The Rise of Absolute Monarchs

Unit 5Unit 5

Rise of Absolutism

From weak king to absolute monarchFrom weak king to absolute monarch End of Middle Ages, kings of England, Spain, End of Middle Ages, kings of England, Spain,

France, Russia, Prussia, Austria began to expand France, Russia, Prussia, Austria began to expand rulerule

Factors strengthening royal powerFactors strengthening royal power Crusades & other wars killed many feudal lordsCrusades & other wars killed many feudal lords Rising middle class supported monarchsRising middle class supported monarchs Reformation gave monarch powers formerly Reformation gave monarch powers formerly

held by the Churchheld by the Church Awakening spirit of nationalism made the Awakening spirit of nationalism made the

monarch a symbol of national unitymonarch a symbol of national unity

England

1066 1066 – William, duke of Normandy – William, duke of Normandy becomes king becomes king (Battle of Hastings)(Battle of Hastings)

Strengthened royal powerStrengthened royal power Hundred Years’ War spurred English Hundred Years’ War spurred English

patriotismpatriotism War of the Roses – middle class supported War of the Roses – middle class supported

TudorsTudors – strong capable leaders – strong capable leaders

Tudors of England

Henry VII, Henry VII, Henry VIII, Elizabeth IHenry VIII, Elizabeth I Expanded central government; dominated Expanded central government; dominated

ParliamentParliament Anglican Church (Protestantism)Anglican Church (Protestantism) Furthered economic prosperity & transformed Furthered economic prosperity & transformed

England into a world powerEngland into a world power Aroused nationalismAroused nationalism Defeated Spanish Armada in 1588Defeated Spanish Armada in 1588 Enjoyed immense popularityEnjoyed immense popularity

France

Hundred Years’ WarHundred Years’ War Spurred national pride; spurred by Joan of ArcSpurred national pride; spurred by Joan of Arc Strengthened & enriched the crownStrengthened & enriched the crown

Religious Wars – opposing Catholic and Protestant Religious Wars – opposing Catholic and Protestant claims to the throneclaims to the throne BourbonBourbon kings emerge (Henry IV) kings emerge (Henry IV)

Cardinal Richelieu – helps lead King Louis XIIICardinal Richelieu – helps lead King Louis XIII Ignores the Ignores the Estates GeneralEstates General (Parliament) (Parliament) Leads France into Thirty Years’ War in support Leads France into Thirty Years’ War in support

of Protestantism; emerges a leading powerof Protestantism; emerges a leading power

France cont.

Louis XIV – The Sun King; divine right, Louis XIV – The Sun King; divine right, “L’etat c’est moi” I am the state“L’etat c’est moi” I am the state Built palace at Built palace at VersaillesVersailles

Economic AffairsEconomic Affairs Finance minister (Finance minister (Jean Baptiste ColbertJean Baptiste Colbert) )

– furthered industry, built roads, canals, – furthered industry, built roads, canals, trading posts in India and N. Americatrading posts in India and N. America

France cont.

Foreign affairsForeign affairs Acquired more territory through warAcquired more territory through war Placed a Placed a BourbonBourbon relative on the throne relative on the throne

of Spain.of Spain. Upon his death, people were weary of Upon his death, people were weary of

wars, taxes, despotism – leads to French wars, taxes, despotism – leads to French RevolutionRevolution

Spain

Ferdinand and IsabellaFerdinand and Isabella united Christian united Christian Spain (1469)Spain (1469)

Defeated Moors (MuslimsDefeated Moors (Muslims)) Absolutism – ruled without the legislature Absolutism – ruled without the legislature

((CortesCortes); strengthened royal power); strengthened royal power Staunch Catholics – Inquisition hurt SpainStaunch Catholics – Inquisition hurt Spain Financed voyages of ColumbusFinanced voyages of Columbus; eventually ; eventually

acquired a colonial empireacquired a colonial empire

Spain cont.

Charles V – Holy Roman Emperor – controlled Charles V – Holy Roman Emperor – controlled Spain, Netherlands, Sicily, S. Italy, Austria; failed Spain, Netherlands, Sicily, S. Italy, Austria; failed to halt Protestantism in Germanyto halt Protestantism in Germany

Son Philip II – “Most Catholic King”Son Philip II – “Most Catholic King” Failed to stop Protestant revoltsFailed to stop Protestant revolts Failed to halt English raids on Spanish shipsFailed to halt English raids on Spanish ships Lost the Spanish Armada to England in 1588Lost the Spanish Armada to England in 1588 Decline of Spain’s prestige and powerDecline of Spain’s prestige and power

Russia

RomanovRomanov family – family – czarsczars ruled Russia for 300 ruled Russia for 300 yearsyears

Peter the GreatPeter the Great Westernized RussiaWesternized Russia (modeled after Europe) in (modeled after Europe) in

areas of science, education, military, industryareas of science, education, military, industry Ordered males to shave long Ordered males to shave long beards,beards, discard discard

Asian garmentsAsian garments Gained Gained seaports “windows”seaports “windows” for the landlocked for the landlocked

countrycountry

Russia cont.

Catherine the GreatCatherine the Great Greatly expanded Russia’s territory Greatly expanded Russia’s territory

through war and agreementsthrough war and agreements Most educated Russian leaderMost educated Russian leader Made 18Made 18thth century Russia into a major century Russia into a major

powerpower

Prussia

HohenzollernHohenzollern Rule (15 Rule (15thth to 18 to 18thth Centuries) Centuries) Autocratic governmentAutocratic government Expanded militaryExpanded military Expanded territoryExpanded territory Frederick the Great Frederick the Great – aggressive foreign – aggressive foreign

policy (7 Years’ War); seized much policy (7 Years’ War); seized much territoryterritory

Austria

HapsburgHapsburg family – 18 family – 18thth C. C. Maria Theresa Maria Theresa – sought to govern – sought to govern

efficiently and promote prosperityefficiently and promote prosperity Joseph II Joseph II

Increased royal power; weakened noblesIncreased royal power; weakened nobles Seized Church lands; controlled ChurchSeized Church lands; controlled Church Abolished local self-governmentAbolished local self-government

Summary of Absolute Monarchy

AchievementsAchievements – weakened the nobles, – weakened the nobles, provided strong central government, provided strong central government, generally furthered growth of nation statesgenerally furthered growth of nation states

WeaknessesWeaknesses – nation’s welfare depended on – nation’s welfare depended on one person, sacrificed national well-being one person, sacrificed national well-being for personal or family interests, led nations for personal or family interests, led nations into costly wars, disregarded the rights of into costly wars, disregarded the rights of the common peoplethe common people

Summary cont.

Attacked by IntellectualsAttacked by Intellectuals Writers of the Enlightenment or Age of Reason Writers of the Enlightenment or Age of Reason

believed monarchsbelieved monarchs Used brute force over reasonUsed brute force over reason Perpetuated despotic governmentPerpetuated despotic government Created legal and social inequalityCreated legal and social inequality Promoted ignorance and religious intolerancePromoted ignorance and religious intolerance Prevented progressPrevented progress

Enlightened Despots

Frederick the Great, Prussia; Catherine the Frederick the Great, Prussia; Catherine the Great, Russia, Joseph II, AustriaGreat, Russia, Joseph II, Austria

Supported literature, art, music, science, Supported literature, art, music, science, education, some reformseducation, some reforms

However, autocracy, class distinctions, However, autocracy, class distinctions, unfair taxation, and frequent wars undid any unfair taxation, and frequent wars undid any reforms they madereforms they made