Absolutism in Central & Eastern Europe

1555: Peace of Augsburg (Germany) 1555: Peace of Augsburg (Germany) –Lutheran or Catholic (tension)

I. The Thirty Years’ War 1608: Protestant Union (Lutherans) 1608: Protestant Union (Lutherans) 1609: Catholic League (Catholics) 1609: Catholic League (Catholics)

A. The War Begins 1618: Ferdinand II 1618: Ferdinand II –Holy Roman Emperor & head of Hapsburgs  Czech kingdom of Bohemia (Ferd. closed Prot. churches) –REVOLT!! –German Prots. & Prot. Danes = war on Ferd.  Sweden later joined against Ferd. Thirty Years’ War ( ) began Thirty Years’ War ( ) began –Cause—religious conflict betw. Catholics & Prots.  1. rivalry betw. German princes, independence from Holy Roman Emperor  2. Fr, Denmark, & Sweden looked for opps. to lessen power of Holy Roman Emperor Roman Emperor

2 Main Phases: 2 Main Phases: –1. Hapsburg victories –2. Hapsburg losses

B. Hapsburg Victories Austrian & Spanish Haps. defeated Prot. Princes Austrian & Spanish Haps. defeated Prot. Princes Ferd’s. army (125,000) = paid w/plunder Ferd’s. army (125,000) = paid w/plunder

C. Hapsburg Losses 1630: Gustavus Adolphus (Swedish Prot.) 1630: Gustavus Adolphus (Swedish Prot.) –Shifted tide of war –Drove Haps. armies out of N. Germany Cardinals Richelieu & Mazarin Cardinals Richelieu & Mazarin –Favored Swedes over Catholic Haps. –Make Fr. the strongest in Euro!! Must defeat Haps. –Did not want other Euros. to have more power than Fr. king –1635: Rich. sent troops to join Germans & Swedes

Most battles took place in Germany (wasteland) Most battles took place in Germany (wasteland) –Pop. declined from 20 mill. to 16 mill. –Trade & ag. disrupted (economy ruined) –Long lasting effects!!!

D. The Peace of Westphalia 1648: treaty ended war 1648: treaty ended war –Weakened Haps. of Spain & Austria –Awarded Fr. w/Alsace (German territory) –German princes = independent of H.R. Empire  H.R. Emp. focussed on own possessions –Ended religious wars in Euro. Fr. emerged more powerful!!! Fr. emerged more powerful!!! Most important: marked beginning of the modern-state system Most important: marked beginning of the modern-state system

II. Formation of Central Euro. States Strong states formed slower in Central Euro. than in Western Euro. Strong states formed slower in Central Euro. than in Western Euro. –Poland, H.R. Emp., & Ottoman Emp. Reasons: Reasons: –1. aristocracy denied freedom of serfs –2. nobles blocked development of strong kings Power vacuum: Power vacuum: –Hapsburgs & Hohenzollerns

A. Austria Grows Aust. Haps. took steps to become absolute monarchs Aust. Haps. took steps to become absolute monarchs –1. wiped out Prot. in Bohemia –2. centralized govt. & created army –3. retook Hungary from Ottomans 1711: Charles VI = Haps. ruler 1711: Charles VI = Haps. ruler –Spent reign trying to control patchwork of territories 1740: Charles VI died (Maria Theresa inherited Austria & Haps. land?) (Pragmatic Sanction) 1740: Charles VI died (Maria Theresa inherited Austria & Haps. land?) (Pragmatic Sanction)

1745: Maria Theresa became empress of H.R. Emp. 1745: Maria Theresa became empress of H.R. Emp. German states envied Haps’ power German states envied Haps’ power Austria’s chief rival = Prussia Austria’s chief rival = Prussia

B. The Rise of the Hohenzollerns Ruled a small territory in southern Germany Ruled a small territory in southern Germany (Middle Ages) (Middle Ages) --settled in Prussia : Frederick William (the Great Elector) 1648: ruled several territories in Germany 1648: ruled several territories in Germany Moved toward absolute monarchy Moved toward absolute monarchy Hohenzollern possessions in N. Germany = Prussia (Frederick I) Hohenzollern possessions in N. Germany = Prussia (Frederick I)

: Frederick William (the Great Elector) : Frederick William (the Great Elector) : Frederick I : Frederick I : Frederick William I : Frederick William I : Frederick II (the Great) : Frederick II (the Great)

1. Frederick William I 1713: succeeded his father, Fred. I 1713: succeeded his father, Fred. I Strengthened Prussia Strengthened Prussia –Doubled size of army (80,000) –Created bureaucracy –Encouraged trade & industry –Promoted education

2. Frederick the Great Frederick II = not strong enough to rule? Frederick II = not strong enough to rule? 1740: became king of Prussia 1740: became king of Prussia

III. Conflict Betw. Prussia & Austria Frederick II seized Silesia (Austrian land) Frederick II seized Silesia (Austrian land) –Belonged to Maria Theresa (valuable) –Began War of Austrian Succession Theresa allied w/Hungary & G.B. joined Aust. Theresa allied w/Hungary & G.B. joined Aust. Prussia allied w/Fr. Prussia allied w/Fr. 1748: Austria & allies lost (Treaty of Aix-la- Chapelle) 1748: Austria & allies lost (Treaty of Aix-la- Chapelle) –Silesia ceded to Prussia