Absolute and Limited Monarchies

Absolute Monarchies

Governments where a single ruler has absolute power over the state and its people.

Louis XIV

Known as the 'Sun King', he was a French monarch who epitomized absolute monarchy and ruled from 1643 to 1715.

Divine Right Monarch

The doctrine that monarchs derive their authority directly from God, not from the people or any earthly authority.

Code of Louis

A set of laws established by Louis XIV to centralize the authority of the monarch.

Gallicanism

A belief that affirms the authority of the French king over the French Catholic Church in certain matters.

Edict of Nantes

A decree that granted religious freedom to the Huguenots in France, which was revoked by Louis XIV.

Peter the Great

Tsar of Russia who sought to modernize and expand Russia, known for creating the Russian navy.

Constitutional Monarchy

A system where the monarch's power is limited by a constitution or legislative body.

King James I

The first Stuart king of England who believed in the divine right of kings but also sought to accommodate Parliament.

Petition of Rights

A major English constitutional document that set out specific liberties the king is prohibited from infringing.

English Civil War

A series of conflicts from 1642 to 1651 between Parliamentarians ('Roundheads') and Royalists ('Cavaliers').

Oliver Cromwell

A military and political leader during the English Civil War, he became the Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England.

Glorious Revolution

The overthrow of King James II of England in 1688 and his replacement by William III and Mary II.

English Bill of Rights

An act passed by Parliament in 1689 that outlines specific rights of the citizens and limits the powers of the monarchy.

Hobbes vs. Locke Debate

A philosophical disagreement on governance; Hobbes favored absolute rule while Locke advocated for democracy and natural rights.

Natural Rights

Fundamental rights inherent to all human beings, often cited as 'life, liberty, and property' as defined by John Locke.