The Age of Absolutism 1589-1715

Principles of Absolutism Ruler had complete power Established to restore law and order after the religious wars Ruler acts as the “Father” of the people Duty to care for his people Allegiance to the ruler, not the state Weakens opposition Takes power away from everyone Can be abusive

Characteristics of Absolutism Eliminated power from the nobility Placed power in the hands of the bourgeoisie Strong bureaucracy Bureaucrats are only accountable to the King Sovereignty of a country was embodied in the ruler Large standing armies French and Spanish monarchies gained control of the Roman Catholic Church

Philosophers of Absolutism Thomas Hobbes 1588-1679 “The Leviathan” 1660-Sea Monster Monarchs have complete power because people give up their right to power= Social Contract Theory Give up your power and in return the King provides order and protection Anarchy stems from a lack of power A strong ruler stops anarchy and chaos The King is the King because the people allow him to be, NOT GOD

Philosophers of Absolutism Jean Bodin 1530-1596 Writes during the French Civil Wars Life is chaotic and crazy “Six Books of the Republic”-1576 Absolute power provides order and safety for people The King is like the “Father” Stern and strict, but provides necessities The King is 2nd to God “The Divine Right of Kings”-Divine right to rule by God

Philosophers of Absolutism Bishop Bousset 1681-1704 Rulers authority comes from God alone There is no concept of a “Social Contract” Differed from Thomas Hobbes Tutor of Louis XIV (King of France) The principal advocate of the “Divine Right of Kings” Louis XIV has to listen to no one except God Weakens the nobility

3 French Estates 1.) Clergy = 1% of the population 2). Nobility = 3%-4% of the population 3). Everyone Else = 95% of the population Bourgeoisie & peasants These people had no power 17th Century France had 20% of Europe’s population France is an Agrarian Society Heavily reliant on farming 90% of France’s population lives in rural areas

Foundations of Absolutism Henry of Navarre Becomes King Henry IV of France Originally married to Margaret Valois Marriage was annulled and he married Marie de Medici Son is Louis XIII King Henry IV of France (1589 )=France reign of Bourbon Kings Converts to Catholicism probably because of Margaret Valois after the St. Bartholomew Day Massacre French Huguenots are not to pleased Writes the Edict of the Nantes Fortified towns for French Huegeonots

Foundations of Absolutism King Henry IV appoints the Duke of Sully as his Chief Finance Minister Duke of Sully Protestant =Disliked by Catholics because he’s Protestant and disliked by Protestants because he works for a Catholic Reforms the Tax system by creating “tax lease” Reduced the Royal debt Used Mercantilism to enrich France…..More Powerful! Renewed Paris Built Roads and Canals to strengthen French trade

Foundations of Absolutism Henry IV takes power away from the Nobility Nobility of the Sword=Earned titles of Nobility Nobility of the Robe=Titles that were bought Henry IV institutes the Nobility of the Robe because they are new and loyal to Henry Henry IV is assassinated by a radical Monk His son Louis XIII becomes King of France His mother is Marie De Medici Half Medici and Half Habsburg

Louis XIII Marie De Medici is his regent, inherits the crown at age 9. Cardinal Richelieu Appointed Chief Minister of Louis XIII Wants to take power away from the Habsburg’s Creates the “Intendant System” Weakens nobility by replacing them w/Civil Servants in 32 districts This centralizes and extents the King’s power In charge of justice, police and finance Extends Mercantilism Military doubles in size from 1630-1650

Cardinal Richelieu He was a “Politique” Siege of La Rochelle 1627-1628 Catholic but tolerated Huguenots Siege of La Rochelle 1627-1628 Conquer the fortified towns of the Huguenots Contradicts with the concepts of Absolutism Peace of Allay Practice Protestantism Can no longer have fortified towns “Reason of the State”

Wars of Louis XIV Louis XIV 1638-1715 “Sun King”- “Louis the Great” Louis XIII & Anne of Austria Builds Versailles Makes France the strongest country in Europe Louis main goal was to expand France. By weakening his political rivals= England, Holland and The Habsburgs Extends the French borders to Alps, Rhine, North Sea, English Channel and the Pyrenees Mountains.

War of Devolution 1667-1668 1st Dutch War =Invaded the Spanish Netherlands and Belgium Invade the territories of the Triple Alliance England Netherlands Sweden Obtained 12 fortified towns….except Comte Louis is not pleased and wants more Attempts to invade again and want Strasburg as well Louis loses and gives up all but 2 of the towns Comte and Alsace

Dutch War 1672-1678 William of Orange – later becomes the King of England Dutch have a small army so they align with the Spanish Louis XIV was winning until the Dutch flushed the Dykes Louis gains French Comte, Artois, parts of Alsace and Lorraine Dutch remained independent and the French had to rescind the anti-Dutch tariff of 1667

War of the League of Augsburg 1688-1697 Louis attacked cities along the Rhine river Europe is not very happy with Louis Alliance against Louis XIV League of Augsburg Holy Roman Empire = Under command of Leopold (Habsburg) Spain=Under command of Charles II (Habsburg) Sweden Bavaria, Palatinate, Saxony The Dutch Republic England after 1698 William of Orange became King of England in 1688

War of the League of Augsburg War drags on and on Had to tax nobles to pay finance the war French’s navy was weakening No real victories or defeats Treaty of Ryswick Territories are returned to original countries The status quo returns to Europe France keeps Alsace and Strasburg

War of Spanish Succession Charles II of Spain does not have an heir Leopold (H.R.E) claims right to throne Louis XIV of France claims right to the throne They are both married to Charles II sisters Charles II leaves the Spanish throne to the Grandson of Louis XIV, Phillip of Anjou Becomes King Phillip V of Spain Balance of power is out of whack. Spain and France would become 1 united superpower

War of Spanish Succession William III of Orange forms an alliance The Grand Alliance England Holland Austria Prussia The Great Alliance destroys the French Fighting finally ends in 1713

Peace of Utrecht 1713 Ends the War of Spanish Succession Re establishes balance in Europe Spanish resources are divided among the countries of the Great Alliance King Phillip V remains on the throne of Spain, but he can not claim the French throne Bourbons control Spain until 1931 Spain keeps their holdings in the Americas

Peace of Utrecht England Gibraltar =Meditterean stronghold Minorca Nova Scotia New Foundland Hudson Bay Colony Control of Slave Trade in New World Asiento-The British right to sell slaves to the Spanish England gets very wealthy

Peace of Utrecht Dutch Austria German States France Land to act as a buffer zone from French along Scheldt River Austria Takes possession of Spanish Netherlands Italian territories of Milan, Naples and Sardenia German States Duke of Brandenburg can call himself King of Prussia Duke of Savoy can call himself King of Savoy France Gets to keep Alsace

Long term affects of Wars of King Louis XIV French treasury drained Population declines by 20% Balance of power maintained among countries England becomes dominant country in Europe Unequal tax system to pay for war The foundations of the French Revolution in 1789.

Spanish Absolutism Decline of the Spanish Economy The Spanish economy was hurt by the persecution of the Jews and Moors Spanish trade in the colonies fell 60% from 1610-1660 Spanish treasury was bankrupt (largely due to the failed Spanish Armada invasion of England) National taxes were hitting the peasant class the hardest Inflation from the “price revolution” which will affect their exports Spain will not value Capitalism…much more religious Long line of failed Habsburg kings…Last is Charles II