Absolutism in Central and Eastern Europe 1648-1740

The Elbe River- Division between Eastern and Western Europe?

Austria

Background Hopes for an effective Hapsburg Empire in Germany collapsed after 1648 Connection with Spain lost value as Spain declined as a continental power Austria now needed to forge is own destiny

Nothing held these regions together other than the Austrian Hapsburg Dynasty During the Thirty Years’ War, Hapsburgs rooted out Protestantism, feudalism, and re-Catholicized Bohemia

The Turkish Threat Turkish armies began to move up the Danube in 1663 Christian Europe assembled an army and forced the Turks to accept a 20 year truce Turks renewed their assault in 1683 and besieged Vienna

Turks abandoned the siege after two months when relief forces arrived Austrian counteroffensive developed to drive the Turks from the region Turks were also driven out of Hungary and it was annexed to Austria

Challenges to Unity Each country within the empire retained its own law, language, political life, etc. This made it impossible to establish laws and institutions that would be accepted in all territories Pragmatic Sanction of 1713 said Hapsburg territories were indivisible and recognized only one line of heirs

Prussia

“Prussia is not a state with an army, but an army with a state” Mirabeau

Prussia in 1648

Background Few natural resources or barriers Came to dominate its region of Europe Became known for its “militarism” by 18th c. Played an important role in later German unification

Frederick William Succeeded to the throne in 1640 Realized Prussian survival would depend on a strong military With a military presence, Prussia might be able to be a player in the “balance of power” in Europe

The Prussian Military State Given its limitations, Prussia had to marshal all its resources and manpower to create an effective fighting force All taxes levied were absorbed by the army Military skills and tactics were adopted from Western Europe

Entire landed aristocracy (Junkers) were recruited into military service In exchange, the nobility would receive high military rank and absolute control over their peasants Serfdom therefore expanded in Prussia

Sale of noble lands to non-nobles was prohibited by law Prussian middle class deferred to nobles and was not independent

Frederick William I King of Prussia (1713-1740) Distained any semblance of “culture” since it detracted from the military Gov’t money that was not spent on the military was a “waste” Cut expenses of royal household by 3/4

Frederick William I Prussian Coat of Arms

Always appeared in uniform Army went from 40,000 to 83,000 by the time of his death 20K of the 100K population of Berlin were soldiers Fought practically no wars and therefore left a huge war chest to his successors

Frederick II (“the Great”) Became king in 1740 Death of Charles VI caused Frederick to take advantage and invade Silesia Annexation of Silesia doubled Prussia’s population and provided new industries Prussia was now a great power with a population of 6 million and an army of 200K

Russia

Duchy of Muscovy (княжество Московское)

Roots of Russian Absolutism First Czar, Ivan the Terrible, died in 1584 During the “Time of Troubles” (1604-1613) nobles elected czars who promised to respect nobles’ privileges Nat’l Assembly elected boy czar Michael Romanov in 1613 Crest of Romanov Dynasty

Roots of Russian Absolutism Romanovs soon began to eliminate representative institutions and establish themselves as absolutists Peasant revolt led by Stephen Razin in 1671 resulted in repression of the peasantry By 1675, Russian serfs were no longer “bound to the soil” like they were in Prussia, Poland, Bohemia

Peter the Great Became czar in 1682 Spent time as a young man in Holland and England Became determined to introduce Western technology and governmental organization to Russia Sought a warm water port

Peter the Great Unsuccessful campaigns against the Ottomans in Black Sea region caused him to look north Sweden was the main obstacle to Russian expansion there After initial setbacks, Swedes were defeated at Poltava in 1709 Great Northern War ended in 1721 and earned Russia St. Petersburg