Absolute MonarchsIn the Age of Absolutism

Definitions: Absolute Monarchy: Form of government

in which one person, usually a King or Queen holds all the power without constitutional checks

Devine Right: The belief that Monarchs get their right to rule from God.

Philip II of Spain Son of Charles V Dutch Revolt Four Wives Spanish Armada 1588

Armada is disaster Philip Vs. Elizabeth I Economic problems

(costly wars and expulsion of

Jews & Muslims) lead to decline

FRANCE: 1560s-1590s: Religious conflict between

Catholics & French protestants called Huguenots. Ended with Edict of Nantes: granted Huguenots religious tolerance.

Cardinal Richelieu – strengthened central government in France & built relationship between Catholic Church and King.

Louis XIV of France Inherits throne at age 5

Reigns for 72 years Known as the “Sun King” Built Versailles

Spared no expense Economy dwindles Revoked Edict of Nantes

Defines Absolute Monarch “I am the state.”

Versailles

Elizabeth I of England Daughter of Henry VIII Called the “Virgin

Queen” Unmarried and childless

Ruled England during “The Golden Age” Victory in Spanish

Armada Expanded Protestantism

England James I – takes

over after Elizabeth He believes in

divine right and King’s claim to absolute power.

Parliament fought with him over it.

Charles I – son of James, continues the course.

Imprisoned without trial (Checkpoint ?)

Dissolved parliament.

The Long Parliament 1640-1653 Declared parliament could not be destroyed

without its own consent.

Result was Civil War 1642-1651 Charles I supporters = Cavilers Parliament supporters = Roundheads, their

leader was Oliver Cromwell (Checkpoint ?)

England’s Civil War Roundheads win. King Charles I is

executed. (Checkpoint ?)

English Republic established called, The Commonwealth

Cromwell becomes a virtual dictator.

He persecutes Catholics

Return of the Monarchy The Commonwealth

dies with Cromwell

England’s “kingless decade” ended with the return of Charles II to the monarchy.

James II inherited the crown from his brother in 1685.

Fears of James II’s Catholic ties forced Parliament to invite William and Mary (James’ daughter) to take the crown in 1688. (Checkpoint ?)

Glorious Revolution When William and

Mary were made joint sovereigns (1689), they agreed to an English Bill of Rights, which opened the road to constitutional monarchy.

Thirty Years’ War Series of Wars

brought on by religious conflicts of the Protestant Reformation.

Peace and land distribution was established in the Treaty of Westphalia.

AUSTRIA: After 30yrs. War ( actually a series of wars

throughout Europe ) German lands were divided in what once was “The Holy Roman Empire”

The land of the Hapsburgs had never developed a centralized government.

The first to strike was Frederick II of Prussia. That sparked the 8 year War of Austrian Succession.

Maria Theresa of Austria Preserved the Austrian

Empire when she came to rule at 56 years old.

Famous children Joseph II, Leopold, Marie

Antoinette. Vienna became a center

for arts and music Reforms:

Educational Torture abolished

Seven Years’ War The Seven Years' War

was a conflict that pitted Britain and Prussia against Austria, France, Russia, and Spain. It was an extension of the War of Austria.

During this time, Britain and France continued their long struggle for naval and colonial supremacy.

Prussia After the Peace of Westphalia,

Hohenzollern rulers formed a Protestant region called Prussia in Northern Germany.

Frederick I – Prussian leader that had loyalty of Prussian nobles called Junkers.

He stressed militarism.

Frederick II (the Great) of Prussia Personal interest in music

and the arts Military emphasis Makes Prussia a great

power Doubles area of country

War with Austria Enlightened Reforms:

Religious tolerance Freedom of Press

Peter the Great of Russia Traveled to Europe to

study ways of West Westernized Russia

Strengthened military Rebels were tortured and

executed

Expanded borders Baltic Sea port Develops St. Petersburg

“Window to the West”

Peter’s relationship with landowners. Boyars (Russia’s landowning nobles) were

forced to shave beards and wear Western clothing.

Peter allowed them to keep land and their serfs / slaves.

Encouraged Russian exports, and set up trade companies and water routes with canals.

Catherine the Great of Russia Came to power after the

murder of her mentally unstable husband in 1762.

Encouraged education. More peasants were

forced into serfdom. Acquired warm-water

port at the Black Sea.

(which Peter couldn’t do)

Partition of Poland

Between 1772 and 1795 the rulers of Austria, Russia, and Prussia agreed to split Poland amongst themselves.