The Rise of Austria, Prussia, and Russia and the Changing Power Structure in Europe in the 17 th and 18 th Centuries

The Rise of Austria, The Rise of Austria, Prussia, and Russia Prussia, and Russia and the Changing and the Changing Power Structure in Power Structure in Europe in the 17Europe in the 17thth and 18and 18thth Centuries. Centuries.

Political Changes in Eastern Political Changes in Eastern EuropeEurope

►Three aging empires: gave way to new Three aging empires: gave way to new empires of Austria Prussia and Russiaempires of Austria Prussia and Russia

►Holy Roman Empire: religious divisions Holy Roman Empire: religious divisions and war in 16and war in 16thth and 17 and 17thth century century

►Ottoman Empire: could not maintain Ottoman Empire: could not maintain possessions in E. Europe and Balkanspossessions in E. Europe and Balkans

►Poland: Poland: liberum vetoliberum veto – voting in – voting in Polish parliament had to be unanimous Polish parliament had to be unanimous (= weak gov’t)(= weak gov’t)

The Austrian HapsburgsThe Austrian Hapsburgs

► Multinational empire: Multinational empire: Austrian, Hungarian, Austrian, Hungarian, & Bohemian kingdoms& Bohemian kingdoms

► Cosmopolitan Cosmopolitan aristocracy: serfdomaristocracy: serfdom

► Leopold ILeopold I (1658- (1658-1705),: successfully 1705),: successfully repelled Turksrepelled Turks

► Turkish threat: Turkish threat: relatively religiously relatively religiously tolerant empiretolerant empire


► Charles VI Charles VI Pragmatic Sanction Pragmatic Sanction (1713) issued by (1713) issued by Charles Charles

VI: VI: Habsburg territories indivisible; only Habsburg territories indivisible; only Habsburgs could rule (daughter Maria Theresa)Habsburgs could rule (daughter Maria Theresa)

War of Austrian Succession War of Austrian Succession (1740-1748) – (1740-1748) – (King George’s War – 1744-1748)(King George’s War – 1744-1748)

Prussia, France, Bavaria & Spain vs. Austria and Prussia, France, Bavaria & Spain vs. Austria and RussiaRussia

Prussia tool Silesia from Austria; Prussia now Prussia tool Silesia from Austria; Prussia now most powerful German state: “Great Power”most powerful German state: “Great Power”

Treaty of Aix-laChapelle (1748): legitimized Treaty of Aix-laChapelle (1748): legitimized Frederick the Great’s conquest.Frederick the Great’s conquest.


►Maria Theresa Maria Theresa (r. (r. 1740-1780): Wars 1740-1780): Wars of 1740s led to of 1740s led to internal internal consolidationconsolidation

►Reduced serfdom Reduced serfdom (more than any (more than any other e. European other e. European ruler except her ruler except her son Joseph II)son Joseph II)


► Joseph IIJoseph II (1765-1790) – greatest of the (1765-1790) – greatest of the Enlightened despots (“greatest good for Enlightened despots (“greatest good for greatest number”)greatest number”) Abolished serfdom in 1781, freedom of press, Abolished serfdom in 1781, freedom of press,

freedom of religion & civic rights, more freedom of religion & civic rights, more equitable justice system, made German equitable justice system, made German official language (to assimilate minorities), official language (to assimilate minorities), increased control over Catholic education, increased control over Catholic education, expanded state schools, left empire in expanded state schools, left empire in economic and political turmoil: Leopold I economic and political turmoil: Leopold I rescind many laws (e.g., serfdom)rescind many laws (e.g., serfdom)

Hohenzollerns in PrussiaHohenzollerns in Prussia

► Frederick William, The Frederick William, The Great Elector (r.1640-Great Elector (r.1640-1688)1688) Rule consolidated after 30 Rule consolidated after 30

Years’ War: military force Years’ War: military force & taxation& taxation

Junkers:Junkers: nobility sided nobility sided with king for stability; with king for stability; hereditary serfdom in 1653hereditary serfdom in 1653

Created most efficient Created most efficient army in Europearmy in Europe


►Frederick I (r. 1688-Frederick I (r. 1688-1713)1713) (Elector Frederick III) (Elector Frederick III)

“The Ostentatious” “The Ostentatious” (1688-1713); 1(1688-1713); 1stst “King of “King of Prussia”Prussia”

Allied with Habsburgs in Allied with Habsburgs in War of League of War of League of Augsburg and War of Augsburg and War of Spanish Succession.Spanish Succession.


► Frederick William I (r. Frederick William I (r. 1713-1740) 1713-1740) “The “The Soldiers’ King”Soldiers’ King” Established Prussian Established Prussian

abolutismabolutism ““Sparta of the North”:Sparta of the North”:

Largely a military state – Largely a military state – best army in Europebest army in Europe

Junkers became officers Junkers became officers caste in army in return for caste in army in return for king’s absolutismking’s absolutism


► ““Frederick the Great”Frederick the Great” (Frederick II: 1740-1786) of (Frederick II: 1740-1786) of PrussiaPrussia At war for first half of his reignAt war for first half of his reign Became a reformer during 2Became a reformer during 2ndnd half of his half of his

reign – ruler was the reign – ruler was the “first servant of “first servant of the state”the state”

Religious freedom, education in schools Religious freedom, education in schools and universities, codified laws, and universities, codified laws, promoted industry and agriculture, promoted industry and agriculture, encouraged immigrationencouraged immigration

Social structure remained heavily Social structure remained heavily stratified: serfdom; extended privileges stratified: serfdom; extended privileges for the nobility, Junkers became heart of for the nobility, Junkers became heart of military; difficult upward mobility for military; difficult upward mobility for middle class leadershipmiddle class leadership

Peter the Great in RussiaPeter the Great in Russia

►Romanov DynastyRomanov Dynasty (1613-1917) (1613-1917) Michael RomanovMichael Romanov

(1613-1645)(1613-1645) Created Russian Created Russian

empire across Asia to empire across Asia to the Pacific (largest the Pacific (largest nation by 1689)nation by 1689)


►Peter the GreatPeter the Great (1682- (1682-1725)1725) 1698, put down revolt by 1698, put down revolt by

strelskistrelski (Moscow Guards) (Moscow Guards) westernization westernization

(modernization): mostly for (modernization): mostly for military purposesmilitary purposes

state-regulated monopolies state-regulated monopolies created; industrial serfdomcreated; industrial serfdom

Table of Ranks:Table of Ranks: educational educational training for new civil service training for new civil service (mostly of nobles)(mostly of nobles)


► St. PetersburgSt. Petersburg begun in 1703 on Baltic; begun in 1703 on Baltic; largest city in Northern Europe by his death.largest city in Northern Europe by his death.

► ““Winter Palace” sought to emulate Versailles.Winter Palace” sought to emulate Versailles.► Great Northern WarGreat Northern War (1700-1721) (1700-1721)► Charles XIICharles XII, 18-yr-old Swedish king, 18-yr-old Swedish king► Battle of Poltava, 1709: Peter defeated Battle of Poltava, 1709: Peter defeated

SwedenSweden► Treaty of NystadTreaty of Nystad (1721): Peter gained Baltic (1721): Peter gained Baltic

states “window to the West”states “window to the West”

Alternatives to AbsolutismAlternatives to Absolutism

►SwedenSweden Nobles use the absence of the king during Nobles use the absence of the king during

warfare to reaffirm their power.warfare to reaffirm their power.►United ProvincesUnited Provinces

Merchants and landowners in the Estates Merchants and landowners in the Estates General held the House of Orange in General held the House of Orange in check.check.

►PolandPoland King was elected by nobles, who King was elected by nobles, who

continued to hold the power.continued to hold the power.

Documents

The Rise of Austria, Prussia, and Russia and the Changing Power Structure in Europe in the 17 th and 18 th Centuries