by former Spanish soldier Guy Fawkes - but was discovered after an anonymous tip • Cemented anti-Catholic sentiment and resulted in yearly ‘Guy Fawkes days’ • “Kings have power of… life and death, [they are] judges over all their subjects and in all causes, and yet accountable to none but God.”

11. Charles I (1625 – 1649) • Very stubborn and spoiled – not the statesman his father was • Played favourites and alienated the nobility • Dissolved parliament in 1629 because would not approve tax • Began to make religious changes under Archbishop William Laud – harassed the Puritans and made changes that many saw as a return to Catholicism • A Scottish Rebellion in 1638 over the reforms resulted in him sending troops into Scotland but had to concede defeat and pay Scottish war defences

12. Charles recalled Parliament in 1640 but it began to air grievances and was quickly dissolved • Another “Long Parliament” was called in 1640 and began to impose restrictions on the king • Catholics began to rise up in Ireland • The King failed in trying to arrest traitors in Parliament • Factions began to gain support and eventually war broke out in 1642 between Royalists and Parliamentarians • War raged across England for several years as Parliamentarian ‘Roundheads’ under Oliver Cromwell defeated the King’s forces.

13. After the King was defeated he attempted a Second Civil War to regain his power but was captured and tried for treason • He was executed Jan 30, 1649 • Oliver Cromwell moved to position himself as Lord Protector until his death in 1658 • In 1660 Charles II (son of the other Charles) was restored to the throne with less political power

14. Two extra England Tidbits • During the time of Charles II • 1665 – Great Plague of London – killed 100,000 (nearly 20% of pop) from bubonic plague • 1666 – Great Fire of London – starting in a bakery it destroyed • Although believed less that 10 deaths there were more than 13000 homes destroyed • Caused mass resettlement, blaming of Catholics and extensive rebuilding.

15. Peter I “The Great” of Russia (1682 – 1725)(the ugly … sort of…) • Sometimes called an enlightened despot • Russia was behind the rest of Europe forced a westernization of Russian society • Sent envoys and travelled himself to western Europe to gain new technologies • Returned with many volunteers (including Isaac Newton) to revolutionize Europe • Made relations with west and encourages young men to learn Turkish and Japanese • Changed Russian fashion and culture to be more like the rest of Europe

16. Hard worker – did much of his own administration • Harsh ruler • Built St. Petersburg as his capitol – causing the death of estimated 100000 • Stopped a military coup attempt and tortured and killed over 1000 – displaying their bodies in public • Kept his nobles in line with fear and displays of power • Also had some strange hobbies such as amateur dentistry and collecting medical oddities