Absolute Monarchs in Europe

1. Absolute Monarchs in Europe 1500-1800

4. Reconquest • 8th and 9th centuries, all of Spain except tiny Christian kingdoms in the far north is controlled by Muslims • Reconquest – 500 year struggle to drive the Muslims out • Ferdinand and Isabella (1492) drove the last Muslims out from Granada

5. A Powerful Spanish Empire • A New Spanish Ruler • In 1556, Philip II begins ruling Spain and its possessions. • Deeply religious • Philip II’s Empire • Philip seizes Portugal in 1580 • Gold and Silver from Americas make Spain extremely wealthy

6. Defender of Catholicism • Philip defends Catholicism against Muslims of the Ottoman Empire and the Protestants of Europe. • Spanish fleet helped defeat the Ottomans at Lepanto in 1571 • Spanish Armada defeated by British in 1588 • Launched to punish Protestant England and its queen, Elizabeth I

7. Forceful Ruler • Philip II was typical of an absolute monarch because • Tried to control every aspect of his empire’s affairs • Trusted no one • Built an imposing palace • Raised taxes • Tried to force his subjects to accept his religion (Catholicism)

8. The Theory of Absolutism • Absolute Ruler – someone who holds all the power within the boundaries of a country or an empire.

9. Absolutism was the political belief that one ruler should hold all the power within the boundaries of a country. • Absolute Monarchy complete and total control by the King… model of this control was Louis XIV from France • Divine Right the idea that God created the monarchy and that the monarch acted as God’s representative on earth.

10. How did European Monarchs gain absolute power? • Decline of Feudalism • Rise in cities • Growth of national kingdoms • Protestant Reformation • Belief in Divine Right • Theory of Absolutism

11. France • 1572 – St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre in Paris • Nationwide slaughter of Huguenots • Henry of Navarre (Henry IV) – 1st king of Bourbon dynasty in France • Edict of Nantes – declaration of religious tolerance

13. The Reign of Louis XIV • After a century of war and riots, France was ruled by Louis XIV, the most powerful monarch of his time.

14. A New French Ruler • Louis XIV – the most powerful ruler in French history • Louis Weakens the Nobles’ Authority • Louis takes control in 1661 • Appoints intendants – government agents – to collect taxes

15. Economic Growth • Jean Baptiste Colbert – finance minister – helps economy grow. • How? Mercantilism • In 1685, Louis cancels Edict of Nantes; Huguenots flee France – this robs France of skilled workers • Edict of Nantes – declaration of religious toleration. Henry of Navarre (Henry IV) declared that the Huguenots (French Protestants) could live in peace and set up their own houses of worship.

16. The Sun King’s Grand Style • A Life of Luxury • Lives very well, every meal is a feast • Louis Controls the Nobility • Louis keeps nobles at palace to increase his power over them • Builds magnificent palace at Versailles • Patronage of the Arts • Versailles is a center of arts during reign on Louis XIV • Purpose of the arts is to glorify Louis

18. Louis Fights Disastrous Wars • Attempts to Expand France’s Boundaries • Louis fights war in the 1600s, 1670s to expand France • In 1680s, many countries unite against him in League of Augsburg (consisted of Austrian Hapsburg emperor, the kings of Sweden and Spain) • France is weakened by poor harvests, warfare, high taxes • War of the Spanish Succession • War of the Spanish Succession begins in 1701 • Attempts to prevent union of the French and Spanish thrones • Ends in 1714; France and Spain lose some possessions • Great Britain is big winner. From Spain, Britain took Gibraltor, controlled entrance to Mediterranean.

19. The Thirty Years’ War (1618-1648) • Destructive war that had three phases • 1) It was an internal challenge to Hapsburg Catholic rule by Bohemian Protestants • 2) From 1622 it was an all-German civil war between Lutherans and Calvinists and the imperial Catholic forces • 3) From about 1635 it was an international conflict in which religious affiliation played only a minor role.

21. Beginning of Thirty Years’ War • 1555, Peace of Augsburg • Divided Germany into Catholic and Lutheran parcels • Made no allowances for the growing number of Calvinists or other Protestants • This becomes a problem…

22. Destructive War • 1618 – Hapsburg Holy Roman Emperor closed Protestant churches in Czech kingdom of Bohemia – Protestants revolt! • 1622 – German civil war • Lutherans and Calvinists vs. Catholic forces • 1635 – International conflict • France, Holland, Sweden, and German Protestant states vs. Spain and Holy Roman Emperor

23. Treaty of Westphalia - 1648 • First modern state treaty (importance of sovereign state rather than dynasty or religion) • Introduces the idea of negotiating terms of peace • Big Winners: France and Sweden • Losers: Spain and Austrian based Hapsburgs • Results: • Europe is carved up, now recognized as a group of independent states • Germany is made up of 360 small kingdoms (some Protestant and some Catholic) • German princes now independent of Holy Roman Emperor

24. Central European Monarchs Clash

25. States Form in Central Europe • After 30 Years War • 360 German states divided • ½ Catholic – ½ Protestant

26. Prussia vs. Austria • Hapsburgs of Austria • Based in Vienna; ruled Austria, Bohemia (present-day Czech Republic), and Hungary • Problem – 10 different nationalities • Maria Theresa (1740-1780) • Dictator • Rules with liberal ideas • Abolished death penalty • Everyone went to school

27. Prussia vs. Austria • Prussia and the Hohenzollern Dynasty • “An army with a country” • Frederick II, Frederick the Great (1740-1786) • Greatest Monarch in Prussian History • Abolished death penalty • School mandatory • Grew military – Europe’s best army • Called himself king – became absolute • Monarch • Frederick the Great – buys loyalty

28. War of Austrian Succession

29. War of Austrian Succession • Fought over Austrian land of Silesia (Frederick starts the war) • Austria and Great Britain vs. France and Prussia • Maria Theresa resists Prussian power but loses Silesia • Result: Prussia gain Silesia from Austria and becomes a major power.

30. The Seven Years’ Waralso, French and Indian War • Allies switch sides • Austria (Maria Theresa), France, and Russia • VS. • Great Britain and Prussia (Frederick the Great) • Begins with Frederick attacking Saxony, Austrian ally • Fought in Europe, India and North America • NA – France loses Canada to Britain • Did not change territorial situation in Europe.

31. Absolute Rulers of Russia • The First Czar • Ivan the Terrible • In 1533, Ivan the Terrible becomes king of Russia • Struggles for power with boyars – landowning nobles • Seizes power and is crowned czar, meaning “Caesar • Rule by Terror • In 1560, Ivan turns against boyars, kills them, seizes lands • Rise of the Romanovs • Ivan’s heir is weak, leading to period of turmoil • In 1613, Michael Romanov becomes czar

32. Peter the Great • The Rise of Peter • Peter the Great becomes czar in 1696, begins to reform Russia • Russia Contrasts with Europe • Cut off geographically from Europe • Culturally isolated, little contact with western Europe • Religious differences widen gap • Peter Visits the West • In 1697, Peter visits western Europe to learn European ways

34. Peter Rules Absolutely • Peter’s Goal • Goal of westernization – using western Europe as model for change • Peter’s Reforms • Brings Orthodox Church under state control • Reduces power of great landowners • Modernizes army by having European officers train soldiers

35. Westernizing Russia • Introduces potatoes • Starts Russia first newspaper • Raises women’s status • Adopts Western fashion • Advances education

36. Establishing St. Petersburg • Peter wants a seaport that will make travel to West easier • Fights Sweden to win port on Baltic Sea • In 1703, begins building new capital called St. Petersburg • Building city takes many years, many serfs die in process • By the time of Peter’s death, Russia is a force to be reckoned with in Europe

38. The English Monarchy • Timeline of Monarchs • James I of Scotland • Charles I (James’s son) • Oliver Cromwell (military dictator) • Charles II (Charles I’s son) – return of monarchy • James II (Charles’s Catholic brother) • William and Mary (Protestants)

39. Monarchs Defy Parliament • James’s Problems • James I of Scotland becomes king of England in 1603 • Struggles with Parliament over money, Church reform • Charles I Fights Parliament • James’s son, Charles I, becomes king in 1625 • Also fights with Parliament over money • Parliament forces him to sign Petition of Right in 1628 • Petition limits Charles’s power, but he ignores it

40. English Civil War • War Topples a King • In 1641, Parliament passes laws to limit king’s power • Result is English Civil War (1642-1649) between Puritans, king • In 1644, Oliver Cromwell becomes general on Puritan side • After Puritans win, Charles faces trial and execution in 1649

42. English Civil War • Cromwell’s Rule • In 1649, Cromwell abolishes monarchy, House of Lords • Becomes military dictator • Suppresses rebellion in Ireland • Puritan Morality • Puritans abolish activities they find sinful

43. Restoration and Revolution • Cromwell’s End • After Cromwell dies in 1658, government collapses • Next year, Parliament asks son of Charles I to rule • Charles II Reigns • Restoration – return of monarchy under Charles II • Habeas corpus – law requiring king to charge prisoner with crime • James II and the Glorious Revolution • Charles’s Catholic brother James becomes king in 1685 • Glorious Revolution – bloodless overthrow of James in 1688

44. Limits on Monarch’s Power • A New Type of Monarchy • Protestants William and Mary become rulers of England • Agree to constitutional monarchy – legal limits on royal power • Bill of Rights • In 1680, Parliament drafts Bill of Rights • Sets limits on royal power • Cabinet System Develops • In 1700s, cabinet, a group of government ministers, develops • Ministers link majority party in Parliament with monarch