Absolute monarchs in Europe

Absolute monarchs in Europe Chapter 5 in text book Pages 152 to 185

Spain’s Empire &European Absolutism • Charles V… • Hapsburg King • (Spain, Am. Colonies, parts of Italy, Austria, & Netherlands) • Devout Catholic • Fought Muslims • Opposed Lutherans • Agreed to the Peace of Augsburg in 1555 • Allowed German princes to choose a religion for their territory • 1556, divided empire & retired in a monastery • Ferdinand (brother) – Austria & the Holy Roman Empire • Philip II (son) – Spain, Spanish Netherlands, & Am. Colonies

King philip II • 1580 – King of Portugal died w/out heir • Philip was the king’s nephew & seized Portugal • Including territories in Africa, India, & East Indies • Claimed b/t ¼ & 1/5 of every shipload of treasure from the American Colonies • Built large army & navy with wealth. Built palaces. • Became great patron of the arts • Defended Catholism against the protestants and Muslims (attacked Queen Elizabeth I)

Spanish Art & Literature • El Greco (“the Greek”) • Born in Crete • Brilliant clashing colors, distorted human figure, & had symbolic emotional expressions in paintings • Showed deep Catholic faith of Spain • Painted saints & martyrs • Diego Velazquez • 50 years after El Greco • Used rich colors • Painted the pride of the Spanish monarchy • Court painter to Philip IV of Spain

Miguel de Cervantes • 1605, Wrote Don Quixote de la Mancha • Birth of modern European novel • Story… poor Spanish nobleman went crazy after reading too many books about heroic knights & then dressed up as a knight & mistook windmills for giants

Spanish empire weakens • Wealth from Americas caused economic problems • Severe Inflation… • Rise in the price of goods & services • Taxes… • 1500, Spain expelled the Jews & Moors • Lost valuable artist & businesses • Nobles didn’t have to pay taxes & tax burden fell on the lower class – Spain never developed a middle class • Guilds… • Dominated business markets • Used old-fashion methods to produce products • Spanish cloth & manufactured goods more expensive than those made somewhere else

Wars… • Borrowed money from German & Italian bankers • Silver from Americas sent to pay loans • Philip had to declare Spain bankrupt three times • Dutch Revolt… • Had little in common with Spanish rulers • Netherlands were mostly Calvinist & had a very productive middle class • Philip raised taxes on the Dutch & tried to crush the Protestant faiths • Dutch fought Spain for 11 years • 1579, 7 northern provinces (Protestant) became independent • 10 southern provinces were Catholic & remained with Spain

Independent Dutch prosper • Practiced religious toleration • NOT a kingdom, but a republic • United Provinces of the Netherlands • Each province elected a governor – power depended upon the merchants & landowners

Dutch art • 1600’s had the best banks, but also the best artist in Europe • Rembrandt van Rijn • Portraits of the wealthy middle-class merchants • Group portraits • Used sharp contrast of light and shadows • Jan Vermeer • Had domestic indoor settings • Often painted women doing everyday activities

Dutch trading empire • Stable government • Economic growth • Replaced Italians as the bankers of Europe • Had largest fleet of ships in the world • 1636- 4,800 ships • Created the Dutch East India Company • Dominated the Asian spice market & Indian Ocean trade

Theory of absolutism • Rulers wanted to be absolute monarchs • Kings/Queens who held all of the power within their states’ boundaries • Goal was to control every aspect of society • Believed in divine right • Idea that God created the monarchy & that the monarch acted as God’s representative here on Earth • Answered only to God, not to subjects

Europe’s monarchs gain power • Feudalism declines & cities grow • Political, economic, legal, & social system of the middle ages in Europe • National kingdoms centralize authority • Growing middle-class usually backed monarchs • Church authority broke down = monarchs got greater control

Crises lead to absolutism • 17th century – continuous warfare • Gov’t built huge armies & increased taxes • Widespread unrest & peasants revolted • Monarchs increased their power & regulated everything from religious worship to social gatherings • Created new gov’t bureaucracies to control the country’s economy • No longer limited by nobles & representative bodies

French Monarchy • 1559, King of France Henry II died • 4 sons – 3 ruled & were incompetent • King Francis II – 15 years old; died 1560 • King Charles IX – 10 years old; died 1574 • King Henry III – 24 years old; died 1589 • Power came from mother Catherine de Medicis • Wars between French Catholics & the Huguenots (French Protestants) caused great struggles for the French Monarchs • 8 religious wars from 1562 to 1598

Henry of Navarre – Henry IV • Descendant of King Louis IX • 1st marriage was to Margaret the daughter of King Henry II & Catherine. • No children from this marriage • 1589 – Catherine & King Henry III dies; Prince Henry of Navarre inherited the throne • took the name King Henry IV • 1st king of the Bourbon dynasty • Gave up protestant beliefs & became Catholic for his country • 1598- Created the Edict of Nantes – Huguenots could live in peace in France & set up their own houses of worship

Devote reign to rebuilding France & its prosperity • Wanted peace for his country, but some hated him for giving up his protestant faith • 2nd marriage to Marie de Medici • 1610 – a man jumped into Henry’s carriage and stabbed him to death • His son Louis XIII took over the throne • 9 years old; Marie (mother) guided him • Weak king • Appointed strong minister; Cardinal Richelieu

Cardinal Richelieu • Essentially the ruler of France • Was the leader of Catholic church in France • Moved against the Huguenots • Didn’t allow Protestant cities to have protective walls • Weakened the nobles’ power • Forced them to take down fortified castles • Wanted France to be the strongest state in Europe • Greatest obstacle – Hapsburg rulers • Spain, Austria, Netherlands, parts of Holy Roman Empire • Caused France to go to war • 30 years’ war

Louis XIV Comes to power • Son of Louis XIII • 1643 – became king at the age of 14 • True ruler was Richelieu’s successor Cardinal Mazarin • Ended 30 years’ war in 1648 • Nobles hated Mazarin b/c of higher taxes & more power to the centralized government • Nobles led riots against Mazarin & threatened the life of Louis XIV • Noble’s rebellion eventually failed

1661 - Cardinal Mazarin died • At 22 years old Louis took control of gov’t • Weakened noble’s power & excluded them from councils • Increased power of gov’t agents • Devoted to helping France attain economic, political, & cultural brilliance • Jean Baptiste Colbert – minister of finance • Believed in mercantilism • Made France self-sufficient & expanded manufacturing • Increased taxes on imports • Encouraged people to move to New France, fur trade $$$$

1658 – Louis XIV canceled Edict of Nantes • Thousands of Huguenot artisans & businesses left • Surrounded himself with luxury • Built the Palace at Versailles – 11 miles SW of Paris • (Page 166 in text) • In 2003 dollars cost est. $2.5 billion • 36,000 laborers • 6,000 horses • Great patronage of the arts • Made opera & ballet more popular • Stated purpose of art was to glorify the king & promote values that supported his absolute rule

Louis XIV’s disastrous wars • 1660 – France was most powerful country in Europe • 1667 – invaded Spanish Netherlands • Gained 12 towns • 1672 – he led army into Dutch Netherlands • Dutch flooded countryside on purpose • 1678 – Treaty of Nijmegen ended war • France gained several towns • End of 1680’s – European alliance formed to stop France; weak countries came together to balance power in Europe

War of Spanish Succession – • 1700 – King of Spain Charles II died childless • Throne promised to Louis XIV’s grandson who was 16 years old; Philip of Anjou (Philip V-King of Spain) • 1701 – Several European nations didn’t want the French Bourbons to have this much control…WAR! • Treaty of Utrecht ended the war in 1714… • Grandson remained King of Spain • Great Britain took Gibraltar from Spain • France gave Great Britain Nova Scotia & Newfoundland • Austrian Hapsburgs took Spanish Netherlands & Spanish lands in Italy • Prussia & Savoy were recognized as kingdoms

Louis XIV’s Death & Legacy • 1715 – Died in bed • This prompted rejoicing throughout France • POSTITIVES - France ranked above all in art, literature, & statesmanship, military leader of Europe, strong American colonial empire • NEGATIVES – constant wars, debt due to Versailles, resentment over taxes, abuse of power plagued his heirs – led to revolution

Thirty Years’ War • Peace of Augsburg (1555) – Churches in Germany could be either Catholic or Lutheran – NOT Calvinist • 1608 – Lutherans join the Protestant Union • 1609 – Catholic German Princes formed the Catholic League • 1618 – Ferdinand II closed Protestant churches in the Czech kingdom of Bohemia & they revolted • German Protestant Princes also saw this as a chance to go after the Catholic emperor • So begins the 30 years’ war…

Conflict over religion, territory, and power among European ruling families; 1618 to 1648 • PHASE ONE – Hapsburg Triumphs • First 12 years Hapsburg armies from Austria & Spain crushed Protestant troops • Allowed to plunder/rob & destroy everything in their path • Stopped Czech uprising • Defeated German protestants helping Czechs • PHASE TWO – Hapsburg Defeats • Protestants of Sweden drove Hapsburg troops out of North Germany & changed the tide of war (1630) • 1635 – French troops (Catholic) joined Protestants so Hapsburgs wouldn’t have more control than France

Peace of Westphalia • 1648 – Ended the 30 years war • Weakened Hapsburg states of Spain & Austria • Strengthened France b/c they received German territory • German Princes became independent of the Holy Roman emperor • Europe became a group of equal, independent states – abandoned the Catholic Empire • New peace negotiations – all participants meet to settle problems & decide terms of peace • Still used today

Austria Grows Stronger • After war several states were seriously weakened • Hapsburgs of Austria worked to become absolute monarchs • Reconquered Bohemia & wiped out Protestantism • Created a new Czech nobility that pledged loyalty to the Hapsburgs • Centralized gov’t & created army • Reconquered Hungary from the Ottoman Empire • 1711 - Charles VI becomes Hapsburg ruler • Controlled Czechs, Hungarians, Italians, Croatians, & Germans

Maria Theresa • Charles VI eldest daughter (Maria) would be heir to all of his Hapsburg territories • While in power… • She decreased the power of the nobility • Limited amount of labor that nobles could force peasants to do • Faced years of war – main enemy was Prussia over land • Her most famous child was Marie Antoinette – wife of Louis XVI of France

Rise of Prussia • Frederick William inherited title of elector of Brandenburg • AKA - The Great Elector/King Frederick William I • His son started to use the term “king” • After 30 years war, decided to have strong army (best in Europe) to ensure safety • Weakened representative assemblies • The Junkers (Prussia’s nobility) resisted growing power of king • They were then given exclusive right to be officers in army

Frederick the Great • Son of King Frederick William I • Loved music, philosophy, & poetry – not military • While in power… • Softened some of his father’s laws • Became an aggressor in foreign affairs • Encouraged religious toleration & legal reform • Died without a son to succeed him

The Seven years’ war • Maria Theresa made alliance with France • Alliance = Austria, France, & Russia • Frederick II signed treaty with Britain • Alliance = Prussia & Britain • 1756 – Frederick attacked Saxony (Austrian ally) and eventually every European nation was involved • War didn’t change Europe’s borders • France lost colonies in North America • Britain gained sole domination of India

Ivan IV – Ivan the terrible • 1533 – came to power when he was 3 years old • The boyars (nobles) fought for power & tried to control Ivan • At 16 he seized power & crowned himself “czar” • Means Caesar • 1st Russian ruler to officially use the title • Married Anastasia (1st of 8 wives) • related to a boyar family The Romanovs

GOOD PERIOD, 1547 to 1560 – • Won great victories • Added lands to Russia • Gave Russia code of laws • Ruled justly • RULE BY TERROR, began in 1560 – • After Anastasia died; he accused Boyars of poisoning her • Organized his own police force who hunted down & killed those Ivan thought were traitors; he then gave their land to other nobles • Thousands were killed • 1581 – had fight with oldest son which resulted in the son’s death • Ivan’s 2nd son took throne 3 years later after his death • Had a stroke while playing chess

Rise of the Romanovs • Ivan’s 2ndson, Czar Feodor I, took throne but was physically & mentally incapable of ruling • Ruled a short time & died without an heir • Time of Troubles – • Boyars struggled for power • Heirs of czars died mysteriously • Impostors tried to claim throne • 1613 – Russian representatives met to chose the next czar; Michael Romanov – grandnephew of Ivan’s wife • Began the Romanov dynasty which ruled for 300 years • 1613-1917

Peter the great • AKA – Czar Peter I • Originally shared throne with ½ brother • Until 1696 @ the age of 24 • REFORMS – • Bought Russian Orthodox Church under gov’t control • Abolished Office of Patriarch (head of church); Holy Synod would run church under Peter’s direction • Reduced power of landowners • Hired European officers to teach his army new tactics • Imposed very high taxes to pay for military

GOAL #1 – to learn about European customs & manufacturing techniques. To Westernize Russia • To achieve goal he… • Introduced potatoes • Started 1st Russian newspaper • Women were allowed to attend social gatherings • Nobles had to give up their traditional clothing for Western European fashions • Education: • School of Navigation • Schools for art & science

GOAL #2 – To have a seaport that would make it easier to travel west. • Fought Sweden 21 years to gain a piece of the Baltic coast • Built a new city on swampy land • Named it St. Petersburg after his patron saint • After completed, nobles were forced from their homes to make new ones in the new capital • Peter died in 1725 with Russia finally being a strong European power

The English monarchy • Queen Elizabeth I died in 1603 with no heir • Her cousin James Stuart took throne – King James I • Ruler of Scotland & England • Countries are not united until 1707 even though they have same ruler • 1625, James I dies & his son Charles I takes throne • All of these absolute monarchs had financial troubles due to lavish lifestyles & wars with Spain and France

Petition of Right • 1628 - Charles I requested money from Parliament & they made him sign document that stated... • No imprisonment without due cause • No new taxes without Parliament’s approval • Soldiers would not be housed in the king’s private homes • No martial law in peacetime • For the 1st time the law was higher than the absolute ruler • 1629 – Charles ignored it & dissolved Parliament • To get funds he imposed fees, fines, & taxes

English Civil War • Charles needed $ & had to call upon Parliament • They passed laws to limit royal power • Charles tried to arrest Parliament leaders, but they escaped • A mob of Londoners stormed the palace & Charles escaped to north England where he raised an army • War between Charles I & his supporters (The Royalist/Cavaliers) vs. opponents of King Charles I (Puritan supporters of Parliament/Roundheads) • 1642 to 1649

Oliver Cromwell – Puritan general • took control in 1644 • By 1647 he held Charles I as prisoner • 1649 – Charles I was put on trial for treason against Parliament • He was found guilty • Sentenced to death by public beheading • Never before had a reigning monarch faced a public trial and execution • Cromwell took control of the throne

Cromwell’s rule • 1649 – abolished monarch & House of Lords and established a commonwealth; republican form of gov’t – then became a military dictator • Crushed an uprising in Ireland, seized lands & homes and then gave them to English soldiers • Created laws that promoted Puritan morality & abolished “sinful” activities… • Theater, Sporting Events, & Dancing • Had religious toleration for all Christians with the exception of Catholics • Even allowed the Jews back into England

Charles II reigns • Cromwell died in 1658 & his gov’t collapsed • 1659 – Parliament put the oldest son of Charles I on the throne • Restored monarchy & rule is called the “Restoration” • 1679 – Parliament passed habeas corpus • “to have the body” • Gave every prisoner the right to obtain a writ or document ordering that they be brought before a judge to specify charges • Now a monarch couldn’t put people in jail just because • Had no children & his brother James II took throne in 1685

James II • Offended subjects b/c of his Catholic beliefs • Had an older daughter, Mary, that was protestant & a new son who was Catholic • Parliament didn’t want a Catholic monarchy & convinced Mary and her husband William of Orange (prince of Netherlands) to overthrow her father, James II • James II fled to France when Williams army came into London • Glorious Revolution – bloodless overthrow

Absolute monarchs in Europe