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Henry IV (Henri le Grand)

First Bourbon king of France (r. 1589-1610); ended the French Wars of Religion by issuing the Edict of Nantes, restored order, and laid the foundations for absolutism.

Marguerite (Margo) of Valois

Henry IV's first wife; marriage arranged to unite Catholics and Huguenots and ease religious conflict (it failed and preceded the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre).

Marie de Medici

Henry IV's second wife; served as regent for their son Louis XIII after Henry's assassination and brought Italian cultural influence to France.

Edict of Nantes (1598)

Decree by Henry IV granting limited religious toleration to Huguenots; ended the French Wars of Religion and promoted civil peace.

Louis XIII

Son of Henry IV; ruled with the guidance of Cardinal Richelieu, who strengthened royal power and reduced noble and Huguenot influence.

Cardinal Richelieu

Chief minister to Louis XIII; centralized royal authority by weakening nobles and Huguenots, and strengthened France's role in the Thirty Years' War.

Louis XIV

"Sun King," model of absolutism (r. 1643-1715); centralized power, built Versailles, and fought many wars to expand French power.

Cardinal Mazarin

Successor to Richelieu and regent for young Louis XIV; crushed the Fronde and preserved royal authority during Louis XIV's minority.

The Fronde

Series of noble revolts (1648-1653) against royal power during Louis XIV's youth; convinced him to establish absolute control later.

Robe Nobles (Nobility of the Robe)

Nobles whose status came from holding judicial or bureaucratic office; loyal to the king and supportive of absolutism.

Sword Nobles (Nobility of the Sword)

Traditional hereditary nobles from military service; often resisted royal centralization and led uprisings like the Fronde.

Divine Right

Doctrine that monarchs derive authority directly from God and are accountable only to Him; justified absolutism.

"Sun King"

Louis XIV's nickname; symbolized his role as the center of France and source of light and order for the nation.

Palace at Versailles

Extravagant royal residence built by Louis XIV; symbol of absolutist power and a tool to control the nobility.

French Classicism

Art and literature style under Louis XIV emphasizing order, harmony, and classical ideals reflecting absolutist control.

Mercantilism

Economic policy promoting government regulation of trade to increase national wealth and power; heavily used by Louis XIV's minister Jean-Baptiste Colbert.

Company of the East Indies

French trading company founded under Colbert to compete with Dutch and English trade in Asia; part of mercantilist expansion.

Absolutism

System of government in which the monarch holds all power over the state and its people, unchecked by other institutions.

St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre (1572)

Mass killing of Huguenots by Catholics in Paris; escalated the French Wars of Religion.

Politique

Practical rulers who prioritized state stability over religious ideology; Henry IV is the prime example.

Conversion of Henry IV to Catholicism

Henry's pragmatic move to unite France ("Paris is worth a mass"); ended religious conflict.

L'état, c'est moi

"I am the state"; phrase attributed to Louis XIV expressing his view of absolute monarchy.

War of Devolution (1667-1668)

Louis XIV's attempt to claim the Spanish Netherlands through his wife's inheritance rights; ended with limited gains.

Franco-Dutch War (1672-1678)

War against the Dutch Republic to expand French territory; ended with Treaty of Nijmegen and minor gains for France.

War of the Spanish Succession (1701-1714)

Fought over control of the Spanish throne; other powers opposed France to maintain balance of power.

Peace of Utrecht (1713)

Ended War of Spanish Succession; allowed Louis XIV's grandson Philip V to rule Spain but barred union with France; marked the rise of Britain.

Revoking of the Edict of Nantes (1685)

Louis XIV's suppression of Protestant rights; led to Huguenot emigration and economic decline.

Glorious Revolution (1688-1689)

English revolution replacing James II with William III and Mary II; established a constitutional monarchy limiting royal power.

Moriscos Expelled (1609-1610)

Spain's expulsion of Muslim converts; weakened the economy by removing skilled workers.

Thirty Years' War (for the Spanish)

Spain fought to maintain Catholic dominance and control in Europe; ended with loss of influence and decline of Spanish power.

Dutch Republic

Independent Protestant state formed after rebellion against Spain; model of a successful commercial republic.

Republic of the United Provinces of the Netherlands

Formal name of the Dutch Republic established in 1581; confederation of seven provinces.

Golden Age

17th century period of Dutch economic prosperity, artistic brilliance, and maritime dominance.

Oligarchy of Regrets

Wealthy merchant elites who governed Dutch towns and provinces.

Estates

Representative assemblies in each province that held local authority.

States General

Federal assembly of the Dutch Republic representing all provinces; handled foreign affairs and defense.

Holland

Most powerful and wealthy province of the Dutch Republic, dominated by Amsterdam.

Stadholder

Executive officer or provincial leader, often from the House of Orange.

Prince of Orange

Hereditary title held by leaders of the Dutch Republic; the family produced several Stadholders and later kings.

William III of England (William of Orange)

Stadholder of the Netherlands who became King of England after the Glorious Revolution (1688).

Act of Settlement (1701)

Ensured Protestant succession in England, bringing the Hanoverian dynasty to power.

Act of Union (1707)

United England and Scotland into Great Britain under one parliament.

George, Elector of Hanover

Became King George I of Great Britain in 1714 under the Act of Settlement.

Habsburgs

Powerful ruling family of Austria and the Holy Roman Empire; built centralized control after the Thirty Years' War.

Bohemia

Region where Habsburgs crushed Protestantism and established strong absolutist rule after 1620.

Schonbrunn Palace in Vienna

Imperial residence of the Habsburgs; symbol of Austrian absolutism.

Prussia

German state ruled by the Hohenzollerns; became a major military power in the 18th century.

Hohenzollern Family

Ruling dynasty of Brandenburg-Prussia; built strong absolutist and military traditions.

Electors of Brandenburg and Dukes of Prussia

Titles held by Hohenzollern rulers; eventually combined into 'Kings of Prussia.'

Frederick William, the Great Elector

Strengthened Prussia after the Thirty Years' War by centralizing power and building a strong army.

Junkers

Prussian noble landlords who dominated the army and bureaucracy; supported absolutism in exchange for control over serfs.

Frederick I, King of Prussia

Gained royal title in 1701 for helping the Habsburgs in the War of Spanish Succession.

Frederick William I ('The Soldier's King')

Built Prussia into a disciplined military state; created one of Europe's best armies and efficient bureaucracy.

Frederick II ('The Great')

Enlightened absolutist who expanded Prussia through wars (e.g., War of Austrian Succession) and reformed government and education.

Ivan III ('The Great')

Freed Moscow from Mongol rule and centralized Russian power; considered founder of the Russian state.

Muscovite State

The early centralized Russian principality under Moscow's rule that evolved into the Russian Empire.

Boyars

Russian nobility; often resisted centralization by the tsars.

Tsars (Czars)

Russian monarchs claiming divine authority similar to emperors.

Ivan IV ('The Terrible')

First tsar of Russia; expanded territory but ruled brutally and reduced boyar power through terror.

Anastasia Romanov

Ivan IV's first wife; her death led to Ivan's descent into tyranny.

Time of Troubles (1598-1613)

Period of chaos after Ivan IV's death; ended with the establishment of the Romanov dynasty.

Michael Romanov

First Romanov tsar (r. 1613-1645); restored order and began the Romanov dynasty lasting until 1917.

Serfs / Serfdom

Peasants bound to land and noble authority; became increasingly repressive in Eastern Europe.

Peter I ('The Great')

Modernized Russia through Westernization, built a strong navy, and centralized government authority.

Great Northern War (1700-1721)

War in which Peter the Great defeated Sweden, gaining access to the Baltic Sea.

Peasant Soldiers

Backbone of Peter's modern army; reflected the autocratic nature of Russian militarism.

St. Petersburg ('Window to the West')

City founded by Peter the Great as Russia's new capital and symbol of modernization.

Ottoman Empire

Vast Muslim empire centered in modern Turkey; rival of European powers with a multiethnic bureaucracy.

Balkans

Southeastern European region under Ottoman rule; religious and ethnic diversity made it a frontier between Islam and Christianity.