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Austria, Prussia &
Russia
In the Age of Absolutism
Austria
The Hapsburgs
Austrian Hapsburgs = HRE
Spanish Hapsburgs
Problem: Both collapsed by late 17th C. Peace of Westphalia War of Spanish Succession
House of Austria – Goal: build new empire
Problems with Turks
Constant conflict w/ Ottoman Empire (Turkey)
Turkish Wars: late 17th C. Ottomans Austria Louis XIV supported Turks (Turks in East Austria,
France attacked in West)
Help from the East
Coalition of Polish, Russian Austrian & Pope Beat back Turks Treaty of Karlowitz – Austria gained land
Victorious Jan Sobieski (Poland) – painting in Vatican
Prince Eugene of Savoy
Military leader – saved Hapsburg empire
Reorganized Army (like Louis XIV – structure & pay)
Attacked Turks again – took more land
Make Up of Empire
Serfdom – Feudal Estates Left alone as long as they:
Paid taxes Supplied troops
Diets Local Not national
Religion in Austrian Empire
Repressed Protestants Took lands Burned homes 200,000 left & went to neighboring countries
Austrian Rulers
Tried to control empire
People viewed their leaders as kings of indiv. territories
Charles VI – Hapsburg Emperor Daughter: Marie-Theresa
Maria Theresa
Pragmatic Sanction of 1713
All diets and leaders agreed to regard the Hapsburg territories as indivisible and recognize only one line of heirs.
All kingdoms would be passed intact to a single Habsburg heir (male OR female)
Prussia
Hohenzollerns
15th – 16th C. – family ruled parts of Eastern Germany Electors of Brandenburg Dukes of Prussia Small holdings along Rhine
Frederick William
The Great Elector
r. 1640-1688
Determined to: Unify his 3 provinces Enlarge territory Create a permanent army
Anti-Louis XIV
Religion: Calvinist Welcomed 20,000 Huguenots (Edict of Font.)
Finances: Fiscally frugal
Wars: Against Louis XIV
Prussian Military
Need: Small scattered states No natural boundaries for protection
FW-TGE deal w/ Junkers (landed nobility of Brandenburg-Prussia) In exchange for allowing king to collect taxes,
Junkers got: Complete control over enserfed peasants Exempt from taxes
Consolidating Power
FWTGE
crushed opposition to his power
Consolidated bureaucracy
Taxes him directly
Result Junkers power declined as FWTGE had
Financial independence Superior forces
State revenues tripled 1688: pop 1 mil supported peacetime army of
30,000
King Frederick Wm I
Grandson of FWTGE
r. 1713-1740
“The Soldier’s King”
Established Prussian absolutism
Transformed Pr. into military state
Military State
By 1740: 12th in Euro. Pop. 4th largest Army in Europe
Best in Europe, but…
Made possible by: Forced conscription 1713: consc. declared “life-long” (many
fled/injured self to avoid)
Military State (cont.)
1733: Prussian men must Train in military Serve in reserve
Junkers: led army (commanded peasants on & off estates)
Result Fred Wm I Maintained army size AND ag. production Created rigid, highly disciplined society Never really used army, but maintained balance
of power
Prussian Absolutism in a Nutshell
Policies of Fred Wm I + harsh peasant bondage + Junker tyranny = foundation for highly militaristic state
“Prussia, is not a state with an army, but an army with a state.” - Mirabeau
Russia
Ivan the Terrible
The Rise of Peter the
Great
video – TAKE NOTES
Discussion to follow on video & PSD on PTG