Absolutism - the Reigns of King Louis XIV

and Tsar Peter the GreatSSWH14.A

Louis XIV

“I am the state”

Distrust of the noble class

To limit their power, Louis excluded most nobles from his councils.

The nobles had a new job…royal chamber servants

Louis XIV

Nobles were no longer in charge of local government. That job was done by intendants.

These intendants had to report back to Louis frequently.

Many nobles were forced to live at court with Louis.

Versailles

Versailles

Versailles

The construction of Versailles, combined with the cost of Louis’ lifestyle would leave France in a terrible amount of debt.

Louis’ Wars

1667 – Invasion of Spanish Netherlands

France’s expansion made the rest of Europe very worried. England, Austria, Sweden, and Spain formed the League of Augsburg.

1700 – Spanish Succession◦Childless Charles II of Spain dies – Philip of Anjou is

selected to take the Spanish throne.◦The problem with this is that Philip is Louis’

grandson. The rest of Europe couldn’t let the thrones of France and Spain join together.

The Results of Louis’ Reign

As Louis came to the end of his life he began to regret the death and debt that he had brought to his people.

About $21,000,000,000.00 in debt.

France was set up as a military power.

The stage was set for Absolutism.

Peter the Great

1696 – Peter I comes to power in Russia.

Russia was still a society that followed the feudal model

During the 1680s Peter goes on a tour of Western European nations.

Peter the Great

Throughout his childhood, Peter studies the ways and the technologies of Western nations.

Among his hobbies were sailing and meeting foreigners.

Peter’s Tour of the West

Shortly after he took power in Russia, Peter went on a trip through Europe.

Spent most of his time in England and the Dutch Republic studying ship building.

When he returned he forced the Russian nobles dress and act more like people from the West.

Great Northern War

After returning from his tour, Peter goes to war against Charles XII of Sweden.

When the war ended in 1721, Russia had gained control Baltic coastal lands.

Peter begins the construction of his new port city, St. Petersburg.

The Westernization of Russia

Established newspapers

Increased the social status of women

Established schools for science, navigation, math, and art

Issued orders for certain citizens to go study in European nations

The Court of Peter I

Foreign visitors were often confused by Peter’s court◦Dwarfs, giants, and “human monsters” from Peter’s

Cabinet of Curiosities◦Compulsory drinking binges with guards to stop any

guest from leaving◦Parodies performed by Peter’s “All-mad, All-jesting,

All-drunken assembly”He wanted to Westernize Russia, but his court

confirmed what many Europeans already thought about Russian…They were barbaric.

The Down-side of Peter’s Reforms

An increase in servitude

A decline of Russian culture

Many orthodox religious leaders thought the Peter was the Antichrist

Western technology was introduced to Russian, but not Western freedom