Absolutism Absolutism

AbsolutismAbsolutism Philosophy-

Jean Bodin First to provide basis for absolutist states Believed absolutism could provide order and force people

to obey the government Bishop Jacques Bossuet

Divine right of kings King placed on throne by God and therefore owed his

authority to no man or group Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan

Pessimistic view of man’s natural state (“solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short”)

Did not favor “divine right” Enlightened Despotism

Characteristics Characteristics of Absolutism of Absolutism Monarchs not subordinate to national

assemblies, parliaments, etc. Nobility brought under the control of the

monarch Bureaucracies composed of career officials who

were responsible directly to the king Some gain control of the Church Maintained large standing armies Employed secret police to undermine enemies

Comparison of Comparison of MethodsMethodsComparing Medieval v. Absolutism

View of relationship between God and the King The raising of finances Changes in the bureaucracy Changes in the military

Absolutism v. Modern Totalitarianism Why does absolutism not qualify as a

totalitarian form of government? In what ways to they share similar goals?

The The Development Development

of French of French AbsolutismAbsolutism

France in the 17France in the 17thth CenturyCenturyFeudal EstatesFeudal Estates

First Estate: Clergy (1% of population)First Estate: Clergy (1% of population) Second Estate: Nobility (3-4% of population)Second Estate: Nobility (3-4% of population) Third Estate: Bourgeoisie (Middle class)Third Estate: Bourgeoisie (Middle class)

Order of rank restored under Henry IVOrder of rank restored under Henry IVMostly agrarian 90%Mostly agrarian 90%Largest country in Europe (17 million)Largest country in Europe (17 million)

Henry IV (Henry Henry IV (Henry of Navarre)of Navarre) Strengthened social and Strengthened social and

government institutions: government institutions: parliaments, treasury, parliaments, treasury, universities, the Churchuniversities, the Church

Edict of Nantes- some Edict of Nantes- some recognition of Calvinismrecognition of Calvinism

Weakened the nobilityWeakened the nobility Nobility of the sword- not Nobility of the sword- not

allowed to influence the royal allowed to influence the royal councilcouncil

Nobility of the robe- new Nobility of the robe- new officials who had purchased officials who had purchased titlestitles

Duke of Sully Duke of Sully Finance ministerFinance minister Mercantilism- increased Mercantilism- increased

the role of the state in the role of the state in economyeconomy Granted monopolies on salt Granted monopolies on salt

and gunpowderand gunpowder Encouraged new industryEncouraged new industry Only royal government could Only royal government could

operate minesoperate mines Reduced royal debtReduced royal debt Reformed the tax systemReformed the tax system Oversaw transportationOversaw transportation

Louis XIIILouis XIII Henry IV assassinated, Marie Henry IV assassinated, Marie

de’ Medici rules as regentde’ Medici rules as regent Regency is corruptRegency is corrupt Cardinal Richelieu Cardinal Richelieu

PolitiquePolitique Intendant System- replaced Intendant System- replaced

local officials with civil servants local officials with civil servants responsible directly to the kingresponsible directly to the king

Increased taxation for militaryIncreased taxation for military Subdue the Protestants: Peace Subdue the Protestants: Peace

of Alaisof Alais

Thirty Years’ WarThirty Years’ WarRichelieu and Louis XIII sought to weaken Richelieu and Louis XIII sought to weaken

the Habsburg Empirethe Habsburg EmpireFrance supports Gustavus Adolphus with France supports Gustavus Adolphus with

money during the “Swedish Phase” money during the “Swedish Phase” ““International Phase”International Phase”Treaty of WestphaliaTreaty of Westphalia

France under France under Louis XIVLouis XIV

Louis XIVLouis XIV ““L’ etat, c’est moi”- “I am the state”L’ etat, c’est moi”- “I am the state” Becomes known as the Sun King because he Becomes known as the Sun King because he

was the center of French powerwas the center of French power Believer in Divine RightBeliever in Divine Right Longest reign in European history (72 years)Longest reign in European history (72 years)

Inherited the throne at age 5 Inherited the throne at age 5 France becomes undisputed major powerFrance becomes undisputed major power French culture dominates EuropeFrench culture dominates Europe

French becomes international languageFrench becomes international language France becomes center of literature and art until the 20France becomes center of literature and art until the 20 thth

centurycentury

The Fronde (mid-The Fronde (mid-late 1640s)late 1640s) Cardinal Mazarin- Cardinal Mazarin-

controls France while controls France while Louis was a childLouis was a child

Some nobles revolted Some nobles revolted when Louis was 5-11when Louis was 5-11 Mazarin defeats them Mazarin defeats them

because they are not because they are not unitedunited

Louis never forgets and Louis never forgets and humiliates them in humiliates them in order to control themorder to control them

Government Government OrganizationOrganizationLouis recruited ministers from the middle Louis recruited ministers from the middle

class- keep the nobles outclass- keep the nobles outContinued the intendant system Continued the intendant system Checked the power of parliamentsChecked the power of parliaments

Nobles feared resisting him after the failure of Nobles feared resisting him after the failure of the Frondethe Fronde

Never called the Estates GeneralNever called the Estates General

Control over the Control over the Peasantry Peasantry Some were able to keep only about 20% Some were able to keep only about 20%

of their income after paying taxes to of their income after paying taxes to landlord, government, and Church titheslandlord, government, and Church tithes

Corvee- forced labor that required Corvee- forced labor that required peasants to work for a month out of the peasants to work for a month out of the year on roads and other public projectsyear on roads and other public projects

Idle peasants conscripted into the armyIdle peasants conscripted into the armyRebellious peasants executed or used as Rebellious peasants executed or used as

slaves on ships slaves on ships

Versailles Palace Versailles Palace Becomes a grand testament to his power Palace of Versailles Tour

2,000 acres of grounds 12 miles of roads 27 miles of trellises 200,000 trees 210,000 flowers planted every year 80 miles of rows of trees 55 acres surface area of the Grand Canal 12 miles of enclosing walls 50 fountains and 620 fountain nozzles 21 miles of water conduits 3,600 cubic meters per hour: water consumed 26 acres of roof 51,210 square meters of floors 2,153 windows 700 rooms 67 staircases 6,000 paintings 1,500 drawings and 15,000 engravings 2,100 sculptures 5,000 items of furniture and objects d'art 150 varieties of apple and peach trees in the Vegetable Garden

Religious PoliciesReligious Policies Considered himself head of the French Church Edict of Fountainbleau (1685)- revokes the Edict

of Nantes Huguenots lost right to practice Calvinism 200,000 flee France for England, Holland, and the

Americas

Supports the Jesuits by cracking down on Jansenists (Catholics who held some Calvinist ideas)

Mercantilism

Jean Baptiste Colbert Economic self-sufficiency for

France Government supported

monopolies Cracked down on guilds Reduced local tolls that inhibit

trade Organized French trading

companies for international trade

Developed a merchant marine By 1663- leading industrial

country Textiles, mirrors, lace-making,

foundries for steel, firearms

Mercantilism

Weaknesses Poor peasant conductions result in large

emigration out of France Creation of a massive army and little navy

France will lose naval battles to England Wars of later years end up reversing the gains

The Wars of The Wars of Louis XIV Louis XIV

OverviewOverviewWars were initially successful but Wars were initially successful but

eventually became economically ruinous eventually became economically ruinous France develops the first professional France develops the first professional

modern armymodern armyFirst time one country can dominate First time one country can dominate

politics in Europepolitics in EuropeA balance of power system emergedA balance of power system emerged

Initial WarsInitial Wars War of Devolution: (First Dutch War), 1667-1668War of Devolution: (First Dutch War), 1667-1668

Louis XIV invades the Spanish Netherlands (Belgium) Louis XIV invades the Spanish Netherlands (Belgium) without declaring warwithout declaring war

Louis receives 12 towns but gave up the Franche-Louis receives 12 towns but gave up the Franche-Comte (Burgundy)Comte (Burgundy)

Second Dutch War, 1672-1678)Second Dutch War, 1672-1678) Invades the southern Netherlands as revenge for Dutch Invades the southern Netherlands as revenge for Dutch

opposition in the first waropposition in the first war Peace of Nijmegan Peace of Nijmegan

France takes the Franche-Comte and gains Alsace France takes the Franche-Comte and gains Alsace

War of the League of War of the League of Augsburg, 1688-Augsburg, 1688-16971697Louis XIV invades the Netherlands again Louis XIV invades the Netherlands again

in 1683in 1683Opposed by the League of Augsburg Opposed by the League of Augsburg

(HRE, Spain, Sweden, Bavaria, Saxony, (HRE, Spain, Sweden, Bavaria, Saxony, and Dutch Republic)and Dutch Republic) Balance of PowerBalance of Power William of Orange brings in England as well William of Orange brings in England as well

War ends with the status quoWar ends with the status quo

War of Spanish War of Spanish Succession, 1701-Succession, 1701-17131713 Cause: the will of Charles II (Habsburg king) Cause: the will of Charles II (Habsburg king)

gave all Spanish territories to the grandson of gave all Spanish territories to the grandson of Louis XIVLouis XIV European powers fear the thrones of Spain and France European powers fear the thrones of Spain and France

will unite to create a super powerwill unite to create a super power

Grand Alliance emerges (Engalnd, Dutch Grand Alliance emerges (Engalnd, Dutch Republic, HRE, Brandenburg, Portugal, Savoy)Republic, HRE, Brandenburg, Portugal, Savoy)

Battle of Blenheim (1704Battle of Blenheim (1704 Turning Point- series of military defeats for FranceTurning Point- series of military defeats for France England and Savoy’s army are victoriousEngland and Savoy’s army are victorious

Treaty of Utrecht, Treaty of Utrecht, 17131713 Most important between Treaty of Westphalia Most important between Treaty of Westphalia

(1648) and the Treaty of Paris (1763)(1648) and the Treaty of Paris (1763) Maintains balance of power in EuropeMaintains balance of power in Europe Ends expansion by Louis XIVEnds expansion by Louis XIV

Spanish possessions are partitioned Spanish possessions are partitioned Britain gains the slave trade from Spain, Gibraltar and Britain gains the slave trade from Spain, Gibraltar and

MinorcaMinorca Spanish Netherlands (Belgium) given to AustriaSpanish Netherlands (Belgium) given to Austria Netherlands gain some land as a buffer from Netherlands gain some land as a buffer from

FranceFrance Prohibits the uniting of the Bourbon thronesProhibits the uniting of the Bourbon thrones

Cost of Louis XIV’s Cost of Louis XIV’s WarsWarsDestroyed the French economyDestroyed the French economy20% of the French subjects died20% of the French subjects diedHuge debt would be placed on the Huge debt would be placed on the

shoulders of the Third Estateshoulders of the Third Estate French government was bankruptFrench government was bankrupt

Leads to the French RevolutionLeads to the French Revolution

““AbsolutismAbsolutism” in Spain” in Spain

The Golden Age The Golden Age of Spainof SpainFerdinand and Isabella begin centralizing

powerCharles V and Philip II lay the foundations

for absolutism Center capital in Madrid Escorial Court life reinforces king’s power

Spanish Inquisition continue to persecute those seen as heretics

Decline of the Spanish Decline of the Spanish Economy (17Economy (17thth century) century)Hurt by loss of middle class Jews and

MoorsSpanish trade with colonies fell 60%

English and Dutch competition

Treasury was bankruptNational taxes hit peasantry hard Price Revolution and inflationPoor work ethic

Political and Political and Military DeclineMilitary Decline Spanish Armada Poor leadership under three successive kings

Philip III, Philip IV, and Charles II Defeat in the Thirty Years’ War Treaty of the Pyrenees- end of Spain as a great

power War with France Lose territory to France (part of Spanish Netherlands

and territory in northern Spain) War of Spanish Succession

Discussion questions

How did the theories of Bossuet and Hobbes contribute to absolutism in France in the 17th century?

Analyze the ways in which the absolutism of Louis XIV impacted the: bureaucracy, nobility, peasantry, economics, and religious issues

To what extent did the balance of power remain intact in Europe between 1600 and 1715?

Analyze the way in which Spanish and French absolutism developed.