European Absolute Monarchs and Political Changes: Louis XIV to William and Mary

Louis XIV

Ruled as a sovereign king and absolutely; built absolute power by the palace of Versailles; divine right.

William III

House of Orange; death in 1702.

Frederick William, 'Great Elector'

Built a permanent standing army; created general war commissary; bargained with Junkers for control over serfs in exchange for taxes/officers; welcomed Huguenot refugees.

Frederick III → King Frederick I

In 1701, crowned 'King in Prussia'; recognized by the HRE in return for military support in the Spanish Succession War; expanded court culture and state prestige; tightened central bureaucracy.

Leopold I

Defended Vienna against the Ottomans in 1683; reconquered Hungary; expanded territory through wars with the Ottomans and the Spanish Succession; nobles maintained local privileges, especially in Hungary; heavy taxation on peasants.

Peter the Great

Sought to westernize Russia; reduced power of the boyars; required nobles to serve state in civil or military posts; created a modern, professional standing army; introduced Western tactics, weapons, and uniforms; built Russia's first navy; beard tax; serfdom increased; adoption of western dress, etiquette, and grooming.

James I

Adopted the idea of the divine right of kings, the belief that kings receive their power directly from God and are responsible to no one except God.

Charles I

From 1629 to 1640, pursued a course of personal rule, which forced him to find ways to collect taxes without the cooperation of Parliament.

Cromwell

Military absolutism; leader of the New Model Army; divided the parliament into eleven regions, each ruled by a military government.

Charles II

Sympathetic to Catholics; Declaration of Indulgence suspended the laws that Parliament had passed against Catholics and Puritans.

James II

Issued a new declaration of indulgences; named Catholics in high positions contrary to the Test Act.

William and Mary

Provisions of a declaration of rights later enacted into law as the Bill of Rights; made it impossible to oppose Parliament, affirmed Parliament's right to levy taxes and make laws.