AP European History: ABSOLUTISM

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Enlightened Absolutism

Enlightened Absolutism

18th century monarchs who wanted to retain ABSOLUTE power but aimed to shape of that power by enlightenment ideas

Frederick II (The Great)

Inherited a powerful army from his Father’s reign, expanding territory (Habsburg). After the Seven Years’ War. he implemented new more humane policies informed by enlightenment thought.
Religious Tolerance, Legal Reforms, Cameralism

Catherine II (Catherine the Great)

Murdered her husband; Westernize Russia, Legal Reforms (limited religious toleration, outlawed torture), territorial expansion. Increases oppression of Serfdom.

Joseph II of Austria

Edict of Toleration (Grant religious freedom for Jews), increased the freedom of the press, put strictures on the power of the Catholic church

Jewish Freedom

Jews were heavily marginalized but religious tolerance led to “Haskalah” and an increase of allowing Jews to enter the military, education, distinct marking to identify Jews. Catherine and Frederick didn’t apply this Toleration.

Henry IV (Henry of Navarre)

First Bourbon king of France. He was a protestant who converted to Catholicism to secure his title. Signed the Edict Of Nantes in 1598, confirming Catholicism as the state religion while granting religious tolerance to French Protestants known as Huguenots. Assassinated due to support of protestants

Cardinal Richelieu

Appointed Chief Minister in 1624 by Louis XIII, who came to power at age nine. He essentially ruled France until his death in 1642. Introduced the intendant system, where royal officials enforced royal decrees. Intendants answered directly to monarch, reduced power of the nobility and church. Foreign policy, engaged in multiple wars and diplomatic efforts to defeat the Habsburgs.

Ferninard and Isabella [1474-1516]

Full executive, judicial, and legislative power under the monarchy with no nobles. They married to expand the power of Spain and became a catholic nation under their control.

Henry VIII

Ran during the Protestant Reformation, opposed Martin Luther and “Defender of the Faith” and Married to Catherine for Aragon. (Divorced) and allowed him to be the head of the Church of England.

Louis XIV

“I am the State” and “Sun King” Restricts power of the Nobility, Divine Right (r. 1643-1715)

Fronde

“Slingshot” Rebellion of French Nobles against Cardinal Mazarin (Ran France when Louis was a child) and the vast majority realized they needed a strong ruler to prevent them going into chaos.

Intendant System

Where royal officials enforced royal decrees, collected taxes, and maintained public order, France experienced centralization, as they answered directly to the monarchy

Jean Bapiste Colbert

Finance Minister for Louis XIV; mercantilist policies implemented and began the start of French colonization and sought economic self-sufficiency for France. ALL MONEY SHOULD SERVE THE STATE

Cardinal Richelieu

Chief minister to King Louis XIII, Centralized power in France and strengthened the monarchy. Reduced prestige of nobles, Huguenots lost all power in France, serve state or church

Edict Of Nantes

[1598] Granted religious tolerance and equality to Huguenots

Revocation of the Edict of Nantes

Implemented to get rid of non-Catholics. Ordered the destruction of Huguenot churches, closing of schools, and declared protestantism illegal.

Divine Right

The right to rule is from god

Thomas Hobbes

Social Contract, Author of Leviathan European life was  "solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short"

Ivan III “The Great”

The Grand Prince of Moscow from 1462 to 1505. He centralized power, expanded Moscow's territory, and liberated Russia from Mongol rule.

Ivan the Terrible IV

The tsar of Russia from 1740 to 1741. He was known for his harsh rule and erratic behavior during his short reign.

Peter the Great

Grand Embassy, standing army, Table of Ranks, Westernization of Russia and creation of St Petersburg. Supported educated nobility.

Charles V

Ruler of Spanish Territory and HRE during the 16th century. Defense for the Catholics during the Protestant Reformation .

Table of Ranks

Service in Civil/Military for all nobles

Glorious Revolution

Resulted in a constitutional monarchy; Overthrow of King James II of England [1688] without bloodshed.

King James I (King James VI of Scotland)

Believed in Divine Right, favored Catholicism in a Calvinst class area. Support Anglican Church.

Charles I

Son of James VI of Scotland; also believed in Divine Right and major conflicts with parliament over taxation and religion. Leading to English Civil War. He was later executed in 1649.

Oliver Cromwell

Leader of Roundhead Parliamentarians and drove the monarchs out of parliament. Became the leader of the commonwealth and religious intolerance against the catholics.

Mercantilism

exporting more goods than importing. Colonization and Imperialism, Tariffs and subsidies, strong state intervention in the economy and trade.

Palace of Versailles

Symbolize grandeur of Louis XIV’s reign. Center of political power and where he could assert power over the nobility

St Petersburg

Offered Peter the Great access to vital trade routes, aimed to transform Russia into maritime power. Westernize Russia, access to cultural advancements, and the construction heavily relied on serfdom.