AP Euro Topic 3.7 Absolutist Approaches to Power Terms/Names (Amsco Bolded)

Philip II

(1527-1598) Absolute monarch of Spain at the height of its power. Obsessively Catholic and obsessively mistrusting of everyone.

House of Lords

Upper house of Parliament, for nobles and bishops

House of Commons

one of the houses of Parliament including wealthy landowners and rich business leaders that represent the middle class and are elected to office

James I

Stuart monarch who ignored constitutional principles and asserted the divine right of kings.

Charles I

(1625-1649) Stuart king who brought conflict with Parliament to a head and was subsequently executed.

Louis XIV

(1638-1715) Known as the Sun King, he was an absolute monarch that completely controlled France. One of his greatest accomplishments was the building of the palace at Versailles.

Cardinal Mazarin

Regent for Louis XIV until he was declared of age. The Fronde was actually a rebellion against his policies.

Cardinal Richelieu

Regent for Louis XIII, set in place the cornerstone of French absolutism. Attempted to break the power of nobility by creating the intendant system

Fronde

A series of violent uprisings during the early reign of Louis XIV triggered by growing royal control and increased taxation--frightened Louis into becoming paranoid about control.

courtier

An attendant at a royal court, wealthy powerful nobles.

Palace of Versailles

Lavish palace constructed by Louis XIV to reflect his power and might and to control his nobles.

Jean Baptiste Colbert

An economic advisor to Louis XIV; he supported mercantilism and tried to make France economically self-sufficient. Brought prosperity to France.

tsar

A Russian emperor

Peter the Great

The tsar of Russia that Westernized Russia and built up a massive Russian army.

Grand Embassy

Peter the Great's long visit to Western Europe to learn Western technology economics and culture so he could Westernize Russia.

Westernization

policy of Peter the Great. Adoption of western ideas, technology, and culture

Great Northern War

War between Russia and Sweden that got Peter the Great a port on the Baltic Sea.

Russian Academy of Sciences

founded by Peter the Great as part of Russia's westernization and attempt to modernize Russia's intellectual community

boyar

Russian landed nobility.

Holy Synod

The replacement Peter the Great created for the office of Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church. It was a "bureaucracy of laymen under his supervision." and they were loyal to him

Catherine the Great

Empress of Russia who greatly increased the territory of the empire and attempted (but failed at) creating enlightened reforms in Russia.

L'etat c'est moi

"I am the state" said by Louis XIV to indicate that he alone had the authority to rule France.

Sun King

A nickname for Louis XIV that expresses his belief that all of life in France radiated from him--without Louis, there is no France.

Intendant System

system used by French monarchy to limit power of the nobles by appointing middle class men in government positions

Edict of Fontainebleau

revoked the Edict of Nantes, causing Huguenots (and their money) to flee France.

multiethnic empire

an empire made up of several ethnic groups

"window on the West"

Peter the Great's city of St Petersburg with a port easily accessible to Europe