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.)