1. Absolutism Europe 1650-1720

2. Introduction 0 Rise of the Absolute Ruler 0 Prime example Louis XIV (r. 1643-1715) 0 Self-proclaimed “Sun King” 0 Artists & Architects in France paid to Glorify the monarch 0 Absolute rulers vastly increased extent of their power during these years (1650-1750) 0 Authority above all challenge 0 Absolute could do anything 0 Levy taxes, legislate laws, etc. 0 Loyalty to King personally, not to State

3. Why Absolutism? 0 How did Absolutism come to be? 0 Originated in France after 16 th Century 0 Attempt to establish order & safety after many years of bloody wars 0 Sound like Hobbes? 0 Absolute Monarch can prove very effective 0 Easier administration with rise of larger territorial states 0 Ruler viewed as father figure laying down laws without consent 0 Thomas Hobbes believed only Absolutism could keep state from lapsing back into State of Nature

5. Why Absolutism? 0 Rulers commonly believed to rule with God’s authority & blessing (Divine Right) 0 However, Absolute ≠ “Arbitrary” 0 Ruler should look after interests of the people 0 Ruler should be Just-- NOT a Despot! 0 While ruler may not be subject to approval of people, he is subject to the Will of God 0 Should be opportunities for redress 0 Hence, creation of parliamentary-like bodies 0 However, armed resistance against King was not permissible

6. Some Characteristics 0 Strong ambitious dynasties constantly tried to expand their imperialistic interests 0 Monarchs depended on loyalty of Nobility 0 Usually got it through exchanges 0 States became increasingly centralized with bureaucracy 0 Order maintained through large standing army at all times 0 Kings always needed revenue 0 Depended largely on taxes

7. Nobles & Absolutism 0 Even though some states had parliaments, power increasingly centralized to King 0 Nobles usually viewed themselves as equals with King 0 Gave loyalty & support because it was advantageous 0 However, Nobles rarely had any governing influence over King’s policies 0 For sake of order, insurrections put down very savagely

8. Revenue & Absolutism 0 Eastern Europe much the same, but nobility had greater degree of autonomy 0 Eastern Europe still dominated by Feudalism 0 By choosing nobles for offices, rulers vastly increased size of state & brought great deal of revenue to the crown 0 Larger the government >> the more tax revenue could be generated >> the richer the crown was >> the easier it was to woo even more wealthy noble families

9. King’s Armies 0 Increased taxes & revenue meant more capability to wage war as well 0 King no longer had to rely on mercenaries 0 Wars fought less for religious reasons and more for dynastic reasons now 0 Large standing armies maintained even in peacetime 0 Taking up at least 50% of budget 0 Armies required to wear uniforms

10. All for the King 0 Rulers had complete authority over religious matters 0 Worked especially well with Catholic Church 0 However, ecclesiastical authority severely limited 0 All Art & Architecture of the era was a glorification of Monarchy 0 Especially “Louis XIV Style”

11. Absolutely French 0 France had become most the powerful State in Europe 0 Louis XIII (ruled 1610-43) already further centralized administration of state with help of Cardinal Richelieu (1585-1642) 0 Vastly increased taxing of peasants 0 Louis XIV (ruled 1643-1715) ascended throne at 4 years old 0 France ruled by his mother (regent) Anne of Austria (1601-1666) & Cardinal Mazarin (1602-1661)

12. The Fronde 0 Anne & Mazarin faced the “Fronde” (1648-53) 0 Uprising of nobility & parliament resisting absolute power 0 Joined by peasants seeking lower taxes 0 The Fronde 0 Parliament rose up, with popular support to challenge Crown’s authority & financial polices 0 Royal family had to flee Paris 0 Prince Conde(1621-86) played major role as first a supporter of the King & then against him 0 1651, King returned to Paris & declared his “majority” 0 Conde challenged the claim, but failed 0 Left France, while Louis recalled Mazarin

13. More Fronde 0 The Fronde (continued): 0 Louis able to calm storm 0 Put down insurrections 0 Exiled enemies within Paris Parliament 0 Gave amnesty to others 0 Louis established his authority over Parliament 0 French resistance to Absolute authority was broken 0 Parliament & nobility greatly weakened

14. Absolutely Louis 0 1661, Mazarin died 0 Louis XIV took over all aspects of control 0 France in great financial shape due partly to Jean- Baptiste Colbert (1619-83) 0 King adept at procuring revenue, but even better at spending it 0 Soon this would lead to financial crisis 0 Louis was a model Absolute ruler 0 Viewed himself as God’s earthly representative 0 As much as any King before him, he was the State itself (L’Etat, c’est moi)

15. Louis’ Government 0 Louis effectively crafted the most complex bureaucracy France had ever had 0 Continued to woo nobility 0 “Nobility of the Sword” vs. “Nobility of the Robe” 0 Louis moved court to Versailles 0 Believed King’s legacy was partly in what he built 0 Grand Chateau of Versailles constructed 0 Believed himself at center of civilization 0 Devoted patron of the arts 0 Dawning the age of French High Culture 0 Performances done at Chateau, such as Moliere

17. Louis’ Drawbacks 0 On bad side, Louis was religiously intolerant 0 Reversed policies of predecessors 0 Began campaign to purge Huguenots 0 1685, revoked Edict of Nantes 0 Many protestants emigrated 0 Among persecuted were Jansenists

18. Absolute Limits 0 Cannot yet speak of Nation-State 0 Given plurality of nation at this point, & topography, Absolute rule didn’t reach all 0 Still had to deal with Provincial Parlements and local Nobles 0 King held subject to law of God 0 Steered away from upsetting people’s most basic rights such as property

19. Hapsburg Monarchy 0 In theory, Holy Roman Emperor still reigned over many States, towns, & cities, within HRE 0 Empire only a shadow of what it once was 0 Hapsburg power increasingly concentrated within native state: Austria--strongest state within the Empire 0 Emperor (Leopold I: r.1658-1705) 0 Power over armies & foreign policy 0 Court also dominated by Nobility

20. Hapsburgs & Hungary 0 HRE weakened by years of turmoil, plurality of people, & incursions on two fronts 0 Local government prevailed over Central government 0 Hungary now a semi-autonomous State 0 Rebellion in which Protestant Hungarians sought help from Turks was put down 0 Hapsburgs regained control over Hungary, but Hungary left fairly on its own 0 Prussia now emerging as more powerful Monarchy in Central Europe

21. Rise of Prussia 0 Rather unlikely power to rise within Europe 0 Hohenzollern family powerful dynasty of Brandenburg 0 Inherited all of Prussia >> even more powerful 0 Nobility was powerful 0 King had loyalty in exchange for privileges 0 Peasants had no freedom—serfdom 0 King had support of Nobles so long as he did not try to encroach on administration of their own domains

22. Prussian Rule 0 Power of Middle Class also severely limited 0 Frederick William (r.1640-88), established own standing army 0 Able to grow power & State 0 Assurances to nobility that their privileges would remain intact 0 Gained territory, levied taxes, recruited for army, centralized government, etc 0 Frederick III actually first “King” of Prussia (r.1688-1713)

23. Prussia’s Military 0 Frederick William I (r.1713-40) first to employ “commoners” within state 0 Obsessed with development of military 0 Turned army into impressive body of enforcement 0 Also, world’s first military Reserves 0 Military service mandatory for all young men

24. To Russia & Sweden with love 0 Duchy of Muscovy ruled by Ivan III (ruled 1462-1505) 0 Another unlikely power to rise 0 Became most powerful territory in Russia 0 Region then began to expand 0 Tsar Ivan IV, Ivan the Terrible (r. 1533-84) expanded State’s territories and began Absolute rule in Russia 0 On a brutal note by keeping loyal nobles close to him & exterminating the rest 0 After Ivan died, Russia lost much of its foothold on the area until the rise of Peter the Great

26. Absolutism in Russia 0 Russia’s Absolutism also anchored by a feudal society 0 Tsar agreed to maintain serfdom 0 Creating consistent labor supply, in exchange for Noble loyalty 0 Russia’s biggest competition at the time was Poland- Lithuania & Sweden

27. Rise of Peter the Great 0 Russia saw rise of Peter the Great (r. 1682-1725) 0 Modeled State after those of Western Europe, establishing first Russian Empire 0 Peter won where Ivan IV failed before him in his battles with Sweden, Poland, & Turks 0 Russia gained much territory 0 Peter came to power through bloody struggle where he killed members of his own family 0 So, was not shy about doing what he felt needed to be done

28. Peter’s Reforms 0 Peter modeled everything about his court after Western Europe 0 Included creation of large standing army 0 Also, the building of naval fleet 0 Greatly increased complexity of Russia’s government 0 Had to resist 4 uprisings within Russia which challenged “Western” ways 0 Even executed his son 0 Had new capital at St. Petersburg modeled after Western cities

29. Sweden’s Absolutism 0 After Thirty Years War, Sweden ruled by Queen Christina (r. 1632-54) 0 Began expanding territory and gain more revenue 0 To raise money, Christina sold off great deal of Royal lands to Nobility, giving power to the Nobles 0 Absolute rule began about 1680 with King Charles XI (r. 1660-97) 0 Able to undermine wealthy nobles with support of lesser nobles 0 As well as clergy & peasants

30. Sweden’s Absolutism Short-lived 0 King Charles XII (r. 1697-1718) furthered Crown’s power with 0 Vast military 0 Reacquisition of Royal lands 0 Territorial expansion 0 Not enough of a diplomat 0 Failed in attempts against Russia 0 Charles killed in battle 0 Absolute rule died with him 0 As Nobles established parliamentary body

31. Power in Europe 0 Since 1650, religious quarrels subsiding 0 Dynastic & territorial interests taking over 0 Led to struggles between great powers vying for leverage 0 Diplomatically, many believed in maintaining Balance of Power 0 Important one power not become too powerful 0 In particular, great fear of French expansionism 0 Led to alliances of rivals 0 This kind of “Power” politics led to some odd alliances

32. Threat of French Expansion 0 Louis XIV had plan for expansion and thought time was ripe for it 0 Louis gained much territory for France, but remaining powers in Europe allied together to stem tide 0 Even tried to claim throne of Spain when Charles II (Hapsburg King of Spain) died without heir in 1700 0 Charles’ will indicated he wanted Philip of Anjou (Louis’s grandson) to succeed him upon condition he renounce his claim to French throne

33. Alliances against France 0 Philip of Anjou ascended Spanish throne to become Philip V (ruled 1700-46) 0 But would not renounce claim to French throne in spite of Leopold I of Austria (HRE) 0 France now allied with Spain 0 Led to War of Spanish Succession in Spanish Netherlands 0 France greatly strained financially 0 Louis had to abandon plans for further expansion 0 In fact lost control in Italy & Spanish Netherlands (Treaty of Utrecht, 1713) 0 By the end of Louis’ reign, France fading