ABSOLUTE MONARCHS IN EUROPE

Chapter 5 in text book

Pages 152 to 185

SPAIN’S EMPIRE &EUROPEAN ABSOLUTISM

Charles V…Hapsburg King

(Spain, Am. Colonies, parts of Italy, Austria, & Netherlands)

Devout CatholicFought MuslimsOpposed LutheransAgreed to the Peace of Augsburg in 1555

Allowed German princes to choose a religion for their territory

1556, divided empire & retired in a monastery Ferdinand (brother) – Austria & the Holy Roman Empire Philip II (son) – Spain, Spanish Netherlands, & Am.

Colonies

KING PHILIP II 1580 – King of Portugal died w/out heir

Philip was the king’s nephew & seized Portugal Including territories in Africa, India, & East Indies

Claimed b/t ¼ & 1/5 of every shipload of treasure from the American ColoniesBuilt large army & navy with wealth. Built palaces. Became great patron of the arts

Defended Catholism against the protestants and Muslims (attacked Queen Elizabeth I)

SPANISH ART & LITERATURE

El Greco (“the Greek”)Born in Crete Brilliant clashing colors, distorted human figure, &

had symbolic emotional expressions in paintingsShowed deep Catholic faith of SpainPainted saints & martyrs

Diego Velazquez50 years after El GrecoUsed rich colorsPainted the pride of the Spanish monarchy Court painter to Philip IV of Spain

Miguel de Cervantes

1605, Wrote Don Quixote de la Mancha

Birth of modern European novel

Story… poor Spanish nobleman went crazy after reading too many books about heroic knights & then dressed up as a knight & mistook windmills for giants

SPANISH EMPIRE WEAKENS

Wealth from Americas caused economic problems

Severe Inflation…Rise in the price of goods & services

Taxes…1500, Spain expelled the Jews & MoorsLost valuable artist & businessesNobles didn’t have to pay taxes & tax burden fell

on the lower class – Spain never developed a middle class

Guilds…Dominated business marketsUsed old-fashion methods to produce products Spanish cloth & manufactured goods more

expensive than those made somewhere else

Wars…Borrowed money from German & Italian bankers Silver from Americas sent to pay loansPhilip had to declare Spain bankrupt three times

Dutch Revolt…Had little in common with Spanish rulersNetherlands were mostly Calvinist & had a very

productive middle class Philip raised taxes on the Dutch & tried to crush

the Protestant faiths Dutch fought Spain for 11 years1579, 7 northern provinces (Protestant) became

independent 10 southern provinces were Catholic & remained

with Spain

INDEPENDENT DUTCH PROSPER

Practiced religious toleration

NOT a kingdom, but a republicUnited Provinces of the Netherlands

Each province elected a governor – power depended upon the merchants & landowners

DUTCH ART

1600’s had the best banks, but also the best artist in Europe

Rembrandt van Rijn Portraits of the wealthy middle-class merchantsGroup portraits Used sharp contrast of light and shadows

Jan VermeerHad domestic indoor settings Often painted women doing everyday activities

DUTCH TRADING EMPIRE

Stable government

Economic growth Replaced Italians as the bankers of Europe

Had largest fleet of ships in the world1636- 4,800 ships

Created the Dutch East India CompanyDominated the Asian spice market & Indian Ocean

trade

THEORY OF ABSOLUTISM

Rulers wanted to be absolute monarchsKings/Queens who held all of the power within

their states’ boundaries

Goal was to control every aspect of society

Believed in divine right Idea that God created the monarchy & that the

monarch acted as God’s representative here on Earth

Answered only to God, not to subjects

EUROPE’S MONARCHS GAIN POWER

Feudalism declines & cities growPolitical, economic, legal, & social system of the

middle ages in Europe

National kingdoms centralize authority

Growing middle-class usually backed monarchs

Church authority broke down = monarchs got greater control

CRISES LEAD TO ABSOLUTISM

17th century – continuous warfare Gov’t built huge armies & increased taxes Widespread unrest & peasants revolted

Monarchs increased their power & regulated everything from religious worship to social gatherings

Created new gov’t bureaucracies to control the country’s economy No longer limited by nobles & representative

bodies

FRENCH MONARCHY

1559, King of France Henry II died

4 sons – 3 ruled & were incompetent King Francis II – 15 years old; died 1560 King Charles IX – 10 years old; died 1574 King Henry III – 24 years old; died 1589

Power came from mother Catherine de Medicis

Wars between French Catholics & the Huguenots (French Protestants) caused great struggles for the French Monarchs 8 religious wars from 1562 to 1598

HENRY OF NAVARRE – HENRY IV

Descendant of King Louis IX 1st marriage was to Margaret the daughter of King

Henry II & Catherine. No children from this marriage

1589 – Catherine & King Henry III dies; Prince Henry of Navarre inherited the throne took the name King Henry IV 1st king of the Bourbon dynasty

Gave up protestant beliefs & became Catholic for his country

1598- Created the Edict of Nantes – Huguenots could live in peace in France & set up their own houses of worship

Devote reign to rebuilding France & its prosperity

Wanted peace for his country, but some hated him for giving up his protestant faith

2nd marriage to Marie de Medici

1610 – a man jumped into Henry’s carriage and stabbed him to death

His son Louis XIII took over the throne9 years old; Marie (mother) guided him Weak kingAppointed strong minister; Cardinal Richelieu

CARDINAL RICHELIEU

Essentially the ruler of France Was the leader of Catholic church in France Moved against the Huguenots

Didn’t allow Protestant cities to have protective walls

Weakened the nobles’ powerForced them to take down fortified castles

Wanted France to be the strongest state in EuropeGreatest obstacle – Hapsburg rulers

Spain, Austria, Netherlands, parts of Holy Roman Empire

Caused France to go to war 30 years’ war

LOUIS XIV COMES TO POWER Son of Louis XIII

1643 – became king at the age of 14

True ruler was Richelieu’s successor Cardinal MazarinEnded 30 years’ war in 1648Nobles hated Mazarin b/c of higher taxes & more

power to the centralized government Nobles led riots against Mazarin & threatened the

life of Louis XIV Noble’s rebellion eventually failed

1661 - Cardinal Mazarin died

At 22 years old Louis took control of gov’t Weakened noble’s power & excluded them from

councils Increased power of gov’t agentsDevoted to helping France attain economic,

political, & cultural brilliance

Jean Baptiste Colbert – minister of finance Believed in mercantilism Made France self-sufficient & expanded

manufacturing Increased taxes on importsEncouraged people to move to New France, fur trade

$$$$

1658 – Louis XIV canceled Edict of NantesThousands of Huguenot artisans & businesses left

Surrounded himself with luxury Built the Palace at Versailles – 11 miles SW of Paris

(Page 166 in text) In 2003 dollars cost est. $2.5 billion

36,000 laborers 6,000 horses

Great patronage of the arts Made opera & ballet more popularStated purpose of art was to glorify the king &

promote values that supported his absolute rule

LOUIS XIV’S DISASTROUS WARS

1660 – France was most powerful country in Europe

1667 – invaded Spanish Netherlands Gained 12 towns

1672 – he led army into Dutch NetherlandsDutch flooded countryside on purpose1678 – Treaty of Nijmegen ended war

France gained several towns

End of 1680’s – European alliance formed to stop France; weak countries came together to balance power in Europe

War of Spanish Succession –

1700 – King of Spain Charles II died childless Throne promised to Louis XIV’s grandson who was

16 years old; Philip of Anjou (Philip V-King of Spain)

1701 – Several European nations didn’t want the French Bourbons to have this much control…WAR!

Treaty of Utrecht ended the war in 1714…Grandson remained King of SpainGreat Britain took Gibraltar from SpainFrance gave Great Britain Nova Scotia &

NewfoundlandAustrian Hapsburgs took Spanish Netherlands &

Spanish lands in ItalyPrussia & Savoy were recognized as kingdoms

LOUIS XIV’S DEATH & LEGACY

1715 – Died in bed

This prompted rejoicing throughout France

POSTITIVES - France ranked above all in art, literature, & statesmanship, military leader of Europe, strong American colonial empire

NEGATIVES – constant wars, debt due to Versailles, resentment over taxes, abuse of power plagued his heirs – led to revolution

THIRTY YEARS’ WAR Peace of Augsburg (1555) – Churches in

Germany could be either Catholic or Lutheran – NOT Calvinist 1608 – Lutherans join the Protestant Union1609 – Catholic German Princes formed the

Catholic League

1618 – Ferdinand II closed Protestant churches in the Czech kingdom of Bohemia & they revoltedGerman Protestant Princes also saw this as a

chance to go after the Catholic emperor

So begins the 30 years’ war…

Conflict over religion, territory, and power among European ruling families; 1618 to 1648

PHASE ONE – Hapsburg Triumphs First 12 years Hapsburg armies from Austria &

Spain crushed Protestant troops Allowed to plunder/rob & destroy everything in their

pathStopped Czech uprising Defeated German protestants helping Czechs

PHASE TWO – Hapsburg DefeatsProtestants of Sweden drove Hapsburg troops out

of North Germany & changed the tide of war (1630)

1635 – French troops (Catholic) joined Protestants so Hapsburgs wouldn’t have more control than France

PEACE OF WESTPHALIA 1648 – Ended the 30 years war

Weakened Hapsburg states of Spain & Austria Strengthened France b/c they received German

territory German Princes became independent of the Holy

Roman emperor

Europe became a group of equal, independent states – abandoned the Catholic Empire

New peace negotiations – all participants meet to settle problems & decide terms of peace Still used today

AUSTRIA GROWS STRONGER After war several states were seriously

weakened

Hapsburgs of Austria worked to become absolute monarchsReconquered Bohemia & wiped out Protestantism Created a new Czech nobility that pledged loyalty

to the Hapsburgs Centralized gov’t & created armyReconquered Hungary from the Ottoman Empire

1711 - Charles VI becomes Hapsburg rulerControlled Czechs, Hungarians, Italians, Croatians,

& Germans

MARIA THERESA Charles VI eldest daughter (Maria) would be

heir to all of his Hapsburg territories

While in power…She decreased the power of the nobility Limited amount of labor that nobles could force

peasants to doFaced years of war – main enemy was Prussia

over land

Her most famous child was Marie Antoinette – wife of Louis XVI of France

RISE OF PRUSSIA Frederick William inherited title of elector of

Brandenburg AKA - The Great Elector/King Frederick William IHis son started to use the term “king”

After 30 years war, decided to have strong army (best in Europe) to ensure safety

Weakened representative assemblies

The Junkers (Prussia’s nobility) resisted growing power of kingThey were then given exclusive right to be officers

in army

FREDERICK THE GREAT Son of King Frederick William I

Loved music, philosophy, & poetry – not military

While in power…Softened some of his father’s lawsBecame an aggressor in foreign affairs Encouraged religious toleration & legal reform

Died without a son to succeed him

THE SEVEN YEARS’ WAR Maria Theresa made alliance with France

Alliance = Austria, France, & Russia

Frederick II signed treaty with Britain Alliance = Prussia & Britain

1756 – Frederick attacked Saxony (Austrian ally) and eventually every European nation was involvedWar didn’t change Europe’s bordersFrance lost colonies in North AmericaBritain gained sole domination of India

IVAN IV – IVAN THE TERRIBLE

1533 – came to power when he was 3 years old

The boyars (nobles) fought for power & tried to control Ivan

At 16 he seized power & crowned himself “czar”Means Caesar 1st Russian ruler to officially use the titleMarried Anastasia (1st of 8 wives)

related to a boyar family The Romanovs

GOOD PERIOD, 1547 to 1560 –Won great victoriesAdded lands to RussiaGave Russia code of lawsRuled justly

RULE BY TERROR, began in 1560 –After Anastasia died; he accused Boyars of

poisoning herOrganized his own police force who hunted down

& killed those Ivan thought were traitors; he then gave their land to other nobles

Thousands were killed 1581 – had fight with oldest son which resulted in

the son’s death Ivan’s 2nd son took throne 3 years later after his

death Had a stroke while playing chess

RISE OF THE ROMANOVS Ivan’s 2nd son, Czar Feodor I, took throne but

was physically & mentally incapable of rulingRuled a short time & died without an heir

Time of Troubles –Boyars struggled for power Heirs of czars died mysteriously Impostors tried to claim throne

1613 – Russian representatives met to chose the next czar; Michael Romanov – grandnephew of Ivan’s wife Began the Romanov dynasty which ruled for 300

years1613-1917

PETER THE GREAT AKA – Czar Peter I

Originally shared throne with ½ brother Until 1696 @ the age of 24

REFORMS –Bought Russian Orthodox Church under gov’t

controlAbolished Office of Patriarch (head of church); Holy

Synod would run church under Peter’s directionReduced power of landowners Hired European officers to teach his army new

tactics Imposed very high taxes to pay for military

GOAL #1 – to learn about European customs & manufacturing techniques. To Westernize Russia

To achieve goal he… Introduced potatoesStarted 1st Russian newspaperWomen were allowed to attend social gatheringsNobles had to give up their traditional clothing for

Western European fashionsEducation:

School of Navigation Schools for art & science

GOAL #2 – To have a seaport that would make it easier to travel west.

Fought Sweden 21 years to gain a piece of the Baltic coast

Built a new city on swampy land Named it St. Petersburg after his patron saintAfter completed, nobles were forced from their

homes to make new ones in the new capital

Peter died in 1725 with Russia finally being a strong European power

THE ENGLISH MONARCHY Queen Elizabeth I died in 1603 with no heir

Her cousin James Stuart took throne – King James IRuler of Scotland & England

Countries are not united until 1707 even though they have same ruler

1625, James I dies & his son Charles I takes throne

All of these absolute monarchs had financial troubles due to lavish lifestyles & wars with Spain and France

PETITION OF RIGHT 1628 - Charles I requested money from

Parliament & they made him sign document that stated...No imprisonment without due causeNo new taxes without Parliament’s approvalSoldiers would not be housed in the king’s private

homesNo martial law in peacetime

For the 1st time the law was higher than the absolute ruler

1629 – Charles ignored it & dissolved ParliamentTo get funds he imposed fees, fines, & taxes

ENGLISH CIVIL WAR Charles needed $ & had to call upon

Parliament They passed laws to limit royal powerCharles tried to arrest Parliament leaders, but

they escaped

A mob of Londoners stormed the palace & Charles escaped to north England where he raised an army

War between Charles I & his supporters (The Royalist/Cavaliers) vs. opponents of King Charles I (Puritan supporters of Parliament/Roundheads) 1642 to 1649

Oliver Cromwell – Puritan general took control in 1644By 1647 he held Charles I as prisoner

1649 – Charles I was put on trial for treason against Parliament He was found guilty Sentenced to death by public beheading

Never before had a reigning monarch faced a public trial and execution

Cromwell took control of the throne

CROMWELL’S RULE 1649 – abolished monarch & House of Lords

and established a commonwealth; republican form of gov’t – then became a military dictator

Crushed an uprising in Ireland, seized lands & homes and then gave them to English soldiers

Created laws that promoted Puritan morality & abolished “sinful” activities…Theater, Sporting Events, & Dancing

Had religious toleration for all Christians with the exception of CatholicsEven allowed the Jews back into England

CHARLES II REIGNS Cromwell died in 1658 & his gov’t collapsed

1659 – Parliament put the oldest son of Charles I on the throne Restored monarchy & rule is called the “Restoration”

1679 – Parliament passed habeas corpus “to have the body” Gave every prisoner the right to obtain a writ or

document ordering that they be brought before a judge to specify charges

Now a monarch couldn’t put people in jail just because

Had no children & his brother James II took throne in 1685

JAMES II Offended subjects b/c of his Catholic beliefs

Had an older daughter, Mary, that was protestant & a new son who was Catholic

Parliament didn’t want a Catholic monarchy & convinced Mary and her husband William of Orange (prince of Netherlands) to overthrow her father, James II

James II fled to France when Williams army came into London Glorious Revolution – bloodless overthrow