Absolutism

1616thth AND 17 AND 17THTH CENTURY CENTURY POLITICAL MODELSPOLITICAL MODELS

AN OVERVIEWAN OVERVIEW

ABSOLUTISMABSOLUTISM

CHARACTERISTICS OF 17CHARACTERISTICS OF 17THTH CENTURY CENTURY ABSOLUTISMABSOLUTISM

APPEAL TO “APPEAL TO “DIVINE RIGHT”DIVINE RIGHT” TO RULE TO RULE SOVEREIGNTY RESTED WITH THE MONARCH SOVEREIGNTY RESTED WITH THE MONARCH

(NOT THE NOBILITY NOR PARLIAMENT)(NOT THE NOBILITY NOR PARLIAMENT) RULE BY ROYAL DECREE (EDICT)RULE BY ROYAL DECREE (EDICT) – NOT LAWS – NOT LAWS

PASSED BY PARLIAMENT PASSED BY PARLIAMENT ECONOMY WAS TO SERVE THE STATEECONOMY WAS TO SERVE THE STATE

((MERCANTILISM)MERCANTILISM)

LARGE STANDING ARMYLARGE STANDING ARMY (PROFESSIONAL AND FINANCED BY THE STATE) (PROFESSIONAL AND FINANCED BY THE STATE)

NOBILITY WITH PRIVILEGE BUT LITTLE IF NOBILITY WITH PRIVILEGE BUT LITTLE IF ANY REAL POLITICAL POWERANY REAL POLITICAL POWER CONTROLLED THE LANDCONTROLLED THE LAND OFTEN WERE TAX EXEMPTOFTEN WERE TAX EXEMPT

STATE BUREAUCRACIESSTATE BUREAUCRACIES RUN PRIMARILY RUN PRIMARILY BY MIDDLE CLASS GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS BY MIDDLE CLASS GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS APPOINTED BY THE STATE APPOINTED BY THE STATE

EXAMPLES OF 17EXAMPLES OF 17THTH CENTURY CENTURY ABSOLUTISMABSOLUTISM

FRANCE FRANCE (MODEL OF AN ABSOLUTE STATE)(MODEL OF AN ABSOLUTE STATE)

SPAINSPAIN ( HABSBURG RULE)( HABSBURG RULE)

RUSSIARUSSIA TSARIST RULE FOR NEARLY 1000 YEARSTSARIST RULE FOR NEARLY 1000 YEARS

PRUSSIAPRUSSIA NORTHERN REGION OF GERMANYNORTHERN REGION OF GERMANY

AUSTRIA (HUNGARY)AUSTRIA (HUNGARY) HABSBURG RULEHABSBURG RULE

PARTS OF EASTERN EUROPEPARTS OF EASTERN EUROPE

CONSTITUTIONALISMCONSTITUTIONALISM

CONSTITUTIONALISMCONSTITUTIONALISMMAJOR CHARACTERISTICSMAJOR CHARACTERISTICS

SOVEREIGNTYSOVEREIGNTY RESTED WITH THE RESTED WITH THE MONARCHY AND PARLIAMENTMONARCHY AND PARLIAMENT

LIMITED GOVERNMENT LIMITED GOVERNMENT (MONARCH WAS NOT ABOVE THE LAW)(MONARCH WAS NOT ABOVE THE LAW)

– –MAGNA CARTA- MAGNA CARTA- 1215-1215-

--ENLGISH BILL OF RIGHTS-ENLGISH BILL OF RIGHTS- ESTABLSIHED THE ESTABLSIHED THE SUPREMACY OF PARLIAMENT – LATE 1600’S SUPREMACY OF PARLIAMENT – LATE 1600’S

GENERAL GENERAL REJECTION OF DIVINE RIGHTREJECTION OF DIVINE RIGHT TO TO RULERULE

NOBILITY RETAINED PRESTIGE, POWER, AND NOBILITY RETAINED PRESTIGE, POWER, AND PRIVILEGEPRIVILEGE NOBILITY WERE OFTEN MEMBERS OF NOBILITY WERE OFTEN MEMBERS OF

PARLIAMENT – ELECTEDPARLIAMENT – ELECTED – HELD LAND – HELD LAND PROFESSIONAL STATE FINANCED MILITARYPROFESSIONAL STATE FINANCED MILITARY

STANDING ARMY AND NAVY STANDING ARMY AND NAVY GOVERNMENT BY LAWGOVERNMENT BY LAW NOT ROYAL NOT ROYAL

DECREE – DECREE – ACTS PASSED BY PARLIAMENT ACTS PASSED BY PARLIAMENT

EXPANDED ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIESEXPANDED ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES (MORE INCLINED TOWARD CAPITALISM AND (MORE INCLINED TOWARD CAPITALISM AND

BUSINESSBUSINESS

EXAMPLES OF 17EXAMPLES OF 17THTH CENTURY CENTURY CONSTITUTIONALISMCONSTITUTIONALISM

ENGLANDENGLAND THE NETHERLANDSTHE NETHERLANDS

THE ROAD TO THE ROAD TO FRENCH FRENCH

ABSOLUTISMABSOLUTISM

THE HIERARCHY OF THE HIERARCHY OF FRENCH SOCIETY FRENCH SOCIETY

THE THREE ESTATESTHE THREE ESTATES

THE FIRST ESTATETHE FIRST ESTATETHE CLERGYTHE CLERGY

CHURCH OFFICIALSCHURCH OFFICIALS PRIESTSPRIESTS

THE SECOND ESTATETHE SECOND ESTATE THE NOBILITYTHE NOBILITY

LANDED ARISTOCRACYLANDED ARISTOCRACY THE THIRD ESTATETHE THIRD ESTATE EVERYONE ELSE (COMMONERS)EVERYONE ELSE (COMMONERS)

MIDDLE CLASSMIDDLE CLASS ARTISAN CLASSARTISAN CLASS PEASANTSPEASANTS

THE ESTATES-THE ESTATES-GENERALGENERAL

THE FRENCH PARLIAMENT THE FRENCH PARLIAMENT

REPRESENTATIVE BODYREPRESENTATIVE BODY

VERY LITTLE POLITICAL VERY LITTLE POLITICAL POWER IN FRANCE POWER IN FRANCE

HENRY IV (NAVARRE)HENRY IV (NAVARRE)MARRIED TO MARIE DE’MEDICI-MARRIED TO MARIE DE’MEDICI-

SISTER OF THE KING HENRY III (VALOIS) SISTER OF THE KING HENRY III (VALOIS)

IMPROVED THE FRENCH ECONOMYIMPROVED THE FRENCH ECONOMY LOWERED TAXES ON THE PEASANTSLOWERED TAXES ON THE PEASANTS

WORKED TO CURTAIL THE POWER OF THE WORKED TO CURTAIL THE POWER OF THE NOBILITY NOBILITY

PERCEIVED AS A THREAT TO THE KING’S PERCEIVED AS A THREAT TO THE KING’S POWER AND RULE POWER AND RULE

PROMOTED POLITICAL STABILITYPROMOTED POLITICAL STABILITY PROMOTED RELIGIOUS TOLERANCEPROMOTED RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE

ISSUED THE EDICT OF NANTESISSUED THE EDICT OF NANTES PROVIDED RELIGIOUS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES TO PROVIDED RELIGIOUS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES TO

FRENCH PROTESTANTS FRENCH PROTESTANTS MURDERED IN 1610 MURDERED IN 1610

In the News 2011In the News 2011 Henri IV was 57-years-old Henri IV was 57-years-old

when he was assassinated by when he was assassinated by a Catholic militant in 1610. a Catholic militant in 1610. He was buried alongside He was buried alongside France's other kings in the France's other kings in the Basilica of Saint Denis, Basilica of Saint Denis, outside Paris. French outside Paris. French revolutionaries dug up his revolutionaries dug up his body in 1793 but a mystery body in 1793 but a mystery admirer of "Good King Henri" admirer of "Good King Henri" managed to make off with his managed to make off with his head.head.

The head of King Henri IV of The head of King Henri IV of France, lost during the France, lost during the French Revolution was French Revolution was formally identified last year.formally identified last year.

Should be reunited with his Should be reunited with his body, the pretender to the body, the pretender to the throne of France has throne of France has demanded.demanded.

LOUIS XIII LOUIS XIII ruled- 1610-1642ruled- 1610-1642

LOUIS INHERITED THE THRONE AS A CHILDLOUIS INHERITED THE THRONE AS A CHILD

AFTER THE DEATH OF HIS FATHER AFTER THE DEATH OF HIS FATHER

LOUIS WAS MARRIED TO LOUIS WAS MARRIED TO ANNE OF AUSTRIAANNE OF AUSTRIA (HABSBURG) AT THE AGE OF 14(HABSBURG) AT THE AGE OF 14

LOUIS’ MOTHER AND CHIEF MINISTERS LOUIS’ MOTHER AND CHIEF MINISTERS RULED UNTIL HE ASSUMED POWER AT THE RULED UNTIL HE ASSUMED POWER AT THE AGE OF 15AGE OF 15

LOUIS FOLLOWED THE POLICIES OF HIS LOUIS FOLLOWED THE POLICIES OF HIS CHIEF MINISTER, CHIEF MINISTER, CARDINAL RICHELIEUCARDINAL RICHELIEU

INHERITED THE THRONE INHERITED THE THRONE AT THE AGE OF EIGHTAT THE AGE OF EIGHT

CARDINAL RICHELIEUCARDINAL RICHELIEU 1585-16421585-1642

THE POWER BEHIND THE THRONETHE POWER BEHIND THE THRONE

CHIEF ARCHITECHT OF FRENCH CHIEF ARCHITECHT OF FRENCH ABSOLUTISMABSOLUTISM

“WHERE THE INTERESTS OF THE STATE ARE “WHERE THE INTERESTS OF THE STATE ARE CONCERNED, GOD ABSOLVES ACTIONS WHICH, IF CONCERNED, GOD ABSOLVES ACTIONS WHICH, IF

PRIVATELY COMMITTED WOULD BE A CRIME.”PRIVATELY COMMITTED WOULD BE A CRIME.”

RAISON D’ETATRAISON D’ETAT

RICHELIEU’S POLICIESRICHELIEU’S POLICIES

BROKE THE POWER OF THE FRENCH BROKE THE POWER OF THE FRENCH NOBILITY NOBILITY PERCEIVED THREAT TO ROYAL AUTHORITY AND PERCEIVED THREAT TO ROYAL AUTHORITY AND

POLITICAL STABILITYPOLITICAL STABILITY ESTABLISHED ESTABLISHED THETHE INTENDANT INTENDANT SYSTEM SYSTEM

USED MIDDLE CLASS (AND SOME NEWER USED MIDDLE CLASS (AND SOME NEWER JUDICIAL NOBILITY) AS GOVERNMENT JUDICIAL NOBILITY) AS GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATORS ADMINISTRATORS

APPOINTED BY THE MONARCHY TO RUN THE APPOINTED BY THE MONARCHY TO RUN THE GOVERNMENT (BUREAUCRATS) GOVERNMENT (BUREAUCRATS)

THE FRENCH THE FRENCH NOBILITY CONTINUED TO NOBILITY CONTINUED TO CONTROL THE LANDCONTROL THE LAND AND WEALTH AND WEALTH IN FRANCE IN FRANCE BUT THEY EXERCISED LITTLE POLITICAL POWER BUT THEY EXERCISED LITTLE POLITICAL POWER

RICHELIEU’S POLICIESRICHELIEU’S POLICIES

RICHELIEU BEGAN TO RICHELIEU BEGAN TO WITHDRAW WITHDRAW RELIGIOUS AND POLITICAL FREEDOMS IN RELIGIOUS AND POLITICAL FREEDOMS IN FRANCE FRANCE

WITHDREW POLITICAL INDEPENDENCE OF THE WITHDREW POLITICAL INDEPENDENCE OF THE HUGUENOT REGIONS HUGUENOT REGIONS

HUGUENOT TOWNS COULD NO LONGER HUGUENOT TOWNS COULD NO LONGER MAINTAIN THEIR OWN MILITARY TO PROTECT MAINTAIN THEIR OWN MILITARY TO PROTECT THEIR RELIGIOUS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES THEIR RELIGIOUS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES

RICHELIEU’S POLICIESRICHELIEU’S POLICIES THE FRENCH THE FRENCH NOBILITY WERE EXEMPT FROM NOBILITY WERE EXEMPT FROM

ROYAL – STATE- TAXESROYAL – STATE- TAXES

THE GOVERNMENT RAISED MONEY BY SHARING THE GOVERNMENT RAISED MONEY BY SHARING TAX REVENUES WITH ARISTOCRATSTAX REVENUES WITH ARISTOCRATS IN POWER AT IN POWER AT THE LOCAL LEVEL THE LOCAL LEVEL LAND AND ESTATE TAXESLAND AND ESTATE TAXES

FRANCE SIDED WITH PROTESTANT FORCESFRANCE SIDED WITH PROTESTANT FORCES TO TO DEFEAT THE GERMAN HABSBURGS IN THE DEFEAT THE GERMAN HABSBURGS IN THE THIRTY THIRTY YEARS’ WARYEARS’ WAR

FRANCE EXTENED ITS CONTROL INTO THE ALSACE FRANCE EXTENED ITS CONTROL INTO THE ALSACE REGION BORDERING GERMANYREGION BORDERING GERMANY

JULES MAZARINJULES MAZARIN1602-16611602-1661

APPOINTED CHIEF APPOINTED CHIEF MINISTER AFTER MINISTER AFTER RICHELIEU’S DEATHRICHELIEU’S DEATH

CENTRALIZED CENTRALIZED GOVERNMENT GOVERNMENT POLICIES AND POLICIES AND ATTEMPTED TO RAISE ATTEMPTED TO RAISE

TAXESTAXES

MAZARIN’S ATTEMPT TO RAISE ROYAL MAZARIN’S ATTEMPT TO RAISE ROYAL REVENUES LED TO REVENUES LED TO THE THE FRONDE FRONDE REVOLT REVOLT

THE FRODE WAS A SERIES OF THE FRODE WAS A SERIES OF CIVIL CIVIL UPRISINGSUPRISINGS AGAINST THE MONARCHY AND AGAINST THE MONARCHY AND THE GOVERNMENTTHE GOVERNMENT

THE REVOLT CAUSED THE MONARCHY TO THE REVOLT CAUSED THE MONARCHY TO

INCREASINGLY DISTRUST OF THE INCREASINGLY DISTRUST OF THE NOBILITY AND THE PEOPLENOBILITY AND THE PEOPLE

LOUIS XIV LOUIS XIV ruled- 1643-1715ruled- 1643-1715THE SUN KINGTHE SUN KING

“L’etate c’est moi!”“L’etate c’est moi!”

LOUIS XIVLOUIS XIVlongest reigning monarch in European historylongest reigning monarch in European history

LOUIS CAME TO THE THRONE AT THE AGE OF 5LOUIS CAME TO THE THRONE AT THE AGE OF 5

ASSUMED FULL POWER AT THE AGE OF 18ASSUMED FULL POWER AT THE AGE OF 18

LOUIS WAS A DEVOUT CATHOLICLOUIS WAS A DEVOUT CATHOLIC MARRIED TO MARRIED TO MARIE THERESAMARIE THERESA

––DAUGHTER OF THE KING OF SPAIN DAUGHTER OF THE KING OF SPAIN -THE MARRIAGE WAS PART OF A TREATY -THE MARRIAGE WAS PART OF A TREATY

AGREEMENT WITH SPAIN OVER ITS BORDER AGREEMENT WITH SPAIN OVER ITS BORDER WITH FRANCEWITH FRANCE

LOUIS STRONGLY BELIEVED IN LOUIS STRONGLY BELIEVED IN DIVINE DIVINE RIGHT RULERIGHT RULE

FEARED THE NOBILITYAND THE MASSES FEARED THE NOBILITYAND THE MASSES THE THE FRONDE FRONDE HAD FREIGHTENED LOUIS AS A BOYHAD FREIGHTENED LOUIS AS A BOY

SOUGHT TO SOUGHT TO CENTRALIZE POWER AND CENTRALIZE POWER AND COMPLETELY CONTROL THE NOBILITYCOMPLETELY CONTROL THE NOBILITY AND ANY OPPOSITION TO THE MONARCHYAND ANY OPPOSITION TO THE MONARCHY

LOUIS MARRIES MARIA THERESA OF SPAINLOUIS MARRIES MARIA THERESA OF SPAIN

PALACE OF VERSAILLESPALACE OF VERSAILLESROYAL RESIDENCE OUTSIDE OF PARISROYAL RESIDENCE OUTSIDE OF PARIS

THE NOBILITY WERE REQUIRED TO COME TO VERSAILLES THE NOBILITY WERE REQUIRED TO COME TO VERSAILLES FOR SIX MONTHS OF THE YEARFOR SIX MONTHS OF THE YEAR

The King’s Bedroom The King’s Bedroom

The Queen’s Bedroom The Queen’s Bedroom

HALL OF MIRRORSHALL OF MIRRORS

LOUIS’ PHILOSOPHYLOUIS’ PHILOSOPHY

ONE KINGONE KING ONE FAITHONE FAITH ONE LAWONE LAW

““L’etate c’est moi”L’etate c’est moi” - I am the state - I am the state

LOUIS’ POLICIESLOUIS’ POLICIES

CENTRALIZED THE FRENCH STATE CENTRALIZED THE FRENCH STATE AROUND THE MONARCHY AROUND THE MONARCHY

EXPANDED THE PROFESSIONAL CLASS EXPANDED THE PROFESSIONAL CLASS IntendantsIntendants MIDDLE CLASS MIDDLE CLASS GOVERNMENT GOVERNMENT

OFFICIALSOFFICIALS bureaucrats (included minor nobility) bureaucrats (included minor nobility)

FRANCE FOLLOWED MERCANTILIST FRANCE FOLLOWED MERCANTILIST ECONOMIC POLICIESECONOMIC POLICIES THAT SERVED THE THAT SERVED THE STATE STATE (Colbert- Louis’ finance minister)(Colbert- Louis’ finance minister)

HEAVY TAXATIONHEAVY TAXATION – – TAX EXEMPT NOBILITYTAX EXEMPT NOBILITY The tax burden fell on the Third The tax burden fell on the Third

Estate Estate commoners and peasant classcommoners and peasant class

THE BAROQUE STYLETHE BAROQUE STYLE WAS USED WAS USED TO INSPIRE AND AWE THE PEOPLE TO INSPIRE AND AWE THE PEOPLE Enhance the grandeur of monarchy Enhance the grandeur of monarchy Art, music, architecture Art, music, architecture

FRENCH EXPANSIONFRENCH EXPANSION THROUGH THROUGH WARWAR AND MILITARY AND MILITARY CONQUESTCONQUEST

LOUIS UNIFIED FRANCE LOUIS UNIFIED FRANCE RELIGIOUSLY UNDER RELIGIOUSLY UNDER CATHOLICISMCATHOLICISM REVOKED THE EDICT OF REVOKED THE EDICT OF

NANTESNANTES

LOUIS’ WARSLOUIS’ WARS

LOUIS KEPT FRANCE AT WAR FOR 33 LOUIS KEPT FRANCE AT WAR FOR 33 YEARS OUT OF HIS 54 YEAR REIGNYEARS OUT OF HIS 54 YEAR REIGN

LOUIS OFTEN COMMANDED THE ARMY LOUIS OFTEN COMMANDED THE ARMY HIMSELFHIMSELF

WARS WERE WARS WERE EXTREMELY EXPENSIVEEXTREMELY EXPENSIVE FOR FOR FRANCEFRANCE

FRANCE ASSUMED FRANCE ASSUMED TREMEMDOUS WAR TREMEMDOUS WAR DEBTDEBT WITH NO WAY TO GENERATE THE WITH NO WAY TO GENERATE THE FUNDS NEEDED TO SUPPORT THE STATEFUNDS NEEDED TO SUPPORT THE STATE

THE WAR OF THE SPANISH THE WAR OF THE SPANISH SUCCESSION (1701-1713)SUCCESSION (1701-1713)

WHEN THE WHEN THE LAST SPANISH HABSBURGLAST SPANISH HABSBURG MONARCH MONARCH DIED HE LEFT NO HEIR TO THE THRONE (DIED HE LEFT NO HEIR TO THE THRONE (CHARLES CHARLES II)II)

CHARLES’ WILL LEFT SPAIN AND ITS COLONIES TO CHARLES’ WILL LEFT SPAIN AND ITS COLONIES TO PHILIP OF ANGOUPHILIP OF ANGOU (LOUIS’ GRANDSON) (LOUIS’ GRANDSON) LOUIS’S WIFE, QUEEN MARIA TERESA WAS CHARLES’ LOUIS’S WIFE, QUEEN MARIA TERESA WAS CHARLES’

SISTER SISTER

LOUIS XIV LAID CLAIM TO THE SPANISH CROWN LOUIS XIV LAID CLAIM TO THE SPANISH CROWN THROUGH HIS GRANDSON THROUGH HIS GRANDSON THIS WAS A VIOLATION OF A PREVIOUS AGREEMENT THIS WAS A VIOLATION OF A PREVIOUS AGREEMENT

BETWEEN FRANCE AND THE HOLY ROMAN EMPEROR BETWEEN FRANCE AND THE HOLY ROMAN EMPEROR

Charles II of Spain- Last Charles II of Spain- Last Spanish HabsburgSpanish Habsburg

Philip of AngouPhilip of AngouFirst Bourbon monarch of First Bourbon monarch of

SpainSpain

War of the Spanish War of the Spanish SuccessionSuccession

ENGLAND, THE NETHERLANDS, AUSTRIA, ENGLAND, THE NETHERLANDS, AUSTRIA, AND PRUSSIA OPPOSED FRANCE AND ITS AND PRUSSIA OPPOSED FRANCE AND ITS MOVE TO EXPAND ITS POWERMOVE TO EXPAND ITS POWER

THE WAR WAS FOUGHT TO PRESERVE THE THE WAR WAS FOUGHT TO PRESERVE THE BALANCE OF POWER IN EUROPEBALANCE OF POWER IN EUROPE

THE WAR ENDED WITH THE PEACE OF THE WAR ENDED WITH THE PEACE OF UTRECHTUTRECHT (1713) (1713) FORBID THE UNION OF FRANCE AND SPAINFORBID THE UNION OF FRANCE AND SPAIN

FRANCE WAS LEFT NEARLY BANKRUPT FRANCE WAS LEFT NEARLY BANKRUPT

PEACE OF UTRECHTPEACE OF UTRECHT SET LIMITS ON ANY ONE STATE (COUNTRY) SET LIMITS ON ANY ONE STATE (COUNTRY)

IN EUROPE EXTENDING ITS POWERIN EUROPE EXTENDING ITS POWER

HALTED FRENCH EXPANSIONHALTED FRENCH EXPANSION

SPAIN CEASED TO OPERATE IN EUROPE AS SPAIN CEASED TO OPERATE IN EUROPE AS A GREAT POWER A GREAT POWER

ENGLAND GAINED SOME OF FRANCE’S ENGLAND GAINED SOME OF FRANCE’S COLONIAL TERRITORIES IN THE NEW COLONIAL TERRITORIES IN THE NEW WORLDWORLD

ENGLAND GAINED CONTROL OF THE ENGLAND GAINED CONTROL OF THE

AFRICAN SLAVE TRADE FROM SPAIN AFRICAN SLAVE TRADE FROM SPAIN

SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, AND SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, AND POLITICAL TENSIONS WOULD POLITICAL TENSIONS WOULD UTLIMATELY LEAD TO THE UTLIMATELY LEAD TO THE MODERNIZATION OF FRANCE MODERNIZATION OF FRANCE AND THE END OF ABSOLUTISM AND THE END OF ABSOLUTISM IN FRANCE IN THE LATE 1700’S. IN FRANCE IN THE LATE 1700’S.