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Absolute Monarchs Why all-powerful, amazingly rich dudes
(and ladies) have more fun…
Once upon a time, there lived absolutist rulers,
who had unlimited power over their subjects
and lands. They competed with each other,
married each other, and spent lots of money on
themselves. They claimed that God had given
them the right to rule – the divine right. No
matter what they did, God was on their side,
and opposition was heresy. Today, we will
explore a few of these lucky rulers…
But first, some
background…
Background continued…
• The development of national feeling – being a
“citizen” rose as governments centralized
• Intense competition between rulers led to conflict and
wars
• Balance of power – no one nation could get too much
power, or the other nations would band together
against it
France
Louis XIV, the Sun King: “L’etat, c’est moi”
• Wore some sweet clothes
• Had some lovely ladies
• Stole some land through lots of wars
• Centralized the French gov’t
Mistress #1 Loses favor, escapes to a convent
Mistress #2
Loses favor, escapes
to a convent
Mistress #3
Manages to hold on
until the end. No
convent for her.
Land Gains
Palace at Versailles
Hall of Mirrors
King Louis’ Bedroom
Gardens surrounding Versailles
Maintained Versailles at a total cost of 25% of France’s total national income
Spain Phillip II
• devout Catholic
• Extremely powerful
• Tried to overthrow
Protestant ruler of
England, Elizabeth I
• Built Armada to defeat
England – failed
Home sweet home – El Escorial
Russia
Peter the Great
• Westernizes/
modernizes
Russia
• “For you know
yourself that,
though a thing be
good and
necessary, our
people will not do
it unless forced
to.”
Austria
Hapsburgs royal family
Ferdinand II
– Catholic, upsets the
Protestants
– Results in 30 Years’
War (over religion and
territory)
England • Common belief was that only
men could rule
• Refused to marry; worked
with Parliament, instead
• Ended Protestant/Catholic
persecution in England by
compromising
• Cooperated with Spain to
keep France from gaining too
much power = balance of
power
Tudor Buildings
Westminster Abbey
To Remember…
• Divine right – absolute rulers believed they were designated
by God to rule. To resist them was to resist God.
• Living it up – all the while keeping tabs on their nobles and
having the peasants pay the bills
Absolute Rulers = Divine Right
•Absolute rulers- kings or queens who held all of the power
within their states’ boundaries.
Other Issues of the same period
• Protestants v. Catholics = 30 Years War Fought
(over religion and territory)
• Capitalism developing – average citizens wanted a share of exploration’s riches. Formed joint stock companies to combine wealth and take voyages to make $$.
• Capitalism = idea that wealth can be created. Prices and quality regulated by the “invisible hand” of the market. (if everyone follows their own self-interest, things will be okay.)
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