Absolute Monarchs in Europe 1500-1800

1
Absolute Monarchs in Europe1500-1800

• By M.D. Bergquist
• World History Instructor
• Alexander High School

2
Europe Developed Into Absolute Monarchies

• Feudalism had collapsed.
• National monarchies replaced.
• Intense competition for land and trade lead to
  many wars.
• Religious differences sparked civil wars.
• Absolute monarchy emerged to protect the nation
  and preserve order.
• Gunpowder Revolution began.

3
MAP The Hapsburg ruler, Charles V, ruled his
empire as a family estate, rather than a united
kingdom. Each part kept its own languages,
customs, laws and forms of government. Charles
traveled round, holding court in different
capitals. Note how France is surrounded by the
Hapsburg Empire.
www.theotherside.co.uk/tm-heritage/
background/flanders.htm http//www.tudorhistory.o
rg/people/charles5/charlesv.jpg
4
Philip IIKing of Spain (1556-1598)

• Inherited Spain from father.
• Sought to strengthen power by war, colonies, and
  the Catholic Reformation.
• Weakened Spain by incessant wars and poor
  economic choices.

www.tudorhistory.org/ people/
5
France was wracked by religious warfare until
Henry of Navarre agreed to be king (1589-1610)

• First of Bourbon dynasty
• Issued Edict of Nantes which promised religious
  toleration.
• Began to rebuild French economy.
• Assassinated leaving 9-year old son to rule.

http//www.kfki.hu/arthp/html/p/pourbus/frans_y/
6
Cardinal Richelieu created a strong monarchy.

• Regent (1624-1642) for Louis XIII (1610-1643)
• Richelieu broke the power of nobles and
  Protestants by destroying walled cities and
  castles.
• Used the middle class for government jobs.
• Challenged Hapsburg power by intervening in
  Thirty Years War.

http//home.nyu.edu/rgr208/richelieu.jpg
7
When Louis XIII died leaving his five year-old
son as king Cardinal Mazarin became regent
(1643-1661).

• Continued Richelieu policies.
• Generally disliked by the French people because
  of increased taxes and continued consolidation of
  royal power.
• Fronde Revolt by nobles harshly suppressed.

http//www.ac-strasbourg.fr/pedago/lettres/Victor
20Hugo/Notes/Mazarin.htm
8
Louis XIV becomes the most powerful king in
Europe (1643-1715)

• When Mazarin died, Louis assumed full control at
  age 23.
• Worked long hours to strengthen France.
• Broke power of nobles and Protestants.
• Restored economy via mercantilism.
• Builder of the Palace of Versailles.

http//www.royalty.nu/Europe/France/LouisXIV.html
9

• Louis XIV, The Sun King
• The best and worst example
• Of absolute monarchy.
• LEtat cest moi!
• Crippled France by fighting
• a series of losing wars and
• revoking the Edict of Nantes
• On his deathbed he urged his
• young grandson and heir
• to avoid wars.

10
Ferdinand IIHoly Roman Emperor (1619-1637)

• Wanted greater control of his Protestant nobles.
• Touched off the Thirty Years War, which
  eventually involved most of western Europe.
• Took German States 100 years to rebuild.

http//www.kaisergruft.at/anhang/ezhferdi.htm
11
The arrival of King Gustavus Adolfus Swedish
forces.
Next slide Soldiers sack and loot a home. The
Hanging Tree
The Thirty Years War (1618-1648)

• Hapsburgs v. German Protestants
• Sweden v. Hapsburgs
• France v. Hapsburgs
• Peace of Westphalia, 1648 - created modern Europe.

Musketeers prepare to fire a volley
12
(No Transcript)
13
The Thirty Years War Many cities were destroyed
and an estimated 4 million Germans died. This is
the Sack of Magdeburg
www.millikin.edu/history/ civilconflict/photo4.htm

14
Eastern Europe

• Slower to develop due to the many ethnic
  minorities and lack of developmentprimarily
  agricultural.
• Feudalism still strong.
• Hapsburg Family in control.
• Maria Theresa, Queen of Austria. (1740-1780)

http//www.batguano.com/VLBmcaroline.jpg
15
Frederick the Great (1740-1786) of Prussia was
determined to make Prussia the dominate power.

• Created a strong aggressive military.
• Most nations have an army, Prussia is an army
  with a nation.
• Promoted religious toleration and education at
  home.
• Successfully made Prussia dominate power by
  defeating Austrians.
• ( Seven Years War)

www.ncl.ac.uk/nhistory/ german.htm
16
Russia centralized under the leadership of the
tsars

17
Ivan III The Great
Ivan IV The Terrible
Peter the Great
1672-1725
1462-1505
1533-1584
www.xenophongi.org/rushistory/ rusinwax/wax28s.jpg
www.ronaldbrucemeyer.com/ archive/peter.gif
18
English monarchs attempted to establish absolute
system

• James I (1603-1625) fought with Parliament over
  his authority.
• Puritans wanted Anglican Church to reflect a
  Calvinist view.
• James refused to cooperate, except for a new
  Bible translation.

www.bbc.co.uk/history
19
Charles loses his head in an argument

• Charles I (1625-1649) pursued an aggressive
  foreign policy with Spain.
• Continually sought new funds from Parliament,
  members checked his power by forcing him to sign
  the Petition of Right, 1628.
• When Charles dissolved Parliament and tried to
  raise money, civil war resulted.

www.mdarchives.state.md.us/.../
01glance/images/charles1.jpg
20
Oliver Cromwell defeats kings forces and became
Lord Protector

• Charles executed for treason.
• On paper, England was a republic but in practice
  a dictatorship.
• Cromwell suppressed revolt in Ireland.
• Imposed Puritan ideals on English.

http//www.graham.day.dsl.pipex.com/civilwar-cromw
ell.gif
21
Monarchy Restored

• When Cromwell died, so did his government.
• English invited
• Charles II (1660-1685) to restore monarchy.
• Reign was a period of calm marked by court
  decadence.

22
Monarchy In Crisis

• On Charles death, brother became king.
• James II (1685-1688) was pro-Catholic, which
  angered many.
• When his young wife produced an heir, Parliament
  feared a renewed period of turmoil and removed
  king from power.

www.bbc.co.uk/.../monarchs_leaders/
images/james_2_full.jpg
23
The Glorious RevolutionWilliam and Mary Restore
English Monarchy

• Parliament invited Mary, daughter of Charles I,
  and a Protestant, to jointly rule with her
  husband, William of Orange. (1689-1702)
• Both agreed to follow Parliamentary laws and
  accepted English Bill of Rights.
• England became the only limited monarchy in
  Europe. Parliament in control.

www.camelotintl.com/heritage/ rulers/images/willma
ry.gif