Absolutism

1. Absolutism Challenge – Response -- Results

2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WV73ke7vXV4

3. Overview • In RESPONSE to the devastation of the Religious Wars and the general upheaval of the period (1550-1650) rulers increasingly justified their power based on absolutist, or divine right theories. • During the Middle Ages, monarchs were weak because… • feudalism prevented centralization of power • the Church limited their power • Rulers tried to exploit the growth of commerce to enhance their nations’ power. • This lead to almost constant warfare over colonies, trade and territories. • To prevent the dominance of any one power (France at this time) Europe diplomacy relied on the BALANCE OF POWER. • These trends lead to the development of strong central governments

4. Political Theories and the Age of Crisis (1550-1560) • Europe was in an age of crises due to the following factors • Religious warfare • Climate change involving poor weather • Shortened growing seasons crop failures and famine • High Taxes • Rebellions • Witchcraft accusations • Intellectuals began changing explanations for natural phenomena (Scientific Revolution) • Economic Changes– Enclosure movement, more urbanization (crime, poverty, and begging).

5. Political Theories and the Age of Crisis (1550-1560) • Societal problems lead to a willingness to forgo individual liberties and accept authoritarian rule in return for security and order • Some political theorist justified this era • Strong religious beliefs at the time allowed for the concept of divine-right rule • BISHOP BOSSUET– “Kings derive their power from God directly and rule on earth in his behalf.” • What does this mean for society? • Rebellion??? • Questioning??? • Huguenots resisted this movement– Why? Aristocrats

6. The Age of Louis XIV France (1643-1715)THE SUN KING • Absolutism reached it zenith in France during the reign of Louis XIV (r. 1643-1715) • First two Bourbons laid the foundation • HENRY IV • Brought the first religious conflict to an end with the Edict of Nates (1598) • Balance the French budget • Stricter tax structure • Promoted economic development – roads, canals and colonialization • Was assassinated but with his success was able to continue his line to Louis XIII

7. The Age of Louis XIV France (1643-1715) • Louis XIII -- Relied on Cardinal Richelieu • Louis XIII‘s chief minister from 1624 to his death in 1642 • Tried to establish system to limit the strength of the nobility and strengthened the power of the monarchy • eliminated the political and military rights of the Huguenots, making them more reliable subjects • developed a network of spies to uncover and crush noble conspiracies • sent royal officers called intendants(spies) to French provinces to execute the orders of the central government • failed to reform the corrupt financial system • aided Protestant Sweden in the Thirty Years’ War (a first for Catholic France) against the Habsburgs • He was Catholic but believed that limiting the growth of the Hapsburg (catholic leaders) was in France’s interest.

8. The Age of Louis XIV France (1643-1715) • Louis XIV inherited the throne in 1643 (he was 5) • High taxes and foreign influence in government lead to rebellions in Paris as well as the country side known as FRONDE (1648-1652) • He was taken from Paris to escape angry mobs of people • May be why he built his palace outside of Paris at Versailles. • Louis XIV tries to consolidate France’s power by dealing with the 15 regional PARLEMENTS, or courts controlled by the nobles. • These nobles needed to register a king’s decrees before they took affect.

9. The Age of Louis XIV France (1643-1715) • Louis XIV Palace at Versailles • “I am the state” • Records were purposefully destroyed but it is estimated to • Have taken several decades to complete • Used 60-80% of the State’s revenues during its construction • Nobles were encouraged to live at the Palace and compete for his favor (helping him to control the nobility)

10. Review • What limited the ability of Kings to consolidate power in the Middle Ages? What factors changed this in the era of ABSOLUTISM? • How did the concept of Divine Right help keep the kings subjects inline? • What was the purpose of the Palace of Versailles to Louis XIV

17. The Age of Louis XIV France (1643-1715) • Louis XIV Economic Policies • Developed a unified internal market and expanded its commercial presence around the world • Created manufacturing codes • Established France as a nation of high quality luxury goods • Established high tariffs on imported goods • Increased prices / high taxes to pay for Versailles and war made the poor suffer • Nobility had negotiated exceptions to the taxes

18. The Age of Louis XIV France (1643-1715) • Louis XIV Religious and Cultural Policies • Committed to Catholicism but wanted semi-independence from Rome • Louis found he could not (would not) tolerate “heretics” • The people must follow the absolute system • “one King, one faith, and one law • Huguenots were perceived as questioning his authority • Revokes the Edict of Nates • Attempted to forcefully convert back French Protestants to Catholicism

19. The Age of Louis XIV France (1643-1715) • Louis XIV Religious and Cultural Policies • Grandeur of Louis’s France was associated with artistic achievements of the 1660’s • French academy of Arts • French academy of Sciences • These arts should glorify Louis and France and link France with classical subjects and styles • Moliere (playwright) • Racine (playwright) • Cornielle (playwright) • Charles Le Brun (painter)

20. The Age of Louis XIV France (1643-1715) • Louis XIV Army • French replaced Spain as the leading military power • Seen as most threatening to the “Balance of Power” • Marquis de Louvois (1641-1691) France’s military becomes the largest in Europe (400,000)

21. Britain: Civil War and Limited Monarchy • The conflict revolved around both religious and political issues • Who would have ultimate authority? • The New Stuart line of Monarchs or the English Parliament • Religiously the Puritans wanted to purify the state Anglican Church who the preserved as having too much Catholic doctrine (the Stuarts seemed to endorse the more Catholic doctrine of the Anglican Church) • The Conflicts lasted almost a century (1603-1689) and laid the foundations for England’s unusual combination of Monarchy, Oligarchy, and Democracy

22. Britain: Civil War and Limited Monarchy • Elizabeth the I left England without an heir • The throne passed to the son of Mary, Queen of Scots: James I (VI of Scotland) • James was not loved and was seen as an outsider • Lectured about the divine-right powers • THE TRUE LAW OF FREE MOACHIES (1598) • Anti-Catholic sentiment increased after the failed blowing up of Parliament in the event called the GUNPOWEDER PLOT • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0L3SSTz4kM • James’s son Charles I (1625-1649) comes to power • Charles wants to increase revenues • Parliament issued the Petition of Right (1628) – Needed their approval to raise taxes… • Although Anglican some of his religious policies, guided by the archbishop of Canterbury William Laud, seemed little different than Catholism. • Laud tried to unify all peoples religion in his BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER • This upset the Scots and those rose in rebellion. • Remember Charles I father was King of Scotland

23. Britain: Civil War and Limited Monarchy • Charles I has to call back parliament to deal with the Scot uprising • This Parliament was called the LONG PARLIAMENT (due to its length of sitting for 20years) • Long Parliament put two of Charles top officials on trial for treason • Charles attempted to arrest the Puritans leaders in Parliament and thus started a civil war in Britain. • The King and his forces were called the CAVALEIERS • Parliament were called the ROUND HEADS (Due to their haircuts) • Parliaments army was called the NEW MODEL ARMY and was headed OLIVAR CROMWELL (a devote Puritan)

24. Britain: Civil War and Limited Monarchy • Oliver Cromwell and the Protectorate • Cromwell captures the king but he is allowed to stay and live in luxury due to the moderates in Parliament • Cromwell is upset and surrounds the Parliament and drives out the moderates in an action called the PRIDE’S PURGE • The remaining Parliament was known as the RUMP Parliament of Independents • They favored independent control by church congregations and executed the king • Cromwell soon gets rid of the RUMP PARLIAMENT and names himself LORD PROTECTORATE under the only written constitution ever written in England the INSTRUMENT OF GOVERNMENT (1653) • Cromwell bans gambling plays, and celebration of Christmas (too Catholic) • Violent subdues rebellions in Scotland and Ireland • After his death in 1658 parliament decides to go back to the Stuarts

25. Britain: Civil War and Limited Monarchy • The Stuart Restoration and the Glorious Revolution • Charles II (Son of Charles the I) restored to monarch (1660-1685) • Old issues reemerge– Religion and political control • Charles was privately inclined more towards Cat holism (He was said to have converted on his death bed) • Appointed Catholics to local offices • Parliament was not pleased and passed the TEST ACT which required all office holders to take communion in the Church of England • Charles seemed to be pro-French which ran counter to years of English diplomacy and he accepted money to reintroduce Catholicism in England • With this money he was able to function independent of Parliament for last years of his rule

26. Britain: Civil War and Limited Monarchy • The Stuart Restoration and the Glorious Revolution • The end of the Stuarts was the prospect of a Catholic dynasty in England • Charles II brother JAMES II (1685-1688) assented to the throne • TORIES– supported the legitimate succession • WHIGS – opposed the succession because • They thought he was the end of the line but JAMES II’s aging wife gave birth to a male heir and that seemed a signal of a lasting Catholic monarchy • Whigs invite James II daughter a Protestant ad her husband WILLIAM of ORANGE (Standholder of the Netherlands to invade the nation and claim the throne as co-rulers. • Result

27. Britain: Civil War and Limited Monarchy • The GLORIOUS REVOLUTION • WILLIAM III and MARY I agreed to respect parliamentary sovereignty and the English liberty with the ENGLISH BILL OF RIGHTS (1689) • Parliament passed the TOERATION ACT (1689) • Allowed Protestant to worship but not hold public office • ACT OF SUCCESSION (1701) Prohibited the English monarchy from ever being held by a Catholic • Created the UNITED KINGDOM (1707) cemented ties with Scotland and they all called themselves British

28. ART: FROM MANNERISM TO BAROQUE • Overview– What was Italian Renaissance and Northern Renaissance artistic style? • Economic decline of the Renaissance gave way to a style based on complex composition, distortion and elongated human figures. • Late 16th century was known as MANNERISM • Those who painted in the “manner” of the later Michelangelo • Last Judgment • The most famous was EL GRECO • introduced yellows and grays into painting • “BURIAL OF COUNT ORGAZ”

29. THE LAST SUPPER • TINTORETTO (Mannerism) • Da VINCI

30. MANNERISM TO BAROQU • Dominated art and music from 1600-1730 • Major theme is POWER • The absolute monarchs and revival of the Catholic church (both major patrons of the style) • BERNINI– ST. Peter Basilica, the Papal throne, THE ECSTACY OF ST. TERESA

31. THE WARS OF LOUIS XIV • The balance of power is at stake • France under LOUSI XIV wants to expand it empire to its NATURAL FRONTIER -- the Rhine river

32. THE WARS OF LOUIS XIV • As Spain continued to loss power under the Hapsburgs, France rushed in to exploit the vacuum of power in Western Europe. • Target one the SPANISH NETHERLANDS (THE SOUTHER 10 provinces in the Low Lands) and the Dutch Republic • Britain allied with them in the DUTCH WAR and gained Burgundy • Next go into the HRE • A coalition arose against this with William III (of Orange) the stadholder of the Netherlands and the king of England.. Louis XIV gains little from this conflict

33. THE WARS OF LOUIS XIV • Louis sets eyes on Spain with the poor health of Charles II the last Hapsburg of Spain – a sad result of generations of interbreeding between the Spanish and Austrian Hapsburg lines. • Louis claims the throne as well as the HRE emperor claimed the throne throne throw family marriages to Charles's sisters. The secretly agree to partition Spain and divide it up. However…. • Charles leaves in his will his entire possessions to his nephew Philip V the Bourbon grandson of of Louis XIV. • . Results in the WAR OF SPANISH SICCESSION (1702-1713) • Most costly and last war of Louis on the continent • France and Spain faced off against England, Netherlands, HRE

34. THE WARS OF LOUIS XIV • The War dragged on with heavy tolls • The PEACE OF UTRECHT in 1714 • Louis’s grandson PHILIP V did become the Bourbon ruler of Spain but it never could be united with it northern Bourbon Neighbor France • Louis was said to have told his heir and great grandson on his death bed that “he feared he had loved war too much”

35. AGING EMPIRES IN THE EAST • 17 century three empires dominated Central Europe- • HRE / Poland / and the Ottoman Empire. • After the THIRTY YEARS WAR the HRE was a loose confederation of over 300 German States. • Traditional Rulers of the empire, the Austrian Hapsburgs, turned east over the next century to enhance their power. They did this in conjunction with the decline of the Ottoman Empire • Most of their conquests tended to be of non-German minorities (Slavs, Pols, Romanians, Ukrainians) this created centrifugal forces as nationalism took hold in the 19th century

36. AGING EMPIRES IN THE EAST • Poland was the weakest of the European kingdoms but in 1500 Poland has been one of the largest nation in Europe • Poland had one of the largest noble groups in Europe and due to this they had continual fighting over who would rule and a strong monarch never could take hold • This was counter to the rest of Europe and absolutism.

38. AGING EMPIRES IN THE EAST • After the Turks captured Constantinople in 1453 • By 1529 they had nearly taken Vienna • Internal problems held them back • In 1683 the Turks again attach the Hapsburg Capital • They were repelled but the Holy League and Poland's King • Many countries wanted the Ottoman Empire to remain so long as it helped keep the Hapsburg Austrians in check

39. Austria turns to the East • Once the Austrians held off the Turk invasion they turn back to long time enemies • Austrians defeated the Turks in 1697 and gained back Hungry and added Transylvanian and parts of the Balkan Peninsula • Austria after ending this conflict looked to the Spanish Succession. • Sought to unit the two Hapsburg lines but were unsuccessful • Emperor (This is the name for the king of the HRE) Charles VI • Concerned about one major issue: the succession of his daughter Maria Theresa • Negotiated the PRAGMATIC SANCTION with Europe’s rulers to agree to and respect the rights of a female heir

40. The RISE OF PRUSSIA AND ITS ARMY • Prussia was sparsely populated (2 million) and contained few resources • Rise to power was surprising and based on three key factors • 1. Skillful leadership form the Hohenzollern dynasty • 2. Efficient use of the resources they had • 3. An outstanding military history • Fredrick William THE GREAT ELECTOR was the firs in a line of great Prussian rulers • Junkers– Prussian nobility • Fredrick gives them important leadership roles in the military and almost complete domination over the serfs • Fredrick welcomed the Huguenots (take advantage of their skills and trade) after Louis XIV started persecution of the Huguenots when he revoked the TREATY OF NATES

41. The RISE OF PRUSSIA AND ITS ARMY • During Spanish war of Succession Hapsburgs called on Prussia to help drive out the French from Germany. As a reward for their support FREDRICK WILLIAM I was now king of Prussia. Different that William the Great Elector. • Built up the army

42. PETER and the WESTERNIZATIO OF RUSSIA • Much of Russia is in Europe but is it OF Europe? • Most of the afore eras had little effect on Russia and it seemed more connected to Asia than Europe. • Themes of Russia • 1. Expansion • 2. Relative backwardness • MICHAEL ROMANOV (1613-1645) elected tsar of Russia under the feudal states. • This family rule lasted until the RUSSIAN REVOUTION (1917) • Created some stability • Continued to lag behind Europe • Serfdom was put into legal form • Traditional religion dominated was the Orthodox Church • Opposed to religious as well as social change • When changes were attempted the OLD BELIEVERS threatened to break from the church

43. PETER and the WESTERNIZATIO OF RUSSIA • REFORMS OF PETER I THE GREAT (1682-1725) • Attempted some modernization and technological advancements science and industry • Did little for the common man • Established the GREAT EMABSSY • Sent hundreds of technical advisors to the west • He even went out to shipyards and colleges in the West but in disguise. He was almost 7 ft. tall so not very easy to not stand out • A rebellion started at home as nobles feared change. • He killed many and hung them from the city gates • Peter was almost constantly engaged in war with Ottoman’s and Swedes

44. PETER and the WESTERNIZATION OF RUSSIA • The GREAT NORTHERN WAR • Looked to the Black Sea for expansion • Had to fight against the Swedes for this area • Was defeated by a smaller but better lead army of Swedes under CHARLES XII (1697-1718) • Peter learned from his defeat and changed tactics • He drew the enemy into the Russian interior and made them face the winter. • (Should we not learn from history  • Russia gained significant territory in the Baltic and allowed Peter to build HIS new capital St. PETERSBURG. Represented Russia’s WINDOW TO THE WEST. • Changed name in 1914 to Petrograd, in 1924 to Leningrad, and in 1991, back to Saint Petersburg.