absolute monarchs

absolutism

Political belief that one monarch/dictator should have complete, absolute, centralized power (not limited by anyone else).

divine right

A political and religious theory claiming that a monarch’s right to rule comes from God, not the people.

• The king has the 'right' to rule completely and totally without approval from the people

• The king is God’s representative on Earth

• Only God can judge/punish the king

Versailles

City in France where treaties were made; also a castle made by Louis XIV that was the residence of the French Court and government (so he could keep an eye on them).

czar/tsar

A Russian term meaning emperor/ruler; a person appointed by the government. Title to the Emperors of Russia before 1917.

constitutional monarchy

A form of government where the monarch shares power with a constitutionally organized govt; monarchy in which the constitution limits the monarch’s power.

• ex: England

Petition of Right

Passed in 1628 and signed by Charles I, it established protections for individuals against the state; limited the power of the Parliament/the King and expanded + protected the rights of the people, allowing them to change English policy.

• influenced English Bill of Rights

• helped citizens have some sort of control even in the monarchy

Glorious Revolution

From 1688-1689 in England, a series of events that turned England from an absolute to constitutional monarchy (gave Parliament power); King James II is overthrown and William and Mary ascend to the throne

• called glorious due to the lack of bloodshed and peaceful transfer of power

• William and Mary were chosen to end James’ Catholic policies and line of succession + reduce absolutism-related conflict

absolute monarchy

system of government where one person has absolute control

absolute monarch/autocrat

person who rules an absolute monarchy (monarch, king, prince, etc.)

• no one checks and regulates their power

• gains power through intimidation, false promises, violence, etc.

advantages of absolute monarchy

• Less chaos due to no political parties

• Chance for a really effective leadership

disadvantages of absolute monarchy

• Chance for a horrible leadership

• Uncertainty about the effectiveness of the leader

• No different point-of-view, no one else gets a say

• Leader may abuse their power

• One person gets all the power

five strategies monarchs use to MAINTAIN and CONSOLIDATE their power

1. Limited control of nobles

2. Uses armies to expand/consolidate borders 

3. Makes laws that are biased toward their needs

4. Controls religious authorities 

5. Uses law-making bodies to create or reject laws that help their cause

Why would an absolute monarch circumvent/ignore getting approval on their initiatives and laws?

They don’t want others to have a say in the laws that are being passed, which could be an attempt to take away the leader’s power.

Why would an absolute monarch focus his energy on controlling nobles (landowning upper class people)?

He could prevent them from bribing lawmakers from developing laws that would limit his/her power.

How does controlling the religious authorities allow the absolute monarch to maintain or consolidate power?

Followers of that religion will now look up to the monarch and support them.

How does divine right get more people to support the King’s policies?

Laws the kings make are from God, therefore everyone will listen in the name of religion.

Charles V

• King of Spain and Holy Roman Emperor from 1519-1556

• Ruled a large and diverse area

  Fought in many wars against the French, German Protestant princes, and Suleiman the Magnificent’s Ottoman Empire

Philip II

• King of Spain from 1556-1598

• Great wealth from New World colonies

• Uses Catholic inquisition to maintain power

  • Expanded Catholic power in Spain

• Claims divine right; his power comes directly from God

• Created a great navy called the Spanish Armada

• Expanded the military

Henry VIII

• Tudor King of England

• Breaks w/ the Catholic Church in order to get a divorce

• Eventually has 6 marriages

• His daughter, Elizabeth, develops the Anglican Church

Louis XIV

• Reigned from 1651-1715

• Bourbon King of France

• Called the “Sun King” since he “blessed” people with his light and warmth (powerful rule)

• Allegedly states “L’etat c’est moi!/I am the state!”

• Builds Versailles

Louis XIV’s reign

• 72 years (longest)

• Ushered in a golden age of art and literature

• Transformed monarchy

• Built Versailles for his Court

• Annexed key territories (Europe → dominant power)

• Persecuted French Protestants

• Used bribes to gain favor

• Left an economic crisis

Peter the Great

• Czar of Russia

• Westernizes Russia

Peter the Great’s reign

• Characterized by a series of sweeping military, political, economic, and cultural reforms based on Western European models

• Expanded empire (defeated Persia + Ottomans)

• Got access to Baltic Sea (defeated Sweden)

• Created St. Petersburg

• Russia became a major European power–politically, culturally, and geographically

• Expanded Russian military

• Left a split in Russian society

how does Peter the Great westernize Russia?

• More like Europe

• Simpler alphabet

• First newspapers

• New capital → St. Petersburg

What two things were a sign of wealth and power that made royals more desirable when women were choosing who they wanted to marry?

ankles and high heels

How did Louis XIV attempt to control the nobility?

He controlled the nobility by making them stay at the Palace of Versailles. Here, he could ensure that they would respect and obey his orders, as he was always able to have an eye on all of them.

What did Louis XIV do in an attempt to control the Protestants in France?

Louis refused to let them flee the country, destroyed their religious buildings, banned their religious meetings, and executed them.

What was Peter the Great hoping to accomplish with his war on Sweden?

Peter was hoping to open a road from Russia to the West.

What was one action taken by Peter the Great to overcome his defeat at Narva?

Peter created newer, stronger, armies; he used powerful artillery and frigates to make them better.

In what way did the introduction of the Table of Ranks attempt to reduce the influence of the old aristocracy?

The Table of Ranks ensured that even people of noble families needed to go through the ranking system, allowing anyone to make their way up to the top (unlike in old aristocracies).

What were two major effects Peter the Great’s rule had on Russia?

1. He created a navy for Russia, leaving behind fleets and vessels for them.

2. Russia’s commerce industry struggled after his death, since he wasn’t able to grow the middle class (no wealthy traders).

What was one way Peter the Great attempted to control the Russian people?

He tried controlling the Russians by enacting a military reform system, which completely changed the position of nobility.

What was one effect Peter the Great’s reform had on the Russian nobles?

Russian nobles became less powerful and dominant in the army.

What were two ways Peter the Great tried to control the actions of his people?

1. He controlled what clothes everyone had to wear.

2. People who didn’t follow these clothing restrictions would be fined, punished, and have their coats cut.

What was one long-term effect Peter the Great’s reform had on the upper classes of Russian society?

Peter the Great’s reform forced the nobility to become more educated, which split Russian society into two parts. Enlightenment ideas were spread around, and they adopted the European way of life, separating from Russian life that the low/middle classes lived.

What were the causes that led to the rise of absolute monarchs in Europe?

1. Church loses power after the Reformation

2. Great wealth from colonies

3. Large armies from constant war

4. All lead to leaders with total power

line of succession in England starting from Elizabeth I to William and Mary

1. Elizabeth I

2. James I

3. Charles I

4. Oliver Cromwell

5. The Commonwealth of England (not technically a leader, just a growing concept of the time)

6. Charles II

7. James II

8. William and Mary

Elizabeth I

• Reigns from 1559-1603

• Head of the Church of England; formed Anglican Church

• Worked with Parliament

• Reigned during a golden age of English literature (Shakespeare)

• Dies without an heir

James I

• Reigns from 1603-1625

• From Edinburgh, Scotland

• Becomes King when Elizabeth I dies

• Fights w/ Parliament over taxes, control, and money

• Founds Jamestown colony

• Survives the Gunpowder plot assassination attempt

Charles I

• Reigns from 1625-1649

• Struggles with Parliament since they checked his power

• Signs the Petition of Right, which limited the rights of the king and increased Parliament’s power

• After dissolving Parliament → Civil War against the armies of Parliament

• Executed for treason (head cut off)

Oliver Cromwell

• Reigns from 1649-1658

• Puritan army general

• Abolishes the monarchy

• Rules as a military dictator

• Has Charles I executed and rules after him

• Life under his rule was devoid of entertainment

• Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland

The Commonwealth of England

• Ruled by the “Rump” Parliament

• Puritan reforms for the “nation’s morals”

• Religious toleration for the first time

Charles II

• Reigns from 1658-1685

• Exiled to France during Cromwell’s rule (afraid he would be killed in England)

• Restores the monarchy after Cromwell’s death

• Dissolves Parliament

• Known as the “Merry Monarch”

why was Charles II known as the Merry Monarch?

After Cromwell’s strict, militaristic, Puritan rule, Charles II’s rule was a breath of fresh air. People were thankful for their new king’s appreciation for entertainment and social gatherings, and life under his rule was much more appealing.

James II

• Reigns from 1685-1688

• Brother of Charles II

• Roman Catholic → upset English Protestants

• Struggles with Parliament due to his overt support of Catholicism

• Overthrown in the “Glorious Revolution” → peaceful

William and Mary

• Reign from 1688-1702

• Offered the throne by Parliament in order to end James II’s Catholic policies/line of succession

• Mary is James II’s daughter (William is his son-in-law)

• Begins a constitutional monarchy

• Shares power w/ Parliament

what was the issue in England after Elizabeth I’s death?

she had no children → no heir to the throne

Gunpowder Plot

an attempt to assassinate James I by lighting gunpowder-filled barrels underneath the building he was in

what happened at the Long Parliament to lead to all out Civil War in 1642?

Charles I and Parliament fought over many issues (religion, finances, military). Charles, in an attempt to disable the Parliament and gain power, tried to arrest 5 of its members, leading to rebellion and Civil War.

2 sides of the English Civil War

1. Cavaliers → support the Crown/monarchy

   a. comes from the Spanish word ‘caballero’ → gentleman

2. Roundheads → support Parliament

what was the result of the English Civil War + what happened to Charles I?

• Commonwealth of England formed under Cromwell

• Monarchy abolished by Cromwell

• Cromwell orders Charles I to be executed for treason

what was the Restoration?

The restoration of the monarchy after Cromwell’s death (done by Charles II).

what was the New Model Army?

the army formed by Parliament and the Roundheads during the English Civil War

Declaration of Indulgence

James II’s attempt to give Catholics more freedom → upsetted Parliament

English Bill of Rights

Established + protected rights and liberties of citizens, Parliament, and the monarchy

• signed by William and Mary

significance of the English Bill of Rights

• Led to a separation of powers (+ a way of checking each other’s power)

• Establishes Parliamentary Privilege

Parliamentary Privilege

ensures that members of Parliament are able to speak freely in debates, and protects Parliament's internal affairs from interference from the courts

King James I’s beliefs about government (main claim + reasoning)

Claim: I should get to rule because God chose me (divine right)

Reasons:

1. Kings are called Gods in Scripture (have power over many things, just like God)

2. Kings are the father of their people (power over their subjects)

3. Kings are like the head of the body (make the decisions as per their judgment)

John Locke’s beliefs about government (main claim + reasoning)

Claim: The government gets their power from the people

Reasons:

1. An absolute monarchy is not a civil form of government (Kings can take advantage of their authority)

2. Nature gives paternal power, not the government

3. People need to consent to being governed (should be involved in the process of picking leaders + have a right to their possessions)

patriam potestatem

control over the country

potestatem vitae et necis

power over life and death

ad aedificationem, non ad destructionem

for building up and not by tearing down

Louis XIV

1. country + years of reign

2. did they fight wars + expand

3. way they treated people

4. absolute monarch?

5. legacy

1. France; 1651-1715

2. yes

3. hated peasants, controlled elites/nobles through Versailles

4. Yes

5. centralized power, Versailles, French absolutism

Peter the Great

1. country + years of reign

2. did they fight wars + expand

3. way they treated people

4. absolute monarch?

5. legacy

1. Russia; 1696-1725

2. Yes

3. taxed households, cruel treatement, reformed nobles

4. Yes

5. modernized Russia + strong navy

Elizabeth I

1. country + years of reign

2. did they fight wars + expand

3. way they treated people

4. absolute monarch?

5. legacy

1. England; 1559-1603

2. Yes (mainly Spain)

3. favored, but controlled nobles, decently respected peasants

4. No, but powerful

5. Elizabethan Era, English Renaissance, defeated Spanish Armada

Frederick the Great

1. country + years of reign

2. did they fight wars + expand

3. way they treated people

4. absolute monarch?

5. legacy

1. Prussia; 1740-1786

2. Yes (Austrian succession + 7 Years’ War)

3. Fair to nobles, helped peasants, religious tolerance

4. Yes

5. Modernized Prussia, strengthened military, Enlightenment ideas were spread

Philip II

1. country + years of reign

2. did they fight wars + expand

3. way they treated people

4. absolute monarch?

5. legacy

1. Spain; 1556-1598

2. Yes (Ottomans, Dutch)

3. controlled nobles, hated Protestants, favored Catholics

4. Yes

5. strengthened Spain, but wars drained its resources

Maria Theresa

1. country + years of reign

2. did they fight wars + expand

3. way they treated people

4. absolute monarch?

5. legacy

1. Austria; 1740-1780

2. Yes (Austrian succession + 7 Years’ War), not much expansion

3. strengthened nobility, education reform, helped peasants

4. Yes

5. Reformed Austria, modernized country, economic growth

Catherine the Great

1. country + years of reign

2. did they fight wars + expand

3. way they treated people

4. absolute monarch?

5. legacy

1. Russia; 1762-1796

2. Yes (Turks)

3. helped nobles

4. Yes

5. Expanded Russia, education reform, advancements in art

Cardinal Richelieu

1. country + years of reign

2. did they fight wars + expand

3. way they treated people

4. absolute monarch?

5. legacy

1. France; 1624-1642 (chief minister)

2. Yes (Thirty Years’ War)

3. supported monarchy, controlled nobles

4. No, not a monarch

5. Strengthened royal authority, weakened nobility, made France dominant in Europe