Absolutism & the Old Regime

1. OUTLINE Defining Absolutism France & Louis XIV Absolutism Elsewhere Prussia & Frederick II Austrian Empire & Maria Theresa Russia & Peter the Great IDENTIFICATIONS Absolutism Louis XIV Fronde Parlement Versailles Frederick II (the Great) Absolutism & the Old Regime

2. Defining Absolutism • A “centralized form of government dominated by a monarchy that shared little power with any other national institutions.” Example: France under Louis XIV • Other Attempts: • Hohenzollerns under Frederick the Great (Prussia) • Holy Roman Empire (ruled by the Habsburgs) • Russia under Peter the Great • Declining Powers • Holy Roman Empire • Poland • Ottoman Turkey

3. Europe: The Age of Absolutism

4. Cardinal Richelieu (d. 1642) Armand du Plessis, duc de Richelieu (b. 1585) Chief minister to Louis XIII, Richelieu sought to enhance royal power and reduce noble ambition. Introduced the use of intendents, royal officials who implemented and oversaw royal policy throughout the country.

5. Regency of Anne of Austria & Cardinal Mazarin (1643-1661) • Queen Anne of Austria (1602-1666) & Cardinal Mazarin (1602-1661) • Peace of Westphalia (1648) • Brought an end to the Thirty Years’ War • France & Sweden vs. Holy Roman Empire & Spain • Mazarin wanted to pursue the policies of Louis XIII by continuing to curb the powers of the French nobility & strengthen the power of the monarchy.

6. The Fronde (1648-1653) • Led by nobles & judicial leaders (parlementaires) • Parlementof Paris = a court of law, not a representative assembly • Wanted to limit the growing authority of the crown. • Princes and great nobles (les grandes) • Also wanted to limit the power of the monarchy & protect their privileges • The Fronde was the last attempt of the nobility to resist the king by arms. • Results • Humiliation of the nobles • Strengthening of royal authority • Disruption of the French economy

7. Louis XIV (Reigned: 1643-1715) • Reigned for 72 years, for 54 of them he personally controlled the French government. • Louis XIV of France ranks as one of the most remarkable monarchs in history. • Le Roi Soleil (The Sun King) • His rule has been hailed as the supreme example of absolutism. • Under Louis XIV, France became stabilized, centralized, & one of the strongest powers in Europe. Louis XIV Painting by Rigaud Louvre

8. Louis XIV’s Drive Toward Absolutism • Saw himself as God’s vicar on earth for France • Divine Right or Divine Rule • The king rules through God’s grace • Completely reorganized France, making it into a highly-centralized, well-functioning modern nation-state. • Basis of reorganization: Centralization • Government administration • Financial resources • Army was reserved as occupation for nobility

9. Louis XIV’s Drive Toward Absolutism • Developed of trade & manufacturing (mercantilism) under direction of J-B Colbert • He believed that the state & the sovereign were one. • He thought that all power should be concentrated in one place - in him. • “L etat, c’est moi.” (“I am the State.”) • He attempted to strengthen the crown by diminishing the individual privileges of French nobles. • Sun King (le roi soleil)

10. Palace of Versailles

11. La Chateau de Versailles Built under the direction of achitect, Louis le Vau, beginning in 1668.

12. Gardens of Versailles

13. Gardens of Versailles

14. Grand cour de Versailles

15. Palace of Versailles(Hall of Mirrors) The best example of Baroque architecture at the time. Designed by Charles Le Brun

16. Palace of Versailles(Hall of Mirrors)

17. Palace of Versailles(Royal Chapel)

18. Imagery at Versailles (Le Roi Soleil)

19. Louis XIV’s Wars • 1667 invaded Spanish Netherlands • Defeated by the British & Dutch • 1672-1678: Louis aligned with the Charles II (England) against the Dutch • France gained territory • War of the League of Augsburg (1668-1697) • Grand Alliance against France • France lost • War of the Spanish Succession (1701-1713) • France lost most of the battles but achieved it goal—the installation of a French prince as king of Spain.

20. Limited Monarchy: The Dutch Republic and England • The Golden Age of the Dutch Republic • The United Provinces • Internal dissension • The House of Orange and the Stadholders • The States General opposes the House of Orange • William III (1672 – 1702) • Trade damaged by wars

21. England and the Emergence of Constitutional Monarchy • Revolution and Civil War • James I (1603 – 1625) and the House of Stuart • Divine Right of Kings • Parliament and the power of the purse • Religious policies • The Puritans • Charles I (1625 – 1649) • Petition of Right • “Personal Rule” (1629 – 1640): Parliament does not meet • Religious policy angers Puritans

22. Civil War (1642 – 1648) • Oliver Cromwell • New Model Army • Charles I executed (January 30, 1649) • Parliament abolishes the monarchy • Cromwell dissolves Parliament (April 1653) • Cromwell divides country into 11 regions • Cromwell dies (1658)

23. Restoration & Glorious Revolution • Charles II (1660 – 1685) • Declaration of Indulgence (1672) • Test Act (1673) – Only Anglicans could hold military and civil offices • James II (1685 – 1688) • Devout Catholic • Declaration of Indulgence (1687) • Protestant daughters: Mary and Anne • Catholic son born in 1688 • Parliament invites Mary and her husband, William of Orange, to invade England • James II, wife and son flee to France • Mary and William of Orange offered throne (1689) • Bill of Rights • The Toleration Act of 1689

24. Responses to the Revolution • Thomas Hobbes (1588 – 1679) • Leviathan (1651) • People form a commonwealth • People have no right to rebel • John Locke (1632 – 1704) • Two Treatises of Government • Inalienable Rights: Life, Liberty and Property • People and Sovereign form a government • If government does not fulfill its duties, people have the right to revolt