Absolute Monarchs

Absolutism

•Government in which a monarch holds ALL power himself or herself

Divine Right of Kings

•Belief that a monarch holds power because God has granted it; no one should contradict the monarch who holds power at the will of God

Louis XIV of FranceActions:1. Built Versailles2. Fought wars to expand France’s territory3. Canceled Edict of Nantes

Beliefs:1. Feared nobles and believed he needed to be strong enough to control them2. “L’etat, c’est moi!”(“The State, it is I.”)

Versailles

Versailles

Versailles

Charles V—Holy Roman Emperor

Hapsburg ruler

Uncle of Catherine of Aragon (first wife of Henry VIII)

Devout Catholic

• Ruled German territory, but also inherited the throne of Spain, lands in Italy, Austria, and the Netherlands

• Opposed Martin Luther; issued Edict of Worms declaring Luther a heretic

• Fought Muslims and Lutherans to protect Catholicism

• Agreed reluctantly to Peace of Augsberg, allowing German princes to choose own religion

• Divided empire—HRE and Austria to brother Ferdinand; Spain w/ colonies and Spanish Netherlands to son Philip II

• Retired to a monastery

Ivan the Terrible of Russia

• Inherited throne age 3

• Struggled with boyars—landowning nobles

• Crowned himself “czar” (for Caesar)

• Added lands to Russia

• Created code of laws

• Created police force to hunt down and murder suspected traitors—murdered boyars and peasants who worked their lands

• Seized boyars’ land—gave it to loyal followers

• Killed his oldest son

Peter the Great of Russia

Actions1. Expanded Russia’s territory2. Disguised himself as a

commoner to observe Western European life

3. Built St. Petersburg

Beliefs:1. Believed Russia needed to

Westernize

Adjectives:Controlling, “great”, Enlightened despot

Catherine the Great of Russia

Actions

• Peter III (her husband) was likely murdered, likely under the direction of Catherine

• Expanded territory of Russia

• Formed commission to review Russian laws

• Tried to end serfdom, unsuccessfully

• Won control of the Black Sea/established warm-water port

Beliefs

• Believed in empowering nobles

• Supported theater, arts, and science

Adjectives:Forward-thinking, progressive, AmbitiousEnlightened despot

Absolute MonarchyWhat are the advantages of

Absolute Monarchy?What are the disadvantages of

Absolute Monarchy?