Chapter 23

Setting the Stage for Revolution:

Absolute Monarchies

The Consolidation ofSovereign States

• Emperor Charles V (r. 1519-1556) attempts to revive Holy Roman Empire as strong center of Europe• Through marriage, political alliances• Ultimately fails

• Protestant Reformation provides cover for local princes to assert greater independence

• Foreign opposition from France, Ottoman empire• Charles V abdicates to monastery in Spain

Sixteenth Century EuropeControlled by

Hapsburg family

Religious Wars in Europe16th – 17th Centuries

• Protestants and Roman Catholics fight in France (1562-1598)

• 1588 Philip II of Spain attacks England to force return to Catholicism• English destroy Spanish ships by sending

flaming unmanned ships into the fleet

• Netherlands rebel against Spain, gain independence by 1610

Thirty Years’ War (1618-1648)

• Holy Roman emperor attempts to force Bohemians to return to Roman Catholic church

• All of Europe becomes involved in conflict• Principal battleground: Germany

• Political, economic issues involved• Approximately one-third of German

population destroyed

This sets the stage for major changes in

Europe

Terms to Know1. Divine Right:

Belief that a ruler’s authority comes directly from God.

2. Absolute Monarch:Ruler with complete authority over the government and lives of the people he or she governs.

3. Constitutional States: The ruler’s power is limited by a legislative body, like a Parliament.

Spain – Philip IIRuled 1556-1598

• Became the ruler of Spain after his father, Charles V vacated the throne.

• He ruled as an Absolute Monarch.• Devout: tried to strengthen Catholic

church• Married Mary I of England

(yes, Bloody Mary) – returned England to Catholicism

Spain – Philip IIRuled 1556-1598

• English Sea Dogs began looting Spanish ships.

• He responded by sailing his Spanish Armada into the English Channel to battle the English fleet & return England to Roman Catholicism.

• He lost most of the Armada to the smaller, quicker English ships.

• Spanish power declined due to costly wars, neglect of farming, and heavy taxes on the middle class.

France – Louis XIVRuled 1643 - 1715

August 24, 1572: St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre – French Huguenots (Protestants) and Catholics began fighting at a royal wedding.

3000 Huguenots were killed. This symbolized the

breakdown of order in France.

Louis XIV inherited throne at age 5! Cardinal Mazarin helped him until he was 23.

He ruled as an Absolute Monarch.

France – Louis XIVRuled 1643 - 1715

Called himself the Sun King Believed in divine right.

“L’etat, c’est moi.” I am the state.

Made French army the strongest in Europe

France was the wealthiest country in Europe under Louis XIV

Louis XIV spent huge amounts of money

Built Versailles.

France – Louis XIVVersailles

Expanded from a hunting lodge in 1669.

Became the symbol to European monarchs of the wealth and power of the king of France.

Seat of French government for nearly over 100 years.

Its upkeep consumed as much as 25% of the income of France.

Versailles

Versailles

Hall of Mirrors

England – James I (1603 – 1625)

• James VI of Scotland• Became James I of England

when Elizabeth I died.• Believed in Divine Right of

Kings. “Kings are called gods because they sit upon God’s throne on earth.”

• Ran up a huge debt in England.

• Had Bible translated from Latin into English

England – Charles I1625 - 1649

• Absolute monarch - had no problem with putting his enemies in prison without trial

• Ran up a huge debt• Parliament forced him to sign

the “Petition of Right” which prohibited the King from raising taxes without Parliament’s permission.

• Dissolved Parliament in 1629

England – Charles I1625 - 1649

• He recalled Parliament in 1640 to get funds to fight Scotland.

• Parliament tried and executed some of the King’s officials, he sent troops to assassinate some members of Parliament.

• Touched off a massive English Civil War between supporters of Charles and supporters of Parliament led by Oliver Cromwell.

England – Charles I1625 - 1649

• Roundheads were supporters of Parliament during the war.

• Cavaliers were supporters of the King during the war.

• Oliver Cromwell led the Parliamentary forces to victory over the King and became the new leader of England.

• England’s government called a “Commonwealth.”

• Charles I beheaded in 1649.

England – Oliver Cromwell1649 - 1658• Lord Protector – England• Ruled through the army• Exiled Catholics to Ireland• Strict Puritan laws passed –

theaters closed, Sunday set aside for worship, no lewd dancing, taverns or gambling

• Religious freedom for everyone else

• When Cromwell died, Restoration began.

England – Charles IIThe Restoration

1660 - 1685• Popular ruler, he was

“charming.”• Bowed to the wishes of

Parliament (Petition of Right)

• Restored the Church of England, practiced tolerance of religions.

• Stabilized government

England – James II1685 - 1688

• Brother of Charles II• Absolute Ruler, openly

Catholic• Antagonized Parliament• Parliament invited James’

daughter, Mary, and her Dutch protestant husband William of Orange to throne.

• Forced from throne in what came to be called the Glorious Revolution.

England – William and MaryEnglish Bill of Rights

1689 • William and Mary were given the throne after the

English Bill of Rights was passed. • Guaranteed supremacy of Parliament over the

monarchy.• Parliament had to meet on a regular basis• Monarchy could neither make nor suspend laws• Trial by jury reinstated.• Abolished fines and cruel and unusual

punishment.• Affirmed “writ of habeas corpus” – no person

can be held in prison without first being charged with a specific crime. Due process of laws.

• Laid groundwork for American system of laws.

Peace of Westphalia

This ended the Thirty Years’ War Signed in 1648. France is clear winner,

gains territory from Spain and Prussia, including Alsace. Prussia remains fragmented and Hapsburgs lose much power.

Didn’t end all fighting, but set up “Balance of Power” system in Europe.

Russia – Peter the GreatRuled 1682-1725

• Inherited throne at age 10, took over at age 17.

• Studied Western technology. Worked in a shipyard

• Goal was to westernize Russia. • Absolute Monarch: Forced

powerful boyars to bow to his will.• Built modern Western city for

Russian capital – St. Petersburg.• Extended Russian territory – to

Pacific Ocean.• 1700: Fought Sweden for control

of Baltic. Gained several Baltic ports

Austria – Maria Theresaruled 1740 - 1780

Absolute monarch of Austria Fought Frederick II of Prussia

for control of Hungary and Silesia

Reorganized the government Eased tax burden on her

people Gave more rights to her

subjects Gave birth to 16 children while

in power

Prussia – Frederick IIRuled 1740-1786

Absolute ruler of Prussia (Germany)

Attacked Austria, sparking the War of Austrian Succession

Unified Prussia, part of the Holy Roman Empire, into one nation

The Philosopher Behind the Age• Thomas Hobbes• 1660 – Wrote the Leviathan

(Giant)• Discussed the perfect

government• People first lived in

anarchy• Needed a “social contract”• Required an absolute

monarch to maintain order• People retained the right

only to maintain their lives.

The Philosophy Advances• John Locke• 1690• People first lived in anarchy• Needed a “social contract”• People gave up only SOME of

their individual rights.• Kept the right to:

- Live - Enjoy Liberty - Own Property

• Rulers who violated these rights broke the social contract and could be overthrown.

Looking ahead

• By mid 1700’s, 4 of the 5 major powers of Europe had Absolute Monarchs.

• These 5 nations often fought with each other.

• At the same time, new ideas about representative governments were growing.

• Radical changes would soon shatter the French monarchy and revolutionize European societies.