Absolutism and Constitutionalism

Absolutism

Absolute monarch

(1500s-1700s) Ruler with complete authority over the people and the government. Significance was that it advanced a new form of government with king holding complete authority.

Cardinal Richelelieu

(1585-1642) Cardinal assigned by Louis XII, designed policies that destroyed political independence to increase royal control over competing groups.

intendants

A system developed by Cardinal Richelieu, where royal officials carried out multiple tasks such as carrying out policies, collect taxes, and recruit soldiers. Significance: system designed to weaken the nobles of the sword, increased ties with middle class, and made a more efficient and centralized government.

nobles of the robe

Relevant from 1600s to 1700s. Men of middle-class origin appointed to work as intendants. Significance is creation of hundreds of these positions serve to undermine prestige of the old nobles of the sword and to destroy ability of nobles of the sword to oppose Louis XIV's will.

nobles of the sword

(1600s - 1700s) They were the noblemen of the oldest class of nobility in France dating from the Middle Ages and the Early Modern periods. When it was created, a part of the 400,000 nobles of France was placed in this classification because of their nobility being tied to military service. During the French Revolution ( 1789 until 1799) they wielded a great deal of influence because military strength was crucial in times of trouble.

The Fronde

Beginning in June 1648 and ending in 1653, it involved a series of rebellions against royal power by elements of the nobility and the townspeople, whose traditional position of influence in French politics and society had been undermined by the growth of the crown's authority.

Louis XIV

Lived from 1638 until 1715, he is often seen as an example of "the absolute monarch". He was King of France from 1643 until 1715. Through his belief in divine rule he did not call the Estates General to meet during his reign at all, and instead expanded bureaucracy and used war to expand French borders. He appointed several intendants, such as royal officals that collect tax, recruiting soldiers, and to carry out policies in the provinces. He was able to strengthen his ties with the middle class and checked the power of the nobles and the church through inviting them to his royal hunting lodge known as Versailles. Due to all these actions his rule of France made it then the strongest European state.

Versailles

Was built by Louis XIV, and was a symbol of royal extravagance. First scenes of the french revolution also took place here. He invited nobles and other people of high class here in order to appease any complaints they had and win their support.

Jean-Baptiste Colbert

Brilliant finance minister who imposed mercantilist policies, had new lands cleared for farming, encouraged mining/basic industries, built luxury trade, high tariffs on imported goods, fostered oversea colonies, regulated trade with colonies and made the wealthiest state in Europe.

Revocation of the Edict of Nantes

An act made by Louis XIV that took away the right to practice without persecution from Hugenots, a right that was granted to them in a previous act.

levee

The rising; An elaborate ceremony to emphasize own importance. Used by Louis XIV to have french nobles compete for his attention.

Bishop Boussuet

wrote politics drawn from holy scripture; said obedience to the will of the king was a religious obligation (born: 1627-1704)

Divine Right of Kings

The idea that kings ruled by gods will and to overthrow them is an act against god, this idea lost merit during the protestant reformation, and was nearly destroyed during the enlightenment.

Louis XIII

Son of Henry VI, Defeated noble rebellions, persecuted Huguenots, and won a war against Austrian Hapsburg.

Duke of Sully

(1560-1641) Protestant noble who supported persecution

War of the Spanish Succession

A war over the Spanish crown that occurred when the ruler of Spain died without an heir and the crown passed to the king of France, England, Austria and Prussia all went to war to install someone else for fear of a new world power. The result was the king of Frances cousin became king, and France was never allowed to unite the crowns.

James I

(r. 1603-1625) Formally King James VI of Scotland, he was an English king and insisted he ruled with divine right. He often made decisions without seeking parliamentary approval and rejected Parliament. In 1611, he published the King James Bible.

House of Commons

Parliament's legitimate role in sharing in the government which were run by Anglicans. Main goal of purify the church by eliminating elaborate ceremonies

Charles I

(r. 1625-1649) Did not like the Petition of Right because it does not treat the citizens right. Was desperate for money that he signed the Petition. Later left London during a civil war and went to north of England

Petition of Right

Passed by Parliament in 1628. Declared king could not levy taxes without the approval of Parliament, impose forced loans on his subjects, declare martial law in peacetime, imprison citizens without trial, or quarter troops in private homes. Signed by Charles I in desperation for money.

Ship Money

A tax in the 17th century that made people who lived in coastal areas pay taxes to help the nations defenses.

Short/Long Parliament

set up by King Charles the 1st, it lasted only 3 weeks. April 13 to 5 May 1640. / lasted from 1640 until 1660, had followed an 11-years parliamentary absence.

English Civil War

Started August 22, 1642, ended September 3, 1651, this was a series of armed conflicts and political disputes between Parliament and Royalists over the principle and manner of England's government.

Cavaliers

.During the English Civil War, the Anglican clergy and the majority of the nobles who supported the king were addressed by this name.

Roundheads

Forces of Parliament who controlled south eastern England and was made up of lawyers, merchants, and Puritans. Their leader was Oliver Cromwell.

Oliver Cromwell

The leader of the Roundheads, a Puritan and skilled general who organized the New Model Army and led the Commonswealth

New Model Army

Organized by Oliver Cromwell in 1645, comprised of officers selected for skill and not social class.

Charles II

King of England, Scotland, and Ireland. More lively and fun than Louis; opened many theaters. He reestablished the Church of England with religious tolerance. He accepted the Petition of Right. He secretly believed in absolutism and supported Catholicism. His successor was James II.

James II

Inherited the throne of England in 1685 and attempted to impose royal absolutism, struggled with Parliament and promoted a restoration of Roman Catholicism. He was overthrown in the Glorious Revolution of 1688, when he had a catholic heir and nobles asked Protestant William of Orange to invade and take over the throne.

Bill of Rights

Required by the Parliament to be accepted by King William and Queen Marry in 1689. Granted the freedom of speech and immunity for members of the Parliament. Also the collective name for the first ten amendments of the United States Constitution.

Toleration Act of 1689

Act of Parliament granting freedom of worship to Nonconformists. It was one of a series of measures that firmly established the Glorious Revolution (1680-1689) in England.

Cabinet system

A small group of parliamentary advisers to the English throne who worked with the monarchs by assisting in the making of important decisions. They were introduced in the 1700's when a German prince who spoke no English was inducted (George I).