Key Concepts of Absolute Monarchs and European History

Absolute Monarchs

Rulers with complete authority over the government and people.

Divine Right

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

Charles V

Holy Roman Emperor and King of Spain who ruled a vast empire but later abdicated.

Philip II

Spanish king who expanded Catholic power and launched the Spanish Armada.

Spanish Armada

A fleet sent by Spain in 1588 to invade England; it was defeated.

El Greco

A Greek-born Spanish painter known for his dramatic and religious artwork.

Miguel de Cervantes

Spanish writer best known for Don Quixote, a novel that satirized chivalry.

Huguenots

French Protestants who faced persecution in Catholic France.

Henry IV

First Bourbon king of France who converted to Catholicism and issued the Edict of Nantes.

Edict of Nantes

A 1598 decree granting religious toleration to Huguenots in France.

Cardinal Richelieu

Chief minister to Louis XIII who strengthened royal power by weakening the nobility.

Louis XIV

The 'Sun King' of France who ruled as an absolute monarch and built Versailles.

Colbert

Finance minister under Louis XIV who promoted mercantilism and economic growth.

Versailles

Lavish palace built by Louis XIV as a symbol of royal power.

Levee

A morning ritual at Versailles where nobles attended to the king.

Balance of Power

A strategy to prevent any one nation from becoming too powerful in Europe.

Electors

German princes who had the power to choose the Holy Roman Emperor.

Mercenary

A soldier hired to fight for a foreign army.

Depopulation

A dramatic reduction in population, often due to war, disease, or famine.

Peace of Westphalia

A 1648 treaty that ended the Thirty Years' War and redrew European borders.

Maria Theresa

First female ruler of Austria who strengthened the Habsburg monarchy.

War of Austrian Succession

A conflict over Maria Theresa's right to rule, involving many European powers.

Prussia

A powerful German state known for its military strength.

Frederick William I

Prussian king who centralized power and built a strong military.

Frederick II

Also known as Frederick the Great, he expanded Prussia's territory and power.

Peter the Great

Russian czar who modernized Russia and expanded its borders.

Westernization

The adoption of European customs, technology, and ideas.

Boyars

Russian landowning nobles who often clashed with the czars.

Autocratic

A ruler with absolute power and authority.

Warm-water port

A seaport that remains ice-free year-round, crucial for trade and expansion.

St. Petersburg

A city founded by Peter the Great as Russia's "window to the West."

Catherine the Great

Russian empress who expanded Russia and embraced Enlightenment ideas.

Partition

The division of a country's territory among other nations.

James I

First Stuart king of England who clashed with Parliament over absolute rule.

Dissenters

Protestants who differed from the Church of England.

Puritans

A religious group seeking to purify the Church of England from Catholic influences.

Charles I

English king executed after the English Civil War for defying Parliament.

Long Parliament

A period when Parliament challenged royal authority, leading to civil war.

English Civil War

A conflict (1642-1651) between supporters of the king (Cavaliers) and Parliament (Roundheads).

Cavaliers

Royalists who supported Charles I in the English Civil War.

Roundheads

Parliamentarians led by Oliver Cromwell against the monarchy.

Oliver Cromwell

Leader of the Roundheads who ruled England as Lord Protector.

Commonwealth

The republic established in England after Charles I's execution.

Glorious Revolution

The peaceful overthrow of James II in 1688, leading to constitutional monarchy.

English Bill of Rights

A 1689 document that limited the monarchy's power and affirmed parliamentary authority.

Limited Monarchy

A monarchy restricted by laws and a constitution.

Cabinet

A group of advisors to the monarch, evolving into a key part of government.

Prime Minister

The head of the British government, leading the Cabinet.

Oligarchy

A government in which power is held by a small, elite group.