Absolutism

Absolutism Defined

A government in which all power is centralized – total control over all aspect of life by the monarch (king)

Louis XIV

Secured all power of France under his rule

His economic advisor, Colbert, helped reform taxes to increase Louis’ wealth

Louis built Palace of Versailles as a display of his power

Revoked the Edict of Nantes because religious unity would increase French power

Louis XIV

Under Louis XIV, France became the model for absolutism

He said “I am the state”

Nickname: The Sun King

Peter the Great

Romanov ruler of Russia

Wanted to catch Russia up to Western Europe

Traveled around Europe to learn about their ways and bring knowledge back to Russia

Frederick the Great

Ruled Prussia as an absolute monarch

Made many reforms to the military

Created Europe’s strongest military

Enlightened Despots

A few monarchs retained absolute control of their countries while also enacting reform based on Enlightenment ideas.Austria: Maria Teresa and her son Joseph II

Russia: Catherine the Great

Reforms of Enlightened Despots

They reduced taxes for peasants

Provided free education

Ended censorship in their empire

Some religious toleration

Sought the advice of nobles and peasants in the running of government

The Puritan Revolution

Absolutism in England???

After Queen Elizabeth died she appointed her cousin James I (Stuart Family) to be king

James I

James I admired the absolutism of Louis XIV and wanted to rule absolutely also

James I did not want to share power with English Parliament

Declared divine rights of kings – that God gave him the right to rule

Resented have to ask Parliament for money for war

Charles I

James’ son, Charles I ruled in the same way

He tried to move England toward becoming an absolute monarch rather than a limited monarch that shared power with Parliament

The Parliament

Many Parliament members were Puritan and resented rule by Anglican kings

Parliament grew tired of the kings’ attempts to take all the power to rule

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English Civil War

Civil War broke out in EnglandKing & Royalists V Parliament & Puritans

Royalists lost

King Charles I was beheaded

Puritan Oliver Cromwell ruled from 1653-1658 as “Lord Protectorate”

The Restoration

Oliver Cromwell died in 1658

The Stuart Family was restored to the throne as monarchs of England

Charles II became king

James II

Charles’ son, James II, started to try to reintroduce absolutism into England and resist Parliament control

Parliament gathered forced to resist James II’s quest for power

James II fled England and went to hide in France

Glorious Revolution - 1689

Parliament invited James’ daughter Mary and her husband William of Orange (the Netherlands) to rule

This bloodless revolution is known as the Glorious Revolution

English Bill of Rights

William and Mary were forced to sign English Bill of Rights before they could take the throne

This document said they must share power with Parliament – created a limited monarchy – no chance of absolutism