Absolutism

Absolutism: Belief that monarchs hold supreme power, and are responsible only to God. King has all power People have no power

Desire for Power God-given right Chosen by God to rule Obedience of King meant obedience to God King could do no wrong Did not have to answer to anyone Mandate of Heaven (China)

A centralized government is one in which power or legal authority is exerted or coordinated by a de facto political executive to which federal states, local authorities, and smaller units are considered subject Tools: Boundaries Permanent armies Development of nationalism

 Crusades

Rising middle class

Introduction of gun powder Reformation

Spirit of Nationalism

ABSOLUTISM IN SPAIN
In the 1500s Spain was the most powerful nation in Europe.

Charles V
Country: Spain (Holy Roman Empire) Years: 1519 - 1556

Achievements: Ruled over Spain, Austria and the Netherlands as Holy Roman Emperor.
Downfalls: Large diverse empire with many threats: Turks, French, and German Protestant princes. Exhausted, he gave up his titles and divided his empire in 1556. His brother Ferdinand became Holy Roman Emperor, and his son Philip II ruled Spain, the Netherlands, and the vast Spanish overseas empire.

Phillip II
Country: Spain Years: 1556 - 1598
Achievements: Hard-working ruler who ushered in the Golden age of Spain the most powerful nation. He also Helped the Catholic Church persecute Protestants during the Counter-Reformation.
Downfalls: Spanish armada defeated by England. After Philip II Spanish power slowly declined as rulers taxed people too much and spend money on overseas wars.

 Philip II was King of Spain from

1556 and of Portugal from 1581. From 1554 he was King of Naples and Sicily as well as Duke of Milan. During his marriage to Queen Mary I, he was also King of England and Ireland

ABSOLUTISM IN FRANCE

By the late 1600s, France had replaced Spain as the most powerful European nation.

 First Bourbon Ruler

Converted to Catholicism to bring peace

Issued the Edict of Nantes granting religious freedom

to Huguenots Finance minister Sully tried to fix the tax code Henry IV was murdered

 Louis XIII was heir but only 8 years old Mother ruled as Regent until Louis came into power Took throne in 1617
Pick wise advisors one being Richelieu Took power away from nobles Took political rights away from Huguenots because they were city dwellers Gave more power to the intendants Thirty years war Destroyed fortified castles

Louis XIV
Country: France Years: 1643 1715 (72 years!)
Achievements: Called himself the Sun King and said I am the state. Strengthened the monarchy, expanded bureaucracy, built palace of Versailles, strongest army in Europe, made France a wealthy cultural center.

 Middle class

Encourage industry and trade

Built infrastructures tariff

Encouraged colonization
Strong navy

Reformed taxes

Downfalls: He used the wealth for his own benefit, peasants starved, numerous wars Threatened the balance of power by expanding territory War of Spanish Succession never called Estates General Alienated Huguenots by repealing Edict of Nantes

 Viewed as the continental power

Colonization of Canada and mid North America

Treaty of Utrecht

ABSOLUTISM IN RUSSIA
The driving force behind Russias rise to power was Ivan III (Ivan the Great). He built the framework for absolute rule in Russia, which would only get worse.

Ivan the Terrible

Country: Russia Years: 1533 - 1584
Achievements: Introduced extreme absolute power, expanded Russian lands, made Russia more religious. Downfalls: Set up the first Russian secret police, the Oprichniki, who murdered thousands for him. He killed many nobles and destroyed many towns, and even killed his own son in a fit of rage.

Peter the Great

Country: Russia Years: 1682 - 1725 Achievements: Westernization, St. Petersburg, modern army, new industries, education, warm water port (Baltic Sea), extended borders, unified the nation, reduced power of nobility, gained control of Russian Orthodox Church. Downfalls: Did not reach Black sea, reforms died with him.

Oprichniki Palace of Versailles Warm Water Port Westernization

Spanish Armada Defeated

ABSOLUTISM IN ENGLAND
While other nations turned to absolutism in the 1500s and 1600s, Englands Parliament resisted the throne.

 He was not only a King, but also a ruler (= governor of

a country who cures the interests of the country) He improved commerce and the cloth industry. He built the navy and sponsored voyages to the New World.

 He had six wives:

- Catherine of Aragon (divorced = The mother of Mary/The -

Protestant Reformation followed the divorce) Anne Boleyn (executed = The mother of Elizabeth) Jean Seymour (died = The mother of Edward VI) Anne of Cleves (divorced) Kathryn Howard (executed for infidelity. She was 19, the King was 49) Katherine Parr (widowed = she was a good wife and stepmother)

http://tudorhistory.org/wives/

 Henry VIIIs reign was signed by the Protestant

Reformation. His wife Catherine was too old to give him a son, and he wanted to divorce her. He asked the help of Pope Clement VII, who refused to annul the marriage. Henrys mistress was pregnant and he wanted to marry her. He set up the CHURCH OF ENGLAND and was excommunicated by the Pope.

 Henry declared himself Supreme Head of the

Church and passed the Act of Supremacy (in 1534). The Parliament legitimised the Act by abolishing the religious orders (monks, friars). Monasteries were dissolved and their riches confiscated.

 He succeeded his father

when he was only 9. he supported the Anglican Church and promoted the translation of the Bible in English. With the Act of Uniformity, he enforced the use of the English Book of Prayer. The reading of the Bible became the central key to salvation and during the mass.

 She married the Spanish

King Phillip II and tried to restore the Catholic religion in England. She earned the nickname of Bloody Mary because she persecuted the Protestants and burned them for heresy. She died childless.

 She became Queen in 1558. She passed the Acts of

Supremacy and Uniformity (1559) and became supreme Governor of the Church.
She promoted toleration among Catholics and Protestants and encouraged the use of the Book of Common Prayer. She passed the Acts of Supremacy and Uniformity (1559) and became supreme Governor of the Church She reigned for 45 years and became the most popular ruler.

 She was brilliant, careful in diplomacy and a shrewd

ruler. She defeated the Spanish Armada, expanded trade and promoted explorations (also using pirates for her benefit) Most of the MP were Puritans (= extremist Protestants) and she did not have a good relationship with them. After the 1590s, she avoided calling Parliament. She preferred small councils of ministers.

 1603: Queen Elizabeth I dies.

Two problems
No heir In debt

James Stuart, her nephew, became King of England

He was already King of Scotland

James I
Country: England Years: 1603 - 1625

based his government on the divine right of Kings. He preferred working with small councils rather than with Parliament. He authorised a new translation o the Bible, still used today. Gun Powder Plot, 5th November 1605 .

 Constant conflict with Parliament

Wanted Absolute Monarchy

Calvinist
Church Reform:

 Had difficulties with Parliament

he needed money for his wars and extravagant lifestyle.
He eventually dissolved Parliament and imposed his

own taxes. Fought with the Puritans, who were seeking to purify the Church of England.

 Religion was still a crucial

issue/problem. Puritans were not happy with Jamess government, because they desired a simpler church. They preferred individual religion and wanted a Church not governed by bishops. In 1620 a group of them, the Pilgrim Fathers, left for America and founded New Plymouth.

 Son of King James

Would argue with Parliament over money If Charles did not get want he wantedhe would dissolve it so
He dissolves Parliament

Parliament forced him to sign the Petition of Right He would not imprison subjects without due cause He would not levy taxes without Parliaments consent He would not house soldiers in private homes He would not impose martial law in peacetime

 Ignores the Petition of Rights In 1629 he dissolved Parliament again and

gained money:
imposing fees and fines on the people

Offends Presbyterian Scots:

Force them to accept an Anglican prayer book. His goal was to have the kingdom to follow one

religion.

 1641 Parliament passed laws that limited royal power

Charles tried to arrest the leaders of Parliament in 1642

AS A RESULT
1642-1649 English Civil War
Charles gathered his supporters (known as Royalists or

Cavaliers) Opposition were Puritans called Roundheads

 Oliver Cromwell:
leader in the Puritan army
most powerful figure in England by wars

end
Charles I:
Held prisoner to be tried for treason Found guilty and was publicly executed

 Cromwell established:
Commonwealth in England
Title was Lord Protector (military dictator) his followers wanted to name him king
He would refuse it

He also looked for religious reform through his Puritan

beliefs

 Cromwell dies

New Parliament no

longer wanted the military rule

Charles I son to become

ruler of England

 During his reign the

Parliament passed habeas corpus

Every prisoner had the

right to obtain a writ or document ordering that the prisoner be brought before a judge

 Problems arose because Charles II had no legitimate

children His brother, James was Catholic Two political parties in England debated on who should become king
Whigs- opposed James Tories- supported James

James II
reinstated absolutist policies. Parliament feared a return to Catholic dominance William and Mary asked to take the throne. When they arrived from France James II fled, completing a bloodless transfer of power, known as the Glorious Revolution.

 James II: King of England

Offends the English by flaunting his Catholicism.
Appoints many Catholics to high office.

AS A RESULT

 Plotted to bring in a Protestant King

James oldest daughter was a Protestant and married to

William of Orange Parliament asked William and Mary to overthrow James for the sake of Protestants
William will overthrow in 1688: bloodless.

 Constitutional monarchy where laws limited the rulers power King ruling with Parliament In 1689 Parliament drafted the Bill of Rights No suspending of Parliaments laws No levying of taxes without a specific grant from Parliament No interfering with freedom of speech in Parliament No penalty for a citizen who petitions the king about grievances

William and Mary

English Bill of Rights a set of acts passed by Parliament to ensure its superiority over the monarchy. It stated: King must work with Parliament House of Commons has financial control Abolished excessive fines and cruel and unusual punishment Affirmed habeas corpus no person could be held in jail without first being charged with a crime. Toleration Act of 1689 Granted Protestant dissenters, such as Puritans and Quakers, limited toleration (not for Catholics though).

ABSOLUTISM IN AUSTRIA

Maria Theresa
Country: Austria Years: 1740 - 1780 Achievements: Reclaimed Austrian lands, strengthened and unified Austrian monarchy, first woman to rule Hapsburg lands, enlightened despot. Downfalls: War of Austrian succession led to the loss of Silesia, spent much time defending her right to rule.

ABSOLUTISM IN PRUSSIA

Frederick the Great

Country: Prussia Years: 1740 - 1786 Achievements: Seized Austrian lands, disciplined, strong army, enlightened despot. Downfalls: Badly treated and fled the country.

Summary
Through the 1500s and 1600s absolutism became dominant through much of Europe and parts of Asia. In Spain, France, and Russia, absolutist monarchs claimed that they ruled by divine right and sought to extend their political power. While other nations accepted absolutism, England stood as a contrast to this trend. After the Puritan Revolution and the Glorious Revolution of the mid-1600s, the English Bill of Rights was passed establishing England as a limited monarchy.