Age of Absolutism Vocab Words

absolute monarch

absolute monarch

A ruler that has unlimited power and authority over his or her people.

limited monarch

A government in which a constitution or legislative body limits the monarch's power.

divine right of kings

The belief that a ruler's authority comes directly from God.

Philip II

(1527-1598) King of Spain from 1556-1598; he led the Roman Catholic efforts to recover parts of Europe from Protestantism; was defeated by England and the Netherlands.

Miguel de Cervantes

(1547-1616) Spanish novelist, dramatist, and poet; he wrote "Don Quixotede la Mancha."

Spanish Armada

a great fleet (130 ships and 20,000 men) assemblef by Spain in 1588 for an invasion of England

Louis XIV

(1638-1715) King of France from 1643-1715; known as the Sun King, he built a palace at Versailles as a means to consolidate absolute power; a series of wars at the end of his long reign drained France's wealth.

Versailles

Royal French residence and seat of government established by King Louis XIV.

Levee

Morning ritual during which nobles would wait upon King Louis XIV

Huguenot

A French Protestant

Bourgeoisie

The urban middle class ; merchants, professionals, and manufacturers.

Henry VIII

(1491-1547) King of England from 1509-1547; his desire to annul his marriage led to a conflict with the pope, England's break with the Roman Catholic Church, its embrace of Protestantism. Henry established the Church of England also known as the Anglican Church.

Elizabeth I

(1533-1603) Queen of England forom 1558-1603; a skillful politician and diplomat, she asserted tProtestant supremacy in England.

James I

First Stuart monarch; claimed absolute power and clashed with dissenters, Protestants who differed with the Church of England; father of Charles I.

Charles I

Inherited the throne from his father, James I, in 1625; behaved like an absolute monarch; ruled during the English Civil War; eventually Parliament set up a court, put him on trial,and condemned him to death; he was executed in 1649.

Cavaliers

supporters of Charles I during the English Civil War; many were wealthy nobles, proud of their plumed hats and fashionably long hair; were well trained in dueling and warfare.

Roundheads

Those favoring Parliament during the English Civil War; compose of country gentry; town-dweling manufacturers, and Puritan clergy; against absolutism; earned their name due to their hairstyle.

Oliver Cromwell

(1599-1658) in 1642, he led Parliament's forces in deposing Charles I; he became ruler of England in 1653.

Restoration

The period of the reign of the reign of Charles II in England when the monarchy was restored after the collapse of Oliver Cromwell's government; there was also a rebirth of English culture during this time.

Glorious Revolution

(1688) A nonviolent revolution in which leaders of Britain's Parliament invited Mary, daughter of King James II and her husband, the Dutch ruler William of Orange, to replace King James II.

English Bill of Rights

Series of acts passed by the English Parliament in 1689 that limited the rights of the monarchy and ensured the superiority of Parliament.

Constitutional Monarchy

A monarchy limited by certain laws.

Thomas Hobbes

A seventeenth century English philosopher who lived through the English Civil War and who concluded that people were naturally cruel, greedy, and selfish; suported powerful government; outlined his views in "Leviathan."

Maria Theresa

(1717-1780) Austrian archduchess, Queen of Bohemia and Hungary from 1740-1780; was one of the most beloved monarchs in the history of Austria.

Czar

"Caesar"; title taken by the male ruler of Russia; female rulers were known as czarinas.

Peter the Great

(1672-1725) Czar of Russia from 1682-1725; he transformed Russia into a modern state; was an absolute monarch who brought the ways of Western Europe to Russia and made various reforms.

Catherine the Great

(1729-1796) Czarina of Russia from 1762-1796; ruling with absolute power, she introduced a number of reforms that extended Peter the Great's policy of "westernization."

Westernization

The adoption of the culture and ideas of Western society, namely Europe and America.