1 / 21

Chapter 17 Part 2

Chapter 17 Part 2. Eastern European Absolutism Prussia . Prussia (the Hohenzollerns). Brandenburg : Ruler of Brandenburg was designated as one of the 7 electors for the Holy Roman Emperor in 1417 Was once called, “The Sandbox of Europe”

kaiyo
Download Presentation

Chapter 17 Part 2

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Chapter 17Part 2 Eastern European Absolutism Prussia

  2. Prussia (the Hohenzollerns) • Brandenburg: Ruler of Brandenburg was designated as one of the 7 electors for the Holy Roman Emperor in 1417 • Was once called, “The Sandbox of Europe” • But over time, strategic marriages gave the Hohenzollerns control over much of central and western Germany • BUT the prince of Brandenburg had little power over the Nobility: Junkers

  3. Frederick William (1640-1688) • Called “The Great Elector” (could not be king or emperor because Brandenburg was inside of the HRE • Nephew of Gustavus Adolphus • Wife was granddaughter of William the Silent • Was well-educated…spoke 5 languages

  4. The Great Elector • Was a strict Calvinist BUT much religious toleration: Jews, Catholics and settled 20,000 Huguenots after Louis XIV revoked the Edict of Nantes • Encouraged Industry, Trade, settled Dutch farmers and foreign craftsmen • New industries: wool, cotton, velvet, lace, silk, soap, paper

  5. The Great Elector • The only one before Kaiser Wilhelm II to be interested in foreign trade • Built a canal linking the Elbe and Oder Rivers • Local governments in each province • Central government in Berlin

  6. Centralization • State of permanent crisis due to : • Ongoing struggle between Poland and Sweden over control of the Baltic states • Wars of Louis XIV • 1656-1657 Invasions by Tartars of southern Russia who carried off or killed 50,000

  7. Nobles were vulnerable so… • Nobles gave $ and power to the Elector for defense • Prussian nobles did not join the townsmen resisting royal power • The Great Elector: 2 times the taxes of France for standing army…Nobility taxed too

  8. The Great Elector • Believed he was guided by God (but not exactly divine right) • Oversaw Prussian militarism • Created the most efficient army in Europe • Soldiers were also tax collectors and policemen • Unified Brandenburg, Prussia, Rhine holdings into a single state

  9. Junkers • Dominated the Prussian military officer corps • Dominated the estates of Brandenburg and Prussia • 1653: hereditary subjugation of the serfs to compensate the Junkers for their support of the crown

  10. The Great Elector • Valued education • Built the Berlin Library • The University of Pufendorf • Established Berlin as the capital

  11. Elector Frederick III (1688-1713) • aka first “King” of Prussia (so Frederick I) • Aka “The Ostentatious” • Was the most popular of the Hohenzollerns • Emulated the court of Louis XIV: • Dinner announced by 24 trumpeters • White satin and gold trim for soldiers’ uniforms • Built elaborate palace, servants: blue satin uniforms

  12. Frederick I • Was at war throughout most of his reign • Fought in the War of the League of Augsburg • Fought in War of the Spanish Succession • Both against Louis XIV • Reward: “King” of Prussia in Treaty of Utrecht

  13. Frederick I • Encouraged higher education • Founded Halle University • Welcomed immigrant scholars • Founded an academy of science

  14. Frederick William I (1713-1740) • aka “The Soldiers’ King • Was most important of the Hohenzollerns in terms of building absolutism • Army went from 45,000 to 80,000 • Military cost 80% of royal revenue • Was obsessed with finding very tall soldiers • Avoided war • Was nephew and son-in-law of George I (England)

  15. Frederick William I (the Soldiers’ King) • Militarism was part of Prussian society • Prussia called, “The Sparta of the North” • Highest virtue: Unquestioning obedience • The most militaristic society of modern times • But avoided military conflict through deterrence

  16. Prussia • Had the most efficient bureaucracy in all of Europe • Local self-government and parliamentary estates forced out • Demanded absolute obedience and discipline from civil servants • Fiscals: King’s spies on civil servants • Promotions based on merit • Some commoners COULD rise to positions of power

  17. Prussia • High levels of taxation • Junkers still the backbone of the army • More control over the peasants given to the Junkers in exchange for support of King’s absolutism • DID establish 1,000 schools for peasant children (educated masses could better serve the state

  18. Frederick II (the Great) 1740-1786 • The most powerful and famous of all the Prussian Kings • Was considered an “Enlightened Despot” (later) for incorporating ideas of the Enlightenment into his reign • Will institute many reforms • Will increase Prussia’s territory at the expense of the Hapsburgs (Maria Theresa) and Poland

  19. Frederick the Great • Will nearly destroy Prussia in the War of the Austrian Succession • Will only be saved by actions of Peter III (Russia)

  20. Frederick the Great • Childhood a nightmare • Father (Soldiers’ King) micromanaged his son’s time • Frederick the Great’s day as a child was closely supervised from 6:00am) am to 10:30 pm • At age 5 he knew all 54 movements of the army’s drill

  21. Frederick the Great • As a young man, he and his best friend ran away • His father’s agents found them and brought them back • Frederick was forced to watch as his friend was tortured and killed.

More Related