Absolutism in Austria & Prussia

AP European HistoryMs. Tully

I. Warfare and Social Change

Serfdom in Central/Eastern Europe

1050-1300 – Economic expansion in Europe 14thC – Black Death = New economic problems

Lords exploited peasantry Eradication of serfdom in W. Europe, Re-entrenchment in E.

Europe Restricted or eliminated freedom of movement for peasants Lords took over more peasant land Heavy labor obligations – work w/o pay Local lords – control of local legal system

Consolidation of Serfdom

1500-1650 – social, legal, and economic conditions of peasants declined in E. Europe Poland 1574 – Lords could inflict death penalty on

peasants Prussia 1653 – Hereditary subjugation Russia 1603 – Eliminated freedom of movement

Growth of estate agriculture Pop. growth of 16thC – increased demand for commodities Lords seized peasant lands – increase profits Poor East helped feed wealthier West.

Lords had more power in E. Europe Warfare created more

power for local lords Weak kings had to

compromise with nobility

Weakened urban/merchant class in towns – sold directly to foreigners

Eastern monarchs did not oppose growth of serfdom

II. Rise of Austria and Prussia

Atmosphere of wartime emergency allowed monarchs to increase power of central state

Gained political power in three areas Imposed permanent taxes w/o consent Maintained permanent standing armies Conducted relations with other states for their

benefit

The Austrian Habsburgs

Habsburg territory full of different languages, ethnicities, religions Some in HRE, some not Lots of little political jurisdictions

Abandon imperial dominance, focus on consolidation of current territory

Crushed Protestant Bohemian nobility – Ferdinand II Sold their land to new Catholic nobility (new loyalty) Accomplished direct control over Bohemia

Centralized gov’t in German-speaking provinces Created permanent standing army

Austrian Rule in Hungary

After Battle of Mohacs (1526), Hungary divided between Ottomans and Habsburgs

Warfare between the Habsburgs and Ottomans devastated Hungary 1683 – Habsburgs succeeded in gaining control of most of Hungary

and Transylvania 1718 – Complete recovery of Hungary

Hungarian nobility resisted the full development of Habsburg absolutism Protestants Ottomans were nicer Sense of nationalism

Habsburgs advanced the cause of state building in Hungary by forging a consensus with the church and nobility Allowed nobility to keep aristocratic privileges

Creation of standing army under Emperor Leopold Funded by provincial estates

German language and Catholicism helped form collective identity

Vienna became political and cultural center of empire Pragmatic Sanction, 1713

Habsburg lands should never be divided Women could inherit throne

Maria Theresa crowned in 1740

Prussia in the 17th Century

The Hohenzollern family ruled the electorate of Brandenburg and Prussia

The Thirty Years’ War weakened representative assemblies and allowed the Hohenzollerns to consolidate their rule

Frederick William, the Great Elector (r. 1640-1688) Used military power to consolidate Prussia,

Brandenburg, and Rhine territories into one state Struggle between Frederick and provincial estates

Instated permanent tax w/o permission of estates to strengthen military Warfare atmosphere created sense of urgency

Created large, centralized bureaucracy Like Louis XIV, the Great Elector built his

absolutist state on collaboration with traditional elites, reaffirming their privileges in return for loyal service and revenue

The Consolidation of Prussian Absolutism

Frederick William I knows as “the Soldier’s King” (r.1713-1740) Created best army in Europe Transformed Prussia into model military state

Believed that welfare of king and state depended on army

Ironically, Prussia at peace for most of his reign Created rigid civil society, obedience – “Sparta of the

North”