ABSOLUTISM or ABSOLUTE MONARCHY

• Power was not limited by having to consult w/t nobles, common ppl, or their representatives

• Thus, claims– Divine Right, which is:– ____________________

• “Power _____________; Absolute Power __________ absolutely!”

• Absolutism maps

CHARLES V of Spain (1519-1556)

• Hapsburg Dynasty• Ruled the

– Holy Roman Empire– Spain & parts of Italy– Netherlands– & land i/t New World

• constant warfare– over land & religion– Martin Luther an outlaw

• Peace of Augsburg• Abdicates in 1556

– divided kingdom btwn • brother, Ferdinand• and his son, Phillip II

– lived in a monastery

Phillip II of Spain (1556-1598)

• Son of Charles V• Spain’s power peaks

– due to gold/silver fm New World

• Religion & Revolt– Court of Blood

• suppress Protestant rebels in Low Countries

• 1609: Netherlands gain independence

– w/ British help

• SPANISH ARMADA– Why?

The SPANISH ARMADA (1588)

• Spain attempts to invade England– 130 ships– 20,000 soldiers/sailors

• Spain is soundly defeated, due to– UK’s military strategy– storms devastated fleet

• Led to:– England’s rise to power– Spain’s fall fm power

• SPANISH ARMADA

The BOURBON Dynasty• Absolute rulers of France• “one king, one law, one religion”

• Henry IV (1589-1610), – first BOURBON– Protestant > Catholicism– St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre

• 10 - 70,000 killed

– 1593: “Edict of Nantes” – Who is a HUGUENOT? – __________________________– disciplined the military– improved infrastructure

• Trade increased• Agriculture improved• ended the power o/t nobility

Louis XIII (1610-1643) of France• Henry IV’s son• began rule at age 9

– son of Marie de Medici• Regent

– chose Cardinal Richelieu as his chief minister

– “King is supreme is France, France is supreme in Europe”

• destroy power o/t nobility• end independence o/t

Huguenots• Encourage trade & industry• Reduce power of Spain &

Austrian HAPSBURGS

The Sun King (1643-1715)• King Louis XIV

– 72 year reign– became king at age 5

• Built the Palace of Versailles– inside the palace– moved the gov’t & nobles here– greatly strained France’s economy– Emphasized the grandeur & power

of France– “divine right of kings”– L’etat, c’est moi” (I am the state)

• Cardinal Mazarin: Chief Minister• Bankruptcy due to Versailles &

military expansion • European nobility adopted the

language & customs of France