Age of Absolutism & English Civil War

What is the divine right of kings?

Doctrine that monarchs’ authority comes from God, making them accountable only to divine judgment.

What is centralized sovereignty in absolutism?

All state authority embodied in the monarch, with no assembly or noble limitations.

How was power traditionally transferred in Europe?

Hereditarily, from monarch to heir, ensuring dynastic continuity.

What is sovereignty under absolutism?

Complete control by the ruler over state policy, law, and governance.

How did monarchs limit assembly power?

Kings were independent of national assemblies, bypassing legislative oversight.

How did rulers control the nobility?

Reduced noble power via council exclusion, Intendant appointments, or “nobility of the robe.”

What was the purpose of bureaucratic appointments?

Sold offices to non-nobles, ensuring loyalty and expanding royal revenue.

How did monarchs dominate the Church?

Controlled appointments, doctrine, and religious enforcement (France, Spain).

Why were standing armies significant?

Professional forces replaced feudal levies, increasing centralized military power.

Role of secret police in absolutism?

Suppressed dissent and monitored nobles and citizens to maintain control.

What defines an absolute ruler?

One who controls political, military, fiscal, and religious power without constitutional limits.

What was Bossuet’s stance on monarchy?

Kings rule by God’s mandate; subjects owe unquestioned obedience.

What was Hobbes’ view of human nature?

Life in nature is “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short,” requiring strong government.

How did Hobbes define the social contract?

People surrender freedoms to a ruler for protection of remaining rights; ruler not divine.

What reforms did Henry IV implement for nobles?

Created “nobility of the robe” to sell offices, reducing traditional aristocratic power.

How did Henry IV reform taxes?

Lowered overall taxes; levied charges on noble heirs’ offices to fund state.

How did Henry IV promote recovery?

Rebuilt France post-war, encouraged peace and economic growth.

What was Henry IV’s famous slogan?

“A chicken in every pot,” symbolizing prosperity and domestic stability.

What was the Edict of Nantes?

Granted limited rights to Huguenots, promoting religious tolerance.

How did Sully strengthen monarchy?

Granted monopolies, expanded trade, reduced debt, and encouraged colonial ventures.

How did Sully reform taxes?

Streamlined system; nobles largely exempt, enhancing efficiency.

What infrastructure projects did Sully promote?

Built highways, canals, facilitating trade and state control.

How did Richelieu curb noble power?

Removed nobles from councils, appointed intendants in 32 districts.

What is raison d’état?

Political necessity justified measures to strengthen state over personal interests.

How did Richelieu treat Huguenots?

Suppressed political/military rights while leaving some religious freedoms.

What foreign policy did Richelieu pursue?

Opposed Habsburgs; entered Thirty Years’ War to limit rivals.

What does “L’État, c’est moi” mean?

Louis XIV declared himself the embodiment of the French state.

How did Louis XIV enhance France’s power?

Largest standing army, cultural dominance, French diplomacy, population ~17M.

Purpose of Versailles?

Centralized authority, symbolized absolutism, housed 10,000 courtiers, curtailed nobility.

What was the Fronde (1648‑1653)?

Noble revolt against taxation and centralization; reinforced Louis’ distrust of aristocracy.

How did printing centers affect absolutism?

Spread ideas pre-absolutism, shaping literacy, culture, and governance.

Bossuet’s leadership principles?

Divine appointment, unquestioned obedience, and monarchical unity.

How were ministers recruited?

From middle class, aristocracy, emphasizing loyalty and state discipline.

Purpose of Intendant System?

Enforced king’s policies, collected taxes, centralized power, bypassed Estates General.

Peasant burdens under Louis XIV?

Cash crops, tithes, and corvée labor increased hardship and state revenue.

Intendant system effects on monarchy?

Strengthened fiscal control, centralized justice, reduced regional autonomy.

How did Versailles reflect culture & economy?

Baroque symbol of power; consumed 60% of revenue; restricted nobility independence.

Louis XIV’s religious policy?

“One king, one law, one faith”; head of French Catholic Church; limited papal influence.

Edict of Fontainebleau (1685) impact?

Revoked Huguenot rights; ~200,000 emigrated; reinforced Catholic uniformity.

Core mercantilist doctrine?

State control to achieve favorable trade; “sell, don’t buy” to accumulate bullion.

Colbert’s policies for economic growth?

Self-sufficiency, guilds, monopolies, internal trade, merchant marine, manufacturing.

Downsides of mercantilism?

Peasant hardship, emigration, war costs, colonial resistance.

Impact of Louis XIV’s wars?

Early victories but long-term economic strain; army professionalized; balance-of-power formed.

Outcome of War of Devolution (1667‑1668)?

France gained 12 towns; Triple Alliance forced peace.

Outcome of Second Dutch War (1672‑1678)?

Peace of Nijmegen; France annexed Franche-Comté.

Outcome of War of League of Augsburg (1688‑1697)?

Status quo ante bellum; began Anglo-French rivalry.

Outcome of War of Spanish Succession (1701‑1713)?

Treaty of Utrecht preserved balance of power; French and Spanish crowns separated.

Economic cost of Louis XIV’s wars?

Bankruptcy, peasant misery, high taxes, domestic instability.

Palace symbolism: Escorial vs. Versailles?

Philip II: fortified, religious; Louis XIV: lavish, control over nobility.

Military reliance?

Philip II: hated mercenaries; Louis XIV: professional army.

Religious policy comparison?

Philip II: Catholic orthodoxy; Louis XIV: revoked Protestant rights via Fontainebleau.

Administrative control?

Philip II: royal councils; Louis XIV: Intendant System for direct rule.

Economic strategy?

Philip II: mercantilism less systematic; Louis XIV: Colbert’s mercantilism & bullionism.

Causes of the English Civil War?

King vs Parliament over taxes; Church governance conflicts (Episcopal vs Presbyterian).

Difference between Episcopal & Presbyterian?

Episcopal: hierarchical, king-controlled; Presbyterian: elected reps, local freedom.

James I policies/issues?

Divine right, debt, pro-Catholic, “No bishop, no king.”

Charles I policies/issues?

Supported Laud/Book of Common Prayer, Petition of Right, dissolved Parliament → Personal Rule.

Short Parliament (1640) purpose & outcome?

Fund Scottish war; dismissed after refusing King’s demands.

Long Parliament (1640‑1660) key actions?

Executed Laud, ended ship money, Triennial Act, addressed Scottish invasion, Irish revolt.

Immediate trigger of the war?

Charles I attempted to arrest Puritan MPs.

Cavaliers vs. Roundheads?

Cavaliers: royalist, Anglican, rural nobles; Roundheads: Puritan, Parliamentarian, Cromwell-led.

Key outcomes of war?

Charles surrendered; Pride’s Purge reduced Parliament to Puritans; Charles executed 1649.

Who ruled as Lord Protector?

Oliver Cromwell, after monarchy abolished.

Cromwell’s religious policy?

Protestant tolerance; Catholics excluded.

How was England administratively divided?

12 military districts under central authority.

Social movements: Levellers, Quakers, Diggers?

Levellers: natural rights; Quakers: pacifism; Diggers: communal ownership.

Cromwell’s military campaigns?

Ireland: land confiscation; conquered Scotland; war with Spain.

Charles II’s policies?

Restored throne, obeyed Parliament, tolerated religions, “Merry Monarch.”

Tories vs. Whigs?

Tories: nobility, king-supporting, conservative; Whigs: middle class, parliamentary supremacy, liberal.

Clarendon Code & Test Act?

Restricted Catholics/nonconformists from office; reinforced Anglican dominance.

Habeas Corpus Act (1679)?

Limited royal power; ensured fair trials; prohibited arbitrary arrest.

James II policies?

Promoted Catholicism, appointed Catholics, Declaration of Indulgence.

Glorious Revolution (1688) result?

William & Mary accepted Bill of Rights; constitutional monarchy established.

Key provisions of Bill of Rights?

Monarch cannot be Catholic, no taxes/army without Parliament, fair trials, petition rights.

Subsequent acts: Toleration, Settlement, Union?

1689: Protestant worship; 1701: barred Catholics; 1707: England + Scotland = GB.

Emergence of cabinet system?

Early 18th c., led by Prime Minister (e.g., Robert Walpole).

Economic factors?

Population loss, inflation, disease, trade competition, small middle class.

Political factors?

Armada defeat, Thirty Years’ War losses, Netherlands lost, Spanish Succession losses.

Dutch government structure?

Republican confederation; oligarchic regents; States General for foreign affairs.

Economy & finance?

Trade, fishing, shipbuilding; Amsterdam = banking capital.

Religion & society?

Tolerance; diverse society fostering commerce and arts.

Artistic themes & works?

Landscapes, still lifes, portraits, marine paintings; e.g., Rembrandt’s Night Watch.

Locke on human nature & government?

Humans good but unprotected; government protects life, liberty, property; rebellion allowed.

Locke on knowledge?

Mind = blank slate; experience/education shape understanding.

Hobbes on authority?

Life without government is chaotic; absolute rule necessary for stability; authority not divine.