AP Euro Unit 3 Absolutism and Constitutionalism-Absolute monarchs

Cardinal Richelieu

Appointed by Maria de' Medici, he set the cornerstone for French absolutism during the reign of Louis XIII. He reshuffled the royal council, leveled castles, and crushed aristocratic conspiracies. Extended the use of intendants(recruited from new nobility) in France's 32 districts. Supported the Hapsburg Empire's enemies. Founded France's "French Academy' and wrote the "Political Testament which elaborated on the impact of finances on the state. His "raison d'etat" was used to justify his policies. Considered the first Prime Minister in history.

Absolutism

A situation where a monarch claims to rule by "divine right". Involved the subjugation of the nobility and the creation of a bureaucracy which directed economic life by forcing tax increases or other means of raising revenue. Kings also employed armies and in some cases a secret police force. (Not the same as Totalitarian State). Can also be called an "administrative monarchy"

King Louis XIV

Longest reigning monarch in European history. He weakened the power of the nobles by excluding them from his councils, and increased the power of the intendants. He unsuccessful in attempts to conquer the Netherlands. Nicknamed "The Sun King". He installed his royal court at Versailles and required the great nobility to spend a portion of the year there.

Sovereignty

In the 17th century for the first time, monarchial power actually came close to ____________, meaning that they possessed control over the instruments of justice and the use of force within clearly defined boundaries.

Bureaucracies

Were composed of career officials appointed by the King. In France it was formed from the middle class, In Spain and eastern Europe the nobility, and in Austria, Prussia, and Russia it was composed of the interlocking elites. Gradually learned to separate public from private interests.

Intendants

French royal officials who supervised the 32 provincial governments(generalities or districts) in the name of the king. Could NOT be natives of the districts that they managed. Supervised tax collection, recruited men for army, checked power of local nobility, and regulated economic trade.

Fronde

This French Civil War had its origin in Cardinal Mazarin's attempt to raise revenues and the French victory at the Battle of Rocroi in 1643 against the Spanish. Because of that victory most people felt that the tax rates demanded were unjustified. Lasting from 1648-53, it resulted in a compromise between bureaucrats and local elites(permanently exempt from taxation). It also resulted in a severe disruption in the economy, and cemented Louis XIV resolve towards absolutist monarchy.

Versailles

Louis XIII began building this as a hunting lodge to get away from a Queen he did not like. This palace's main architects were Louis XIV's(Le Notre and Le Vau). Notable for its Hall of Mirrors and its Baroque influence on other European monarchs.

Estates General

Louis XIV NEVER called on this French political body which was composed of the 3 estates during his 72 year reign.

Jean-Baptiste Colbert

An economic advisor to Louis XIV, advocated mercantilism as his chief economic policy. Subsidized old industries(Cloth, rug, tapestry) and granted royal privilege to steel and firearm firms. Compelled craftsman to organize into guilds. Most importantly he created a powerful merchant marine to transport French goods.

Mercantilism

An economic policy under which nations sought to increase their wealth and power by obtaining large amounts of gold and silver and by selling more goods than they bought. Predominant in 17th and 18th centuries.

French classicism

The art and literature of the age of Louis XIV; its subject matter was predominantly classical antiquity and the glorification of Louis XIV.

Jean-Baptiste Lully

French composer (born in Italy) who was the court composer to Louis XIV and founded the national French opera.

Moliere

17th century French playwright and actor who performed for Louis XIV. Wrote mostly comedies, including Tartuffe. Many of his works were somewhat satirical and provoked disapproval of some groups, particularly the Roman Catholic Church.

Jean Racine

French plawright who wrote tragedies set in Greece or Rome that celebrated the new aristocratic virtues that Louis XIV aimed to inculcate: a reverance for order and self-control, characters regal or noble, lofty language, aristocratic behavior. Most famous works are "Andromaque", "Berenice", "Iphigene", and "Phedre".

War of the Spanish Succession

Originated in the Hapsburg lines weakness(from severe inbreeding). So the monarchs of al the other countries agreed to partition Spanish possessions. Spanish King Charles II left Spain to Philip of Anjou in his will(who was Louis XIV's grandson). The other countries formed an alliance to prevent the Bourbons from controlling Spain and France. Notable figures include John Churchill(The Duke of Marlborough) and Eugene(Prince of Savoy). Prominent battles included (Blenheim , and Ramillies). Ended by Peace of Utrecht

Peace of Utrecht

This was the 1713 treaty that ended the War of the Spanish Succession. Ended Louis XIV's attempts to gain military power and land. Marked the end of French expansionist policy. It also illustrated the balance of power principle in operation.

Eugene of Savoy

Leader of the Austrian Army that beat the Ottomans at Vienna, considered the greatest general in Austrian history

Constitutionalism

The theory developed in early modern England and spread elsewhere that royal power should be subject to legal and legislative checks. Differs from democracy in that it does not have to grant all people the power to vote.

The Trew Law of Free Monarchy

Written by King James I of England it was an attempt to justify his divine right to rule.

King Charles I

King James I's successor, he caused a civil war in England that would ultimately claim his own life; it was caused by his dismissal of the English Parliament in 1629. From 1629 onward he attempted to use arbitrary government orders to finance the country.

Puritans

Felt that the Reformation in England had not gone far enough.

Long Parliament

Called this because it meet from 1640-1660 after English King Charles I summoned them for the first time in 11 years.

Triennial Act

Passed during the Long Parliaments tenure, this 1641 act compelled the King to summon Parliament at least once every 3 years.

Leviathan

Written by English philosopher Thomas Hobbes, maintained that sovereignty is ultimately derived from the people, who transfer it to the monarchy by implicit contract.

Commonwealth

Another name for a republican government. Proclaimed in England after King Charles I was beheaded in 1641.

Oliver Cromwell

English military, political, and religious figure who led the Parliamentarian victory by forming his "New Model Army" in the English Civil War (1642-1649) and called for the execution of Charles I. As lord protector of England he ruled as a virtual dictator. Divided England into 12 military districts, crushed an irish rebellion in Drogheda, censored the press, pursued mercantilist policies(like the Navigation Act), and welcomed Jews back into England after a 400 year absence.

Instrument of Government

Drafted by Major-general John Lambert in 1653. It became the official constitution that was supposed to used by the Commonwealth during Oliver Cromwell's time as Lord Protector. Invested power both in Cromwell and the Council of State. However Cromwell ripped it into shreds.

Navigation Act

British law pushed by Oliver Cromwell designed to protect British shipping from competition. Said that British colonies could only import goods if they were shipped on British-owned vessels and at least 3/4 of the crew of the ship were British. Example of Cromwell's use of mercantilist policies.

King Charles II

This son of Charles I was the "Restoration Monarch" following Cromwell's protectorate. Restored Parliament, the courts, local government, and the Anglican Church. Appointed the "Cabal" to act as mediators between himself and Parliament. Entered a secret agreement with Louis XIV to re-Catholicize England in exchange for 200,000 pounds annualy.

King James II

Succeeded Charles II as King of England. Appointed Roman Catholics to positions of power. Issued the "Declaration of Indulgences" which granted religious freedom to all. When his 2nd wife had a son he was forced out of England and into France so that Protestant William and Mary could assume the throne.

Test Act

Parliament passed this in response to Charles II's declaration of indulgences; required all military members to swear an oath against transubstantiation. In other words it forbid Catholics from becoming line of succession.

The Glorious Revolution

Period when King James II leaves England and William and Mary are invited to rule in England. Bloodless revolution that also saw the formulation of the English Bill of Rights

Second Treatise of Civil Government

This work, written by philosopher John Locke maintained that when a government oversteps its proper function protecting the natural rights of life, liberty, and property it becomes a tyranny.

Cabinet system

This developed in England during the 18th century., Leading ministers, instead of only one leader, formulate common policy and conduct business of the country. In England, both legislative power and executive power are held by the leading ministers, who form the Government.

States General

Term used by the national assembly of the United Provinces of the Netherlands where the wealthy merchant class held real power; because many issues had to be refereed back to the provinces, the United Provinces was a confederation, or weak union of a strong states. Appointed a stadholder for each province.

Stadholder

This was the name given to the person appointed by the States General to carry out ceremonial functions in a province in the Netherlands. (Sometimes had control over all provinces - main example was the House of Orange)

House of Orange

Leaders of most of the 7 provinces of the Dutch Republic, favored development of a centralized government with themselves as hereditary monarchs

Holland

The most powerful "state" within the Netherlands. It dominated the military and the States-General. Set capital at the Hague.

Benedict Spinoza

A Jewish-Dutch philosopher , he was another of the great rationalists, and wrote "Ethics" as his magnum opus. He normally crafted lenses, but had great mathematical ability and helped lay the foundation for the later Enlightenment. However, most of his work was not appreciated until after his death. Illustrated the unprecedented level of tolerance that was evident in the Netherlands.

Dutch East India Company

A company founded by the Dutch in the early 17th century to establish and direct trade throughout Asia. Richer and more powerful than England's company, they drove out the English and Established dominance over the region. It ended up going bankrupt and being bought out by the British.

Peter the Great

(1672-1725) Russian tsar (r. 1689-1725). He enthusiastically introduced Western languages and technologies to the Russian elite, moving the capital from Moscow to the new city of St. Petersburg.

Boyars

Russian landholding aristocrats

Rembrandt

Dutch painter, who painted portraits of wealthy middle-class merchants and used sharp contrasts of light and shadow to draw attention to his focus

Bank of Amsterdam

First bank to not only received deposits of gold and silver and exchanged foreign currencies, it made loans.

The English Civil War

a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists over, principally, the manner of England's government

Cromwell's Reforms

Ruled similarly to John Calvin, outlawing anything deemed ungodly, including Christmas celebrations

Restoration

Period after the English Civil War where Charles II (son of Charles I) was named King

interregnum

Period between monarchs Charles I and Charles II

Dutch Golden Age

A period of Dutch History (1600s ) in which The Dutch Republic dominated world trade and used that wealth to become the world's center for arts and sciences. However, they were a seafaring power, NOT a military power. France will emerge in this era as the dominant military power.

Vermeer

A Dutch painter who used a great deal of light.

Table of Ranks

created by Peter, it creates opportunities for non nobles to serve the state and join the nobility ... nobility based on merit

Beard Tax

A tax on those men in Russian who wore beards by Peter the Great as a method of Westernizing Russia. Those who had beards were required to carry a token stating that they had paid their beard tax.

Synod

a council, especially of churches or church officials

Michael Romanov

In 1613 an assembly of nobles chose him as the new czar. For the next 300 years his family ruled in Russia (1613-1633)

Janissaries

Christian boys taken from families, converted to Islam, and then rigorously trained to serve the sultan

Poland-Lithuania

Largest state in Europe that shifted from monarch to the nobles but didn't have strong central gov

Liberum Veto

known as "exploding the diet" it allowed one member to disband the diet of Poland

robot

System of forced labor used in eastern Europe. Peasants usually owed three or four days a week of forced labor. The system was abolished in 1848.

Hapsburg Empire

Central European empire that lasted from the 1400s to the 1900s and at its height included the lands of the Holy Roman Empire and the Netherlands

Austria Proper

Provinces centralized by Fredinand III who created a permanent standing army

Siege of Vienna 1683

the event that successfully repelled Turks from gates of Vienna

Prussia

A former kingdom in north-central Europe including present-day northern Germany and northern Poland

Frederick William the Great Elector

laid the foundation for the Prussian state

Frederick the Great

(1712-1786), King of Prussia from 1740 to 1786. Enlightened despot who enlarged Prussia by gaining land from Austria when Maria Theresa became Empress.

Ivan III

"Ivan the Great"; ruled as great prince and first ruler of the independent state called Russia

Cossacks

Russians who conquered and settled Siberia in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries

Romanov Dynasty

Dynasty elected in 1613 at end of Time of Troubles; ruled Russia until 1917

Holy Roman Empire

Loose federation of mostly German states and principalities, headed by an emperor elected by the princes. It lasted from 962 to 1806.

Austrian Empire

The ruler of Austria was traditionally as HRE, after the War of Spanish Success Succession and Treaty of Utrecht, the Bourbons occupied the Spanish throne. The Hapsburg power is now concentrated in Austria. Austria was not a single nation-state. Each region had a different legal relationship with the Emperor. It included many nationalities and regions. Included Italy, Austrian Netherlands, Hungary, and Transylvania. Will attempt to consolidate their diverse holdings into a strong, unified state.

Maria Theresa

This was the queen of Austria as a result of the Pragmatic Sanction. She limited the papacy's political influence in Austria, strengthened her central bureaucracy and cautiously reduced the power that nobles had over their serfs

Szlachta

Polish aristocracy - 8% of population(larger than in other countries) - sticklers for Polish Liberties, suspicion of centralization. Elective(not hereditary) monarchy - usually the Polish aristocracy picked foreigner to be monarch since could never agree on Pole. Only 2 native kings - Sobieski and Poniatowski.

Five Great Farms

An area within France that does not have tariffs so there is a free trade zone that opens up immense wealth

Vlad the Impaler

This Romanian prince ruled Wallachia, and campaigned against the Ottoman Empire. He is remembered for his vicious impaling of his enemies, and he inspired the name Bram Stoker chose for his novel Dracula.

War of Austrian Succession

series of wars in which various European nations competed for power in Central Europe after the death of Hapsburg emperor Charles VI

Seven Years' War (French and Indian War)

The term refers to a series of conflicts that waged from 1756 to 1763. The war was a product of economic rivalries that existed in Europe over the treasures of the Americas. The wars were seen in India, the West Indies (Caribbean) and North America. As a result of the conflict, the French lost their empire in North America and the British would create more control over the contested regions, squeezing the French out in the process.

Seven Years war in India

French and Britain supported opposing Indian Princes

British under Clive ultimately won

Clive was the leader of the Army of the British East India Company