Absolute Monarchs in Europe Central European Monarchs and Absolute Rulers of Russia

Setting the Stage Peace of Augsburg= peace between Peace of Augsburg= peace between rulers in German States States Princes determined religion- either Princes determined religion- either Lutheran or Catholic Lutheran or Catholic No Calvinists! (known as Huguenots in France) No Calvinists! (known as Huguenots in France)

Setting the Stage

The Thirty Years War Fought where we now know Germany to be from 1618 to involving most European countries Began as a religious conflict but developed into a fight for power

The Thirty Years War Catholics vs. Protestants  Lutheran Princes join together in the Protestant Union in 1608  Catholic Princes create the Catholic League the following year

The Thirty Years War Catholics vs. Protestants Ferdinand II  A Hapsburg- one of the great European dynasties  Protestant princes challenge his rule after he closes a protestant church and sends an army to Bohemia

The Thirty Years War Hapsburg Triumphs  Hapsburg armies crush opposing forces for first 12 years

The Thirty Years War Hapsburg Defeats  Protestant Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden changes the direction of the war in 1630  Cardinals Richelieu and Mazarin dominate the remaining years- power more important than Catholic allegiances

The Thirty Years War Mercenary soldiers Paid with whatever loot they could carry Plundered, robbed, and destroyed everything in their paths

Peace of Westphalia Series of peace treaties signed between May and October, 1648  France was awarded German territory  German princes gained independence from the Holy Roman Empire  Ended religious wars in Europe

Peace of Westphalia A new method of peace negotiation comes to be Representatives from all participating armies meet to settle the war and decide the terms of peace The method we still use today!

Thirty Years War Major damage to Germany  Population drops from 20 million to 16 million  Economy was ruined  Does not become a unified state until the 1800’s

The Thirty Years War End of the war = end of a Catholic Empire ruling Europe Beginning of the modern state system

States Form in Central Europe  Central Europe develops more slowly than Western Europe  Major Powers- Poland, Holy Roman Empire, Ottoman Empire - all week during the 1600’s

Economic Development  Serfs were restricted from moving to cities- nobles kept them on farm land to harvest crops  Produced large harvests which nobles sold to western Europe

Weak Empires Poland King’s power was limited by the nobles King had little income King had no standing army King’s did not have law courts

Weak Empires Ottoman Empire  Failed to grow any further after Suleyman the Magnificent conquers Hugary

Weak Empires Holy Roman Empire  Weakened by the Thirty Years War  Had no real power after losing command of German princes

Austria Grows Stronger  Hapsburgs (ruled Austria) took several steps to power Reconquered Bohemia wiping out Protestantism Replaced protestants with loyal Czech nobility Created a standing army and a central government Took back Hungary from the Ottomans

Maria Theresa Inherits the Austrian Throne  Inherited the Austrian Throne from Charles VI  Hapsburg territories under Charles- Austria, Hungary, Bohemia- remain in tact

The Rise of Prussia Hohenzollerns Prussia’s ruling family

The Rise of Prussia  Hohenzollerns Empire begins with small German territories- Brandenburg Prussia

The Rise of Prussia Frederick William (a Hohenzollern) inherits the title of elector of Brandenburg in 1640 “The Great Elector” Elector a German Prince of the Holy Roman Empire

The Rise of Prussia The Great Elector is deeply influenced by the destruction of the Thirty Years War- Must have a strong army to ensure safety He and his descendants create the best standing army in Europe

The Rise of Prussia The Great Elector and his successors move toward absolute monarchy Call themselves kings beginning with William’s son Introduce permanent taxation (need money to pay for the army!)

The Rise of Prussia Junkers (YUNG-kuhrz) Prussian Nobility

The Rise of Prussia Junkers resisted the growing power of the monarch, so King William Frederick I - Gives them exclusive right to be military officers

Extra Credit!! Which other ruler/empire strategically placed rajputs into military positions?

Frederick the Great Frederick William II The Rise of Prussia Was interested in music, philosophy, poetry Followed his father’s military policies += A strong ruler who encouraged religious toleration, legal reform, and softening of harsher laws A ruler should be like a father to his people