The Age of Absolute Monarchs1649-1763

Absolutism • Absolutism – means to have complete

authority over the government and the lives of the people in their nation.

• In other words, the King or Queen could do whatever they wanted.

• Give an example of a law an absolute monarch would make.

Divine Right

• Jacques-Benigne Bossuet was a French bishop who advocated the theory of political absolutism.

• He made the argument that government was divine

and that kings received their power from God.

Divine Right

• Divine Right states that a monarch (king/queen) is in power because God wanted them to be in power. Kings and queens argued that anyone who attempted to challenge their power was going against the will of God.

Thomas Hobbes: Leviathan

• Philosopher that argued that humans are naturally wicked and need a STRONG leader to maintain order

• Wrote the Leviathan to support ideas of absolutism.

Louis XIV of

France

“The Sun King”

What does the Heliocentric theory state?

Absolute Ruler = Louis XIV TOTAL CONTROL

• Louis XIV of France: – Known as “The Sun King”“I prefer fame above all

else, even life itself…”- Claimed “Divine

Right” – God have him complete control over his people

Louis XIV• Why was France so

wealthy?

• Colonies were established in Canada for raw materials

• Mercantilism was the basis of their economy

French Arts and Culture

• Louis XIV promoted:– Opera– Ballet– Theatre– Literature – by giving

pensions to writers and ordered them to sing his praises…• what does this mean?

A costume design for Louis XIV as The Rising Sun, from the final entrée of Le Ballet de la Nuit (1653).

Inside the Palace of Versailles• Louis XIV kept those

around him in check by making the nobles dependent on their ability to please him…

• He made the nobles live with him at Versailles and request all money directly.

• It was the greatest honor for a noble to be beside the king in his bathroom chamber…Why?

Louis XIV- Extravagance

• Held Extravagant parties at Versailles (his palace)– And

• His costly wars left France in debt

Palace of Versailles

Who Pays for Extravagance?• Louis XIV put heavy

taxes on the lower class

• There was social unrest among the starving peasants

• Heaviest burden fell on the 3rd Estate.

In Latin, reads “Louis XIV, Thanks be to God.”

Louis XIV- Popularity Declined

• At the time of his death, he was greatly disliked by the people of France.

• The French monarchy would not survive much after his death in 1715…

Peter the Great Czar of Russia

17th-18th Century

What does this paintingSuggest about Peter’sAuthority?

He had

DIVINE RIGHT

Louis XIV

Peter the Great

Before Peter the Great..• What group of people ruled Russia for

hundreds of years before Peter the Great and his predecessors (The Ivans)?

THE MONGOLS

Effects of their rule:- “Golden Horde” burned Kiev (capital) - Kept Russia isolated for hundreds of years

= fallen behind technologically, economically- Set precedent of strong authoritarian rulers

- (setting stage for czars and dictators)

Timeline• Mongol Rule – 1200s –1400s• Ivan III: 1462-1505• Ivan the Terrible (Ivan IV)

– Centralized royal power– Introduced Russia to extreme absolute power

• Harsh ruling style and fits of violence earned him the title “Ivan the Terrible

• Peter the Great: 1682-1752• Catherine the Great: 1762 - 1796

Peter’s Goals

• Wanted to modernize Russia

• He traveled to Western European cities to study western technology

• South to westernize Russia (copy the ways of the west

Westernizing Russia• South to westernize

Russia (copy the ways of the west (w. Europe)– Simplified alphabet– Developed mining and

textiles– Had men cut their

beards and shave like the Europeans

– Built a new capital at St. Petersburg

St. Petersburg• “Window to the

West”• Served as a symbol

of the new modern Russia

• Was built on land taken from Sweden.

• Peter needed a “warm water” port.

Absolute Ruler

• When necessary he used force and terror to achieve his goals– Forced serfs to

abandon their land to build St. Petersburg- 20,000 to 100,000 people died in the process…

Warm Water Port• WANTED A WARM

WATER PORT!• He created the largest

army in Europe• Used it to expand Russian

territory• Gained a water port on

the Baltic Sea• Extended territory to the

East

HINT: Whenever rulers have “The Great” after their name – Usually means that they conquered land – to make nation larger

Ex. Alexander the Great

Peter’s IMPACT

• Peter the Great left Russia a leading eastern European state.

• He centralized government, modernized the army, created a navy and increased the subjugation of the peasants.

Catherine the Great

• Catherine the Great– Another absolute ruler

who ruled alone after her husband, Czar Peter III was murdered in a coup…

– DID successfully acquire ports on the Black Sea in 1795!

During her reign Russia extended its boundaries to include territory from wars with the Turks, and from the partitions of Poland, as well as establishing control over the Black Sea.

Drawing Comparisons• Louis XIV & Peter the Great came to power at young ages• And they were both ABSOLUTE RULERS

– Controlled dress, arts, culture, laws, religion, press• Both had Divine Right• Both sought to transform their nations to have the finest

things and stand out on the world stage…• Both fought wars to conquer land• Built magnificent architectural feats

– Versailles (Louis XIV)– St. Petersburg (Peter the Great)

Elizabeth I of England(Mid-Late 1500s)

Absolutism in England• Tudor Family Rule

in England:– The Tudors believed

in Divine Right but worked well with Parliament

Henry VIII

• He created the Anglican Church because he wanted to divorce his 1st wife Catherine.

• Had 6 wives – trying to have male heir– Finally had Edward– Elizabeth was 3rd in line to

the throne…

Order…

• Henry VIII– Edward VI– Mary Tudor

– Elizabeth I became Queen

Died

Elizabeth I

• Daughter of Henry VIII• Gifted Queen with a

fierce temper and strong nature

• Would spit on the floor, swear, and may punch a courtier when angered

• Also witty and refined• 2,000 velvet and jewel

encrusted gowns

• Never married: but she used the prospect of marriage in political matters to her advantage.

• She was courted by Phillip II of Spain after his wife (and her sister) Mary died.

The Virgin Queen

Elizabeth and the Church• She set up a single

church that combined Catholic and Protestant traditions.

• People were required to attend church or pay a fine.

• Why might a divine right monarch force people to attend church?

Absolute Rule – head of church & state

• Parliament granted her request and made a second law, a new– ACT OF SUPREMACY

• Which declared her the Supreme governor of England’s institutions- both church and its state!

Although Elizabeth was the head of church and state as an absolute ruler…she faced several challenges!

1) Religious Disunity2) Mary Queen of Scots3) Spain and its Armada

Threat #1: Religious Disunity• She tried to appeal to both

Protestants and Catholics by allowing priests to marry and hold services in English (protestant)

And kept the same traditions of Catholics (robes, crucifixes)…

* Elizabeth wanted her subjects loyalty more than anything else

Threat #2: Mary Queen of Scots

• Elizabeth’s cousin, Mary Stuart Queen of Scots had the support of Catholics and many hoped she would overthrow Elizabeth.

• Elizabeth had her jailed until 1586…

Threat #2: Mary Queen of Scots

• Mary was supposedly caught plotting to overthrow Elizabeth in 1586

• Elizabeth responded by having her beheaded…

Threat #3: Phillip II of Spain• England was threatened

by Phillip II of Spain when he ordered his fleet to invade England.

• It was the largest fleet of ships ever assembled until Normandy in WWII.

• It was called:The Spanish Armada

Threat #3: Spain• Why organize the Armada?

– Elizabeth had encouraged SEADOGS/PRIVATEERS- ships that were looting Spanish ships on their return from the Americas

– England was not a Catholic country like Spain and Phillip wanted to change that.

– Elizabeth had helped Norway and other colonies receive independence from Spain.

– Elizabeth refused to marry Phillip after his wife Mary died.

Threat #3: The Spanish Armada• Phillip II’s Spanish Armada

included 130 ships with 8,000 sailors and 20,000 soldiers!

• Spain had always been the major Naval Power due to its success in the Age of Exploration.

• England wasn’t bad herself since she had been defending herself from French and other attacks for 1000’s of years.

DID THE SPANISH ARMADA

SUCCEED?

The Thrilling Conclusion It looked hopeless for England. No one believed they

could defeat the power of Spain. Elizabeth’s advisors asked her to make peace…

even to marry Phillip if that is what it took. Elizabeth in turned asked them to build her more ships.

She also convinced merchant ships to fight for England in exchange for privateering licenses.

Elizabeth hired Sir Francis Drake to command the battle. She spoke to parliament asking for support and trust. There was going to be a fight.

Spain is Defeated

• The failure of the Armada marked a TURNING POINT in European history

1) Bad storms and record hurricanes sink 1/3 of the fleet before it reaches Norway to pick up soldiers.

2) The Dutch, who are still rebelling against Spanish rule, hassle the soldiers and force the Spanish to land at less than ideal ports where they lose more ships to English privateers and Dutch ships.

3) English ships scatter the Spanish “V Formation” with a firestorm.

4) England's small, fast, and maneuverable sloops pick off the Galleons one by one.

5) Spain flees but their escape is blocked by England; as they sail around the UK they attempt to land in Ireland where the Irish kill many Spanish soldiers.

Turning Point: Spain’s Power – Spain’s defeat signaled

the decline of Spain’s political power

– The defeat also held religious importance:• Since all of Europe had

viewed the battle as a contest between Catholics and Protestants, the Catholic Reformation suffered a serious setback.

• Now the English had more power to trade and colonize north America

The Joint Stock Company• To gain the money

necessary for colonization, English business leaders set up a special organization to attract capital from many people. This was known as the JOINT-STOCK COMPANY

The Joint-Stock Company

• Investors in a joint-stock company bought shares of ownership

• The most successful joint-stock company was the British East India Company

The British East India Company• Goal: gain more wealth

from the rich East Indies spice trade

• Among the company’s 101 owners were a London ironmonger, a vintner, and a leather seller, each of whom invested 200 pounds in the venture.

Stocks• Like owning stocks…

all win or lose• After 3 years, the

company’s four ships returned with tons of pepper, cloves and other spices– Making the company’s

owners rich!– Strengthened

England’s Economy

Elizabethan Era: The Golden Age

• The Glory Years for England:

• Wealth• Arts/Culture

– William Shakespeare’s plays!