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noblesse d’epee
Sword Nobles the traditional French aristocracy (noblesse d'épée) whose status and privileges were derived from hereditary military service and land ownership, contrasting with the nobility of the robe, which gained titles through bureaucratic or purchased positions
noblesse de robe
Robe nobles. a French hereditary noble class in the 17th and 18th centuries, distinct from the older "Noblesse de l'Épée" (Nobility of the Sword). Members gained status and hereditary titles through the purchase of government offices in sovereign courts and bureaucracies, rather than solely by birth or military service
Louis XIII
a French king (r. 1610–1643) whose reign was shaped by the guiding influence of Cardinal Richelieu, his chief minister, who significantly centralized royal power by curbing the power of nobles and establishing the intendant system. Louis XIII's actions also involved a political struggle against the Huguenots, leading to the suppression of their military and political independence, and he laid the foundation for France's absolute monarchy under his son, Louis XIV.
Intendants
French royal officials appointed by the king to represent royal authority in the provinces, especially during the reign of Louis XIV
Louis XIV
French royal officials appointed by the king to represent royal authority in the provinces, especially during the reign of Louis XIV
Cardinal Mazarin
an Italian-born diplomat who served as France's Chief Minister from 1642 to 1661, effectively co-ruling with Anne of Austria and then Louis XIV. His key achievements included concluding the Thirty Years' War with the Peace of Westphalia, securing France's rise as the dominant power in Europe, and suppressing the Fronde (a series of civil wars) to consolidate royal authority
Fronde
a series of civil wars in France that challenged the absolute authority of the monarchy, primarily in response to heavy taxation and increased royal control under Queen Regent Anne of Austria and her minister Cardinal Mazarin
Bishop Jacques Bossuet
important for his advocacy of the Divine Right of Kings. A Catholic bishop and the bishop of Meaux under Louis XIV, he argued that kings were chosen by God, answered only to God, and thus possessed absolute, unquestionable authority.
L etat c’est moi
"I am the state" or, more literally, "The state, it is me". Attributed to King Louis XIV of France, this phrase is central to the concept of absolutism in AP European History (AP Euro) because it signifies the king's belief that he held all sovereign power and authority within the state, with his will being equivalent to the will of the nation.
Marquis of Louvois
played a key role in Louis XIV's aggressive foreign policy, which included military campaigns and the controversial persecution of the Huguenots.
War of the Spanish Succession
a major European conflict sparked by the death of Spain's childless King Charles II.The war concluded with the Treaty of Utrecht (1713), which allowed Philip V to keep the Spanish throne but prohibited the crowns of France and Spain from uniting, significantly altering European territories and colonial holdings.
Treaty of Utrecht
a set of agreements signed in 1713 and 1715 that concluded the War of the Spanish Succession. Key achievements included the recognition of Philip V as Spain's ruler while renouncing his claim to the French throne, the cession of Gibraltar and Minorca to Britain, France ceding Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, and the Hudson Bay territory to Britain, and the granting of the asiento (a monopoly on the slave trade) to Britain
Cardinal Fleury
influential chief minister to Louis XV of France from 1726 to 1743, known for balancing the budget, promoting industry and trade, and establishing a period of peace by largely withdrawing from foreign conflicts. His policies aimed to restore financial stability after the regency of the Duke of Orleans and established a period of growth before Louis XV's later reign, which was marked by more ambitious foreign policies.
Jean-Baptiste Colbert
Louis XIV's finance minister who implemented mercantilist policies to strengthen France's economy and state power. His efforts included promoting domestic industries, constructing infrastructure like roads and canals, creating commercial companies, and establishing a strong navy. These policies, known as Colbertism, aimed to make France economically self-sufficient and created a centralized, absolutist state.
Hohenzollerns
the German royal family that ruled Brandenburg and Prussia, ultimately unifying Germany into the German Empire under Otto von Bismarck and Kaiser Wilhelm I. Key aspects include their militaristic state-building, exemplified by figures like Frederick William I, the "Soldiers' King," and their role in shifting the European balance of power by transforming Prussia into a dominant force and leading to German unification in the late 19th century, which ended after World War I
Frederick William, the Great Elector
crucial for laying the groundwork for Prussian absolutism and state-building following the Thirty Years' War. He achieved this by centralizing administration, reorganizing state finances, developing a powerful army, and consolidating his scattered Hohenzollernterritories, particularly ducal Prussia.
Junkers
the landowning aristocracy of Prussia who were a powerful, conservative force that dominated the military and government, holding significant influence over land and peasants in exchange for loyalty and service to the monarchy.
Maria Theresa
the Habsburg ruler of Austria, Hungary, and Bohemia (1740–1780) who faced challenges to her rule, most notably in the War of Austrian Succession. She implemented significant reforms to centralize and modernize her state, including establishing a state-funded education system, creating a Supreme Court, codifying laws, and strengthening the military and administration. Her reign is a key example of enlightened absolutism
Pragmatic Sanction
Charles VI's 1713 decree that allowed a woman, his daughter Maria Theresa, to inherit his Habsburg lands, overriding earlier laws against female succession. This was significant because it aimed to keep the vast Habsburg territories intact, but it failed to prevent the War of the Austrian Succession) when several European powers challenged Maria Theresa's rule, seizing territories like Silesia
Whigs
a British political faction that emerged in the late 17th century advocating for constitutional monarchism and parliamentary supremacy over absolute rule.
Tories
the Tory party in Great Britain, a conservative political faction that emphasized royal authority, traditional institutions, and hierarchical social order, acting as a key force against the rival Whig party and, later, against liberal reforms following the French Revolution. Their ideology was defined by a desire to preserve the existing social structure, a belief in the divine right of kings (initially), and opposition to rapid political reforms
James II
James II refers to the Stuart king of England, Scotland, and Ireland (1685-1688) whose reign was marked by his attempts to promote Catholicism and assert royal absolutism. His policies, including suspending laws and appointing Catholics to key positions, alienated Parliament and Protestants. This led to the Glorious Revolution of 1688,
English Bill of Rights
Parliament's supremacy over the monarchy. It limited royal power by guaranteeing rights like free elections and freedom from arbitrary royal actions, ensuring that England would not return to absolute rule
Robert Walpole
known as the de facto first British Prime Minister, serving in the early 18th century under the Hanoverian monarchs George I and George II. His long tenure established the office of prime minister as a powerful position within a constitutional monarchy, marked by his successful pursuit of peace abroad, manipulation of government patronage
Muscovy
the period and state of centralized governance in the Grand Duchy of Moscow, which eventually became the Tsardom of Russia in the 15th to early 17th centuries.
Ivan IV
the first Tsar of Russia (1547–1584), who significantly centralized power, expanded Russian territorythrough military conquest, established a secret police (the Oprichnina), and laid the groundwork for a Western-style autocracy.
Boyars
Russian high nobility who held significant land and political power, functioning as royal advisors, military leaders, and landowners in medieval and early modern Eastern Europe, particularly Russia.
Romanovs
the Russian imperial dynasty that ruled from 1613 to 1917, characterized by autocratic rule and territorial expansion under figures like Peter the Great and Catherine the Great.
Duma
Established as a concession to demands for reform, it represented a shift from absolute rule but had limited powers, often clashing with the Tsar's authority.
Peter the Great
the Tsar of Russiawho implemented extensive reforms, primarily through westernization, to modernize the state and military, establish a new capital at St. Petersburg, and transform Russia into a major European power. His policies, which included the Table of Ranks to promote meritocracy, aimed to create a strong, centralized government and a more efficient state, though they often imposed heavy burdens on the Russian people and were met with resistance from traditionalists.
“Window to the West”
refers to St. Petersburg, the city founded by Peter the Great as Russia's new capital.
St. Petersburg
a city founded by Peter the Great in 1703 as Russia's new capital and its "window to the West". It symbolized Peter's program of Westernization, serving as a center for European culture, trade, and military modernization, and became a crucial city in Russia's development into a European power.
Battle of Poltava
a decisive clash during the Great Northern War where Russia, led by Peter the Great, defeated Sweden's King Charles XII. This event resulted in the destruction of the Swedish army, the end of Sweden's status as a major European power, and the rise of Russia as a dominant force in Eastern Europe.
James I
the first monarch to rule both Scotland and England, marking the Union of Crowns. His reign is known for his belief in the Divine Right of Kings, which led to conflict with Parliament over finances and authority,
Charles I
a significant figure known for his belief in the Divine Right of Kings, which led to a bitter conflict with the English Parliament over royal authority versus parliamentary power. His refusal to compromise and attempts to rule without Parliament ultimately provoked the English Civil War, resulting in his trial and execution, which was a pivotal moment in establishing the limits of monarchical power in Britain
Ship Money
a tax imposed by English monarchs, notably Charles I, initially for naval defense in coastal towns, but controversially extended to inland counties without Parliamentary consent.
Petition of Right
a significant constitutional document in England, passed in 1628, which aimed to limit the powers of the king and safeguard the rights of subjects against arbitrary rule. It was a response to King Charles I's abuses of power, addressing issues such as taxation without parliamentary consent, unlawful imprisonment, and the quartering of soldiers in private homes.
Triennial Act
a 1641 law requiring the English monarch to summon Parliament at least every three years, aiming to prevent the King from ruling without Parliament, as King Charles I had done from 1629-1640
Writ of Habeas Corpus
a legal order for a person to be brought before a court to determine if their imprisonment is lawful, a fundamental safeguard against unlawful detention established in English common law and a key aspect of limited government
Long Parliament
a session of the English Parliament that lasted for twenty years, leading to the English Civil War and significant political conflicts with King Charles I.
New Model Army
a Parliamentary military force formed in 1645 during the English Civil War, known for its discipline, professionalization, and merit-based promotion system.
Pride’s Purge
a military coup in December 1648 where Colonel Thomas Pride and his soldiers forcibly removed members of the English Long Parliament who opposed the New Model Army and the execution of King Charles I.
“Rump” Parliament
the remnant of the Long Parliament of England that continued to sit after 1648, following Colonel Pride's Purge. This small, Cromwell-controlled parliament voted to put King Charles I on trial and execute him
Act of Settlement
an English Act of Parliament that secured a Protestant succession to the throne, barring Catholics and ensuring only Protestant descendants could inherit the crown.
Interregnum
the period from 1649 to 1660 when England was a republic, not a monarchy, between the execution of King Charles I and the restoration of the monarchy under Charles II
Test Act
a British law requiring public officials to take an oath and receive communion according to the rites of the Church of England, aimed at preventing Catholics and other non-Anglicans from holding office.