Absolute Monarchs in Europe

Chapter
21

What is Absolutism?
Political belief that one ruler should have
total (ABSOLUTELY ALL) power
Despot-Ruler with total power
Absolute Monarch - King or Queen with total
power

What is Absolutism?
Based on the Divine Right of Kings
God created the monarchy
Monarch is Gods representative on Earth
Monarch answers only to God.
God
Not to His/Her subjects

Louis XIV
Frances most powerful
ruler Sun King
I am the State
Built Palace at Versailles
to show his power and
make other monarchs
jealous

Causes of Absolutism
Long-term causes
Decline of Feudalism
Rise of cities and
middle class
Rise of nationalism
Loss of Church
authority

Causes of Absolutism
Short-Term Causes
Religious/territorial conflicts
Build-up of armies
Increasing taxes
Revolts by peasants or nobles

Religious Wars
Conflict between Catholics & Protestants
(Huguenots) led to EIGHT civil wars in
France form 1562 - 1598

Religious Wars
Thirty Years War in Germany
(1618 1648)
Key royal house
= Hapsburg

Religious Wars
Started when Bohemian Protestants
revolted against the Catholic Hapsburg
rulers
Conflict over religion,
religion territory &
power of ruling families involved almost
all major Euro. powers

Religious Wars
Effects:

Devastated Germanys Economy

Weakened Spain and Austria
Strengthened France
START OF MODERN STATE SYSTEM IN
EUROPE.

Some Absolute Monarchs

Maria Theresa
Austria
Only inherited the
throne after other
European powers
agreed to
recognize her as
heir

Some Absolute Monarchs

Frederick the
Great
Prussia
Believed that a
ruler should be
like a father to
his people

Some Absolute Monarchs

Philip II
Spain
Defended
Catholicism &
helped stimulate
art and literature

Some Absolute Monarchs

Ivan the Terrible
Russia
Took Power from
the Boyars
(nobles) after
accusing them of
poisoning his
wife

There were Alternatives

United provinces of
the Netherlands
Religious tolerance
Elected governors
depended on
landowners &
merchants for
power

There were Alternatives

England
Parliament struggled with absolute rulers
over money, religion and individual rights

There were Alternatives

England
Conflict eventually led to the English Civil War
between Puritans
and
Royalists
(Parliament)
(the King)

There were Alternatives

England
English Civil War
After the Puritans won
Their leader, Oliver Cromwell
became a military dictator

There were Alternatives

The Monarchy was restored after
his deathbut it WAS NOT
absolute

There were Alternatives

England

Glorious
Revolution
William & Mary
came to power
They agreed to a
Constitutional
Monarchy,
Monarchy
where laws limit
the rulers power

Effects of Absolutism
Short term effects
Rules about social gatherings & religion
controlled the spread of ideas
Huge building projects
New government bureaucracies
Loss of power for nobility & legislatures
(Parliament)

Effects of Absolutism
Long term Effects
French Revolution
Western European influences on Russia
English political reforms influence U.S.
Democracy

 French

British

Spanish

German