Age of Absolutism

1. Age of Absolutism 1 • Sovereign power or ultimate authority in the state rested in the hands of a king who claimed to rule by divine right – power from god

2. Themes 2 • The During the 17c and 18c, Britain, France, Austria, Prussia, and Russia were able to establish or maintain a strong monarchy, standing army, efficient tax structures, large bureaucracy, and a more or less domesticated, divided or loyal nobility so that this period is known as the "Age of Absolutism."

3. Themes 3 • French culture and political power dominated Europe in the 18c. • England and France experienced very different political and social developments in the late 17c.

4. Themes 4 • One of the major reasons for the strong position of England from 1685-1763 lies in the supremacy of a parliament dominated by landowners and nobles of similar interests.  The 18c became known as the "Age of the Aristocracy".  Therefore, this supremacy of Parliament provided Britain with the kind of unity sought elsewhere through absolutism.

5. Themes 5 • This period saw the beginnings of two long-term conflicts--Britain and France over trade and overseas empire and Austria and Prussia over the leadership of Germany.

6. France – Henry IV 6 • Bourbon Dynasty to end War of 3 Henries • Edict of Nantes – religious toleration • Cut privileges of Fr. nobility • “Chicken in every pot” – well loved by citizens • Murdered by catholic fanatic

7. Cardinal Richelieu 7 7 • Primary goal to strengthen French monarchy • eliminated military/political rights of Huguenots • used spies to uncover plots • royal intendants to execute orders of gov • increase taxes • involved France in 30 Years War

8. Cardinal Mazarin - Louis XIV 8 8 • Put down the Fronde - revolts by nobility • Died when Louis XIV 23 • Voltaire - period of 1661-1715 “Age of Louis XIV” • Sun King - source of light for all his people “I am the State”

9. Administration & Gov 9 9 • Large bureaucracy made up of lesser nobles and middle class • distracted the upper nobility with life at Versailles

10. Religious Policy 10 10 • “one King, one law, one faith” • Edict of Fontainbleau - revoked Nantes • minority groups could lead to a divided nation • Some 200,000 Huguenots flee France

11. Financial Issues 11 11 • Versailles, maintaing court, wars cost $ • Jean-Baptiste Colbert - controller of finances • mercantilism - regulate economy • tax exemptions for industries • built roads/canals to move goods • overseas colonies – Quebec & Louisiana • raised tariffs on imports • Problem - more Colbert brought in, the more Louis spent

12. Wars of Louis XIV 12 12 • 1667 invades Spanish Neth. and Franche-Comte • Triple Alliance stops (Dutch, English,Swedes) • 1672 invades United Provinces • Coalition of Brandenburg, Spain & HRE stop Louis • France received Franche-Comte from Spain • War of League of Augsburg - east against HRE • Treaty of Ryswick Louis keeps Strasbourg and part of Alsace • War of Spanish Succession - Spanish throne left to grandson of Louis XIV • balance of power rest of Europe moves against France/Spain

13. Wars continued 13 13 • Peace of Utrecht 1713 & Rastatt 1714 • Philip V Spanish ruler but Spain and France to be separate • Spanish Neth, Milan & Naples given to Austria • Brandenburg-Prussia gained additional territories • England gained Fr territories in New World • France left surrounded by enemies and bankrupt

14. How absolute was Louis? 14 14 • Adv: • made France more powerful w/ improved military • centralized Fr gov • tamed the Fr aristocracy • Dis Adv: • taxed the peasants • created huge debt • court at Versailles too removed from lives and problems of common people

15. Spain in Decline 15 15 • Philip II - Left Spain Bankrupt • Philip III - weak rule allowed duke of Lerma to run affairs – which he only helped his family • Philip IV (1621-1665) • tried to centralize power and cut influence of Catholic Church • aristocracy too strong • 30 Yrs War defeat @ Rocroi • decline of silver from New World 1620s-40s killed economy • internal struggles - no real middle class

16. German States 16 16 • Peace of Westphalia - Germany independent states • By 17th c - 2 emerging empires • Brandenburg-Prussia • Austria

17. Brandenburg Prussia 17 17 • 1415 Hohenzollerns begin rule in Brandenburg • 1600s acquire land in west Germany and East Prussia • Frederick William, the Great Elector(1640-1688) • General War Commissariat (military run state) • members of Commissariat - Prussian aristocrats, Junkers • Frederick makes deal with nobility • free hand in running gov for unlimited power over peasants

18. Brandenburg Prussia continued 18 18 • Frederick and Economy - mercantilist • favored nobility at expense of middle class • Frederick’s son, Frederick III helps HRE in War of Spanish Succession - in return granted title of King of Prussia - King Frederick I (1689-1713) • Frederick William I (1713-1740) • Increased army – 12 in pop yet 4th largest army • Forced conscription - …”army that possesses a state”

19. Austria 19 19 • Hapsburg power over HRE declined after 30 Years War • Turned attention to traditional Hapsburg lands of SE Europe • 16th c wars of religion had added Bohemia and parts of NW Hungary to Haps land • Ferdinand II (1619-1637) crushed Protestantism in Bohemia – land to loyal Catholic aristocracy • Ferdinand III (1637-1657) permanent standing army • Leopold I (1658-1705) crushes Ottoman advance at Vienna 1687

20. Austria continued 20 20 • Treaty of Karlowitz added Hungary, Transylvania, Croatia, Slovenia to Austrian Empire (from Ottoman) • War of Spanish Succession - Austria gains Spanish Neth and Spanish influence in Italy: • Milan, Mantua, Sardinia, Naples • Never became centralized absolutist state bc of various national groups but strong bond in support of House of Hapsburg and Catholic faith

21. Russia 21 21 • Ivan IV the Terrible 1533-1584 1st to use title tsar • Used cruelty and fear to crush boyars – nobility • Expanded east to include nearly a billion acres • Son too weak to rule – end of dynasty • Time of Troubles – famine and civil unrest

22. Russia continued 22 22 • 1613 Zemsky Sober chose Michael Romanov • Dynasty last until 1917 • Peter the Great 1689-1725 • Strong military (conscription of 25yr service) • Table of Ranks – based on merit • Military consumed 4/5 of revenue bad for taxed peasants • Mercantilist policies but had to resort to heavy taxation • Tried to “westernize” – women benefited • Window to the West – Great Northern War against Sweden to gain port – St Petersburg capital - 1917

23. Ottoman Empire • Never granted a seat at European table • Oppressive yet tolerant • Christian slaves – raised Muslim and military training • Opportunity to move up based on merit • Janissary Corp becomes voluntary for Muslim or Christian • Millet System – religious communities granted autonomy for paying taxes to sultan • Suleiman the Magnificent – 16th century golden age of Ottomans – expansion and domination of trade in eastern Med.

24. England 23 23 • England moves from Divine Right to Constitutional Monarchy • Response to Reformation – religious reasons • Rising middle class – gentry w/ “Protestant work ethic” • House of Commons full of willing taxpayers that want influence

25. James I 24 24 • E-Liz cousin (son of Mary, queen of Scots) – STUART • Divine Right – not real friendly w/ Parliament • Refused Puritan request to “purify” church of bishops

26. Charles I 25 25 • Goes back on Petition of Right 1628 • Kicks out Parliament 11yrs, taxes through ship money • Married Louis 13 Catholic sis – Henrietta Maria • LAST STRAW – tried to force Anglican practices on Scotland – Scotland mostly Presbyterian (Calvin brand)

27. English Civil War 26 26 • Has to call Parliament - needs army to put down Scottish revolt and growing rebellion in Ireland • Parliament won’t deal unless they get reform (Long Parliament 1640-1660) • Triennial Act – must call Parliament every 3 years • Impeach Archbishop Laud • Charles starts arresting radical parliamentarians (roundheads) • ENGLISH CIVIL WAR

28. Oliver Cromwell & Protectorate 27 27 • Puritans forces of Parliament led by Oliver Cromwell capture Charles I 1646 • Parliament Splits • Presbyterians (cavaliers) – loyal to king • Radical independents (roundheads) – support Cromwell • Charles looks for help from Scotland, captured again 1648 • Rump Parliament charges Charles w/ treason – off with his head • Cromwell – New Model Army military rule til death 1658

29. Restoration of Charles II 28 28 • Parliament reestablishes Anglican Church – laws forcing Catholics and Puritans – Test Act 1673 • Charles tried to remain neutral as did not want his dad’s fate but sympathized w/ Catholics • Secret alliance with cousin Louis XIV • Parliament attempts to pass bill to block his bro James II (catholic) from throne – Whigs & Tories • Whigs – suspicious of Catholics want to keep James out • Tories – loyalty to monarchial tradition and supported James

30. Glorious Revolution 29 29 • Parliament was going to wait out James II until had a Catholic boy • Nobles invite William of Orange, husband of James’ daughter Mary • Bill of Rights 1689

31. Dutch Republic • 7 Northern Provinces broke from Spain late 16th c. • Rejected absolute rule in favor of republic • Separate provinces with local assemblies (Estates) • Wealthy merchant class made up Estates • Appointed an executive officer – stadholder • Federal assembly – States General handled foreign affairs • Holland largest Navy and most wealthy • Amsterdam – financial center of 17th c • Shipbuilding and trade brought in great wealth • Religious toleration attracted entrepreneurs

32. European Culture 29 29 • Many phases after Renaissance • Reflected the tension and emotion of the period • Religious Wars, Counter Reformation, Absolutism • Music - Bach • Art - Mannerism - Baroque • Architecture - big palaces

33. Mannerism - Italy 1520s/30s 29 29 • Attempted to break down High Ren. principles of balance and harmony • Elongated figures - sense of suffering, strong emotion filled w/ anxiety and confusion • El Greco

34. Baroque - End of 16th-17th c. 29 29 • Emphasized emotion and power • objects in motion • diagonal movement • Contrasts of light - shadow • Italy/Spain - Supported Catholic Reformation • attract viewers back to the Church • France - mix of religion and absolute power • Protestant Europe - secularized, genre focused • reflective of emerging middle class patronizing art

35. Night Watch - Rembrandt 29 29 • Men getting their rifles together • Light/shadow, in motion • Street in Amsterdam

36. Ecstasy of St. Theresa - Bernini 29 29 • Vision of Spanish mystic an angel pierced heart of St. T - transporting her to a state of religious ecstasy • Raw emotion, light/shadow • Religious focus • Attract viewers in

37. Las Meninas - Valazquez 29 29 • Maids of honor that serve the princess • King Philip and queen reflection in mirror on back wall • Power, absolutism • People in motion, not portrait • Light/Shadow

38. Raising of the Cross - Rubens 29 29 • Religious in subject matter - Counter Reformation • Emotional - draw viewer in • Light/Shadow • Diagonal movement

39. Entombment - Caravaggio 29 29 • Jesus being taken from the cross - emotional • Counter Reformation • Diagonal movement • Light/Shadow

40. Syndics of the Cloth Guild - Rembrandt 29 29 • Group of Protestant merchants - secular theme, genre • Rise of middle class • Light/shadow • Dutch Masters Cigars

41. Judith Slaying Holofernes - Gentileschi 29 29 • Biblical story of Judith saving Israelites cutting off head of Holo - very graphic, emotional • Woman artist, woman hero - role of women stepping out in society more • Movement • Light/shadow

42. Architecture 29 29 Versailles Schonbrunn “builds his versailles, has his mistresses, and maintains his army” - Fred Great Stockholm