14.3: Absolutism in Europe

14.3: Absolutism in Europe

Modern World History

​France: Under Louis XIV

​Reign of Louis XIV has been regarded as the BEST example of the practice of absolutism in the 17th century

Absolutism is a system in which a ruler/government holds TOTAL power

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​17th Century Europe, absolutism was tied to the idea of divine right of kings

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​Absolute monarchs had TREMENDOUS POWERS

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​They had the ability to make laws, levy taxes, administer justice, control state officials, and determine foreign policy

​King Louis XIV cont.

​Louis XIV came to the throne in 1643 - 5 years old

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​King's young age, Cardinal Mazarin, the chief minister took control of the gov't

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​Revolt led by nobles who were unhappy with the growing power of the monarchy, Revolt was crushed

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​Mazarin died in 1661, Louis XIV(23) took over supreme power

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​King stated his desire to be a real king and the sole ruler of France

​King Louis XIV cont.

Louis XIV had complete authority over foreign policy, the Church, and taxes

​Created a myth of HIMSELF as the Sun King - the source of light for all of his people

​His court served THREE purposes:

​1. Personal household of the king

​2. The Chief Offices of the state were located there

​3. The place where powerful subjects came to find favors and offices for themselves

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​King Louis XIV cont.

​The royal council was the king's chief administrative body

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​Keep nobles and royal princes from becoming too powerful

​Louis removed them from royal council BUT invited them to court where they could be busy with court life and out of politics

​At the local level, Louis's power was limited

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​The nobles, local officials, and town councils had more influence than the king in the day to day operations of local gov'ts

​King bribed people in the provinces to see that his policies were carried out

​King Louis XIV cont.

​Louis XIV had an anti-protestant policy

​Louis developed a standing army of 400,000 / Waged 4 wars between 1667 - 1713

​His ambitions caused many nations to form coalitions against him

​Cost of pursuing wars, building palaces, and maintaining his court made finances a crucial issue for Louis XIV

​Jean-Baptiste Colbert controller-general of finances

​Colbert followed ideas of mercantilism. Decreased imports / Raised tariffs (taxes) on foreign goods / created merchant marine to carry French goods / Built roads and canals to help trade within France

​Louis died 1715 - Left France with great debts and surrounded by enemies

Multiple Choice

King Louis XIV reign is a great example of this government principle.

• Absolutism

• Absolute Freedoms

• Absolute Democracy

• Absolute Liberies

Open Ended

Name the Cardinal that ruled France when King Louis XIV and explain why France was in such turmoil and revolution.

Multiple Choice

The mythical title King Louis XIV gave himself

• The Moon King

• The Sun King

• The Stars King

• The Saturn King

Open Ended

Summarize how King Louis XIV would keep control of his royal court.

Multiple Choice

Who was the minister of finance for King Louis XIV?

• Cardinal Richelieu

• Cardinal Mazarin

• Jean-Baptiste Colbert

• No one. King Louis XIV ran his own money

​Absolutism in Central and Eastern Europe

​After the Thirty Years' War, there was no German state, but over three hundred "Germanies"

​Two of these states, Prussia and Austria became great powers in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries

​Frederick William the Great Elector laid the foundation for the Prussian state. He built a large and efficient standing army

​1701, Frederick William's son officially gained the title of king

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​Elector Frederick III became King Frederick I

​Russia Under Peter the Great

​16th Century - Ivan IV became first ruler to take the title of czar, the Russian word for caesar

​Ivan expanded the terrorities of Russia eastward

​Crushed the Russian nobility known as the boyars

​Known as Ivan the Terrible because of his ruthless deeds

​Ivan's dynasty ended in 1598/Led to period of anarchy known as Time of Troubles

​Period did not end until Zemsky Sobor, national assembly chose Michael Romanov as the new czar in 1613

​Romanov dynasty lasted until 1917. Peter the Great became czar in 1689

​Absolutist monarch claimed divine right to rule

​Russia Under Peter the Great cont.

​Peter travels to the West, Returns to Russia determined to westernize Russia

​Borrowed techonology from European, military update

​Peter the Great pushed Russia to be a Great military power

​One of his first goals is to reorganize the army

​He employed both Russians and Europeans as officers

​Peter introduced Western customs, practices and manner into Russia

​Ordered the preparation of the first Russian book of etiquette to teach Western manners

Multiple Choice

First King of Prussia

• King Frederick I

• King Ferdinand II

• King Peter the Great

• King Houstan of Austria

Multiple Choice

The first czar of Russia

• Ivan the Terrible

• Peter the Great

• Egor the Egregious

• Putin the President

Multiple Choice

This Czar led Russia to be more Westernized

• Peter the Great

• George the Gorgeous

• Henry the Handsome 

• Desmond the Destroyer