Age of Absolutism. Philip II of Spain Defender of CatholicismDefender of Catholicism Arrogant,...

Age of AbsolutismAge of Absolutism

Philip II of SpainPhilip II of Spain• Defender of CatholicismDefender of Catholicism• Arrogant, ambitiousArrogant, ambitious• Great wealth from empireGreat wealth from empire

– High inflation & taxesHigh inflation & taxes

• Large standing armyLarge standing army• Spanish Armada Spanish Armada but defeated but defeated • Golden Age of Spanish cultureGolden Age of Spanish culture• Escorial palace built to demonstrate Escorial palace built to demonstrate

his power & faith his power & faith • Golden Age of Spanish cultureGolden Age of Spanish culture

“His smile and his

dagger were very close.”

Escorial PalaceEscorial Palace

Louis XIV of FranceLouis XIV of France• Saw self as head of Cath. Church in FranceSaw self as head of Cath. Church in France

– Revoked Edict of NantesRevoked Edict of Nantes

• The “Sun King”The “Sun King”– Supported the arts BUT arts were to Supported the arts BUT arts were to

glorify himself as ruler, promote glorify himself as ruler, promote absolutismabsolutism

• Increased central powerIncreased central power– Closely watched over gov’t officialsClosely watched over gov’t officials

• Weakened nobilityWeakened nobility– Required nobility to live in Versailles Required nobility to live in Versailles – Estates General never metEstates General never met

“L’état ,c’est moi.”

(I am the state).

Louis XIV of FranceLouis XIV of France

• Needed large army for Needed large army for many warsmany wars– War of Spanish Succession War of Spanish Succession

France rose to military France rose to military leaderleader

– Strong empireStrong empire

• Controlled the economyControlled the economy– High debt & taxationHigh debt & taxation– Finance minister Jean Finance minister Jean

Baptiste ColbertBaptiste Colbert

Palace of VersaillesPalace of VersaillesProof of Louis XIV’s absolute powerProof of Louis XIV’s absolute power

Frederick William I of PrussiaFrederick William I of Prussia• Hohenzollern familyHohenzollern family• Known as “the Great Elector”Known as “the Great Elector”• Weakened nobility’s powerWeakened nobility’s power

– Freed serfsFreed serfs– Purchased cooperation of Junkers Purchased cooperation of Junkers

(nobility in Prussia)(nobility in Prussia)

• Strong army to ensure safetyStrong army to ensure safety– Grew from 38,000 to 83,000Grew from 38,000 to 83,000– Rigidly controlled, militaristic societyRigidly controlled, militaristic society– Mandatory military serviceMandatory military service

• Permanent annual taxPermanent annual tax• Council of AdvisorsCouncil of Advisors

Frederick II (“the Great”) of Frederick II (“the Great”) of PrussiaPrussia

• Followed his father’s military policiesFollowed his father’s military policies• Encouraged religious toleration & legal Encouraged religious toleration & legal

reformreform• Ruler should be like a father to Ruler should be like a father to

his peoplehis people• War of Austrian Succession v. War of Austrian Succession v.

Maria Theresa of AustriaMaria Theresa of Austria– Succeeded in getting SilesiaSucceeded in getting Silesia– Prussia became major European Prussia became major European

powerpower

Maria Theresa of AustriaMaria Theresa of Austria• Of the Hapsburgs of AustriaOf the Hapsburgs of Austria• Strong-willed Strong-willed would not would not

surrender power to husbandsurrender power to husband• Decreased power of nobilityDecreased power of nobility

– Limited amount of labor Limited amount of labor nobles could force peasants to nobles could force peasants to dodo

• Expanded the armyExpanded the army– Doubled troopsDoubled troops– War commissionerWar commissioner

• Economic reformsEconomic reforms– Created office to collect taxesCreated office to collect taxes

• Alliance with FrenchAlliance with French

Ivan IV (“the Terrible”) of Ivan IV (“the Terrible”) of RussiaRussia

• Seized power and crowned himself czarSeized power and crowned himself czar• Wanted Russia to be “Third Rome” (hence “czar”)Wanted Russia to be “Third Rome” (hence “czar”)• Turned against the boyars Turned against the boyars

(nobility)(nobility)– Confiscated landConfiscated land– Organized own police forceOrganized own police force– Executed boyars, their families, Executed boyars, their families,

& peasants& peasants

• Must serve in army to own landMust serve in army to own land• Killed his oldest son during Killed his oldest son during

quarrelquarrel

Peter I (“the Great”) of Peter I (“the Great”) of RussiaRussia

• Increased czar’s powerIncreased czar’s power– 6’7”, obsessed w/war games6’7”, obsessed w/war games

• Brought Russian Orthodox Brought Russian Orthodox Church under state controlChurch under state control

• Reduced power of landownersReduced power of landowners– Forced boyars to serve in Forced boyars to serve in

military or gov’tmilitary or gov’t

• Modernized armyModernized army– Recruited men of lower-ranksRecruited men of lower-ranks– Talented foreigners Talented foreigners

• Imposed heavy taxesImposed heavy taxes– 80-85% of taxes went to war80-85% of taxes went to war– Beard taxBeard tax

Peter I (“the Great”) of Peter I (“the Great”) of RussiaRussia

• Westernized RussiaWesternized Russia– PotatoesPotatoes– 11stst newspaper newspaper– Raised women’s statusRaised women’s status– Western fashionsWestern fashions– Advanced educationAdvanced education

Peter I’s St. PetersburgPeter I’s St. Petersburg• Glorify himselfGlorify himself• Forced nobility to live thereForced nobility to live there• Sectioned by social statusSectioned by social status

Catherine II (“the Great”) of Catherine II (“the Great”) of RussiaRussia

• Came to power by conspiring against Came to power by conspiring against husbandhusband

• Her strong army crushed peasant rebellionHer strong army crushed peasant rebellion• Gave nobles more power over Gave nobles more power over

serfsserfs• Fought Turks for control of Fought Turks for control of

Black SeaBlack Sea• Expanded empire Expanded empire