APEURO UNIT 3 Absolutism, Constitutionalism and Maintaining the Balance of Power

Absolutism

A political system where a single ruler holds supreme authority and power, often justified by divine right, with few checks on their governance.

Louis XIV

French king known as the "Sun King," who epitomized absolutism and ruled for 72 years, significantly expanding royal power and influence; built the Palace of Versailles; revoked the Edict of Nantes

Anne of Austria

Mother of Louis XIV and regent during his childhood, she played a key role in the politics of France and supported his ascent to absolute power; increased French military deployments at the end of the Thirty Years War

Cardinal Mazarin

Chief minister to Louis XIV who, alongside Anne of Austria, helped consolidate absolutism in France during Louis's early reign and played a significant role in the Fronde civil wars.

Pieds Nus

A movement of discontent among the common people of France to Louis XIV’s absolutist rule, particularly during the Fronde, which opposed the excesses of royal authority and sought greater autonomy.

Croquants

A rural peasant revolt in France during the 17th century, characterized by opposition to taxation and feudal oppression, often occurring amidst the civil unrest of the Fronde.

Judges of Paris

Judicial officials in the Paris region responsible for maintaining law and order, often serving under the authority of the king during the absolutist period; some resisted Louis XIV’s absolutist rule.

the Paulette

a tax on the officeholding of officials in France introduced in the early 17th century by Henry IV that allowed office holders to pass their positions to their heirs, reinforcing the power of the monarchy while generating revenue, creating a powerful class of bureaucrats immune from state oversight

Nobles of the Robe

A social class of French nobility who acquired their status through officeholding and purchase rather than through traditional hereditary means, often serving in governmental and judicial roles.

Nobles of the Sword

A traditional social class of French nobility who held their status through noble lineage and military service, often responsible for the defense of the realm and maintaining feudal rights.

Jansenism

a Catholic movement that believed in a complete purging of the self and a fervent spirituality to replace the insufficient practices of the Church; believed only intense religious commitment could save France

the Fronde

a series of civil wars in France that took place between 1648 and 1653, primarily involving the nobility, who opposed royal authority and taxation policies. It highlighted the tensions between the crown and the nobility during the early years of Louis XIV's reign.

Palace of Versailles

the principal royal residence of France under Louis XIV, known for its grandeur and as a symbol of absolute monarchy, where the king centralized power and entertained nobility, distracting them from their lack of power.

Jacques-Benigne Bossuet

a French bishop and theologian known for his strong advocacy of absolute monarchy and divine right of kings, asserting that monarchs derive their authority directly from God.

Intendants

royal officials in France who were appointed by the king to oversee local government, enforce royal policies, collect taxes, and ensure loyalty to the crown, thereby strengthening central authority during the era of absolute monarchy.

Jean-Baptiste Colbert

a French statesman who served as the Minister of Finance under Louis XIV, known for his policies that aimed to strengthen the economy through mercantilism, promoting industry, and increasing state revenue.

War of Devolution

a conflict between France and Spain in 1667-1668, initiated by Louis XIV to claim the Spanish Netherlands based on his wife Maria Theresa's dowry. The war ended with the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, granting France some territory in the region.

Dutch War

a conflict between France and a coalition of the Dutch Republic, England, and the Holy Roman Empire from 1672 to 1678, initiated by Louis XIV in an attempt to expand French territory and influence in the region. The war concluded with the Treaty of Nijmegen, resulting in territorial gains for France.

War of the League of Augsburg

a conflict that took place from 1688 to 1697 involving a coalition of European powers against France, primarily aimed at curbing Louis XIV's expansionist ambitions. It ended with the Treaty of Ryswick, restoring territorial boundaries before the war.

War of the Spanish Succession

a major conflict from 1701 to 1714 involving multiple European powers, including England, the Dutch Republic, and Austria, attempting to prevent the unification of the French and Spanish thrones under the Bourbons. It concluded with the Treaty of Utrecht, which reconfigured the balance of power in Europe.

James I

the first Stuart king of England, who ruled from 1603 to 1625. He is known for promoting the idea of the divine right of kings and commissioning the King James Version of the Bible.

Magna Carta

an English charter signed in 1215 that established the principle of due process and limited the power of the monarchy, laying the foundation for constitutional governance.

Phillip II

King of Spain from 1556 to 1598, known for his role in the Spanish Armada, the expansion of Spanish influence during the Age of Exploration, and his embrace of absolutist rule.

Peter the Great

the Tsar of Russia from 1682 to 1725, recognized for his extensive reforms aimed at modernizing Russia, including the military, government, and cultural practices, and for his efforts to westernize the country; required nobles to serve in the army/civil administration and adopted Western styles and technologies.

Holy Synod

a government authority established by Peter the Great that replaced the Patriarch in the Russian Orthodox Church, promoting control of the church by the state and ensuring loyalty to the Tsar.

Balance of Power

a political theory to prevent any one nation from becoming too dominant, ensuring stability and peace in international relations among states.

Partition of Poland

the idea of maintaining the balance of power sealed the fate of Poland and essentially wiped it off the map for ~150 years; Russia, Austria, and Prussia sign a treaty to divide Polish territory among themselves

Commonwealth of Poland

a federation of Poland and Lithuania that existed from the 16th to the 18th century, characterized by a weak constitutional monarchy; landowning nobles exploited peasants and defied the king; did not have the robust bureaucracy to unite the country; monarch was relatively weak compared to the surrounding absolutist states

Nine Years’ War

a conflict from 1688 to 1697 between France(Louis XIV) and the Grand Alliance, which included England, the Dutch Republic, and the Holy Roman Empire, aimed at maintaining the balance of power in Europe against French expansion.

Grand Alliance

a coalition formed in 1689 consisting of England, the Dutch Republic, and the Holy Roman Empire (Hapsburgs) to counter Louis XIV’s aggression during the Nine Years' War.

Treaty of Utrecht

ended the War of Spanish Succession and stipulated that Phillip V would remain on the Spanish throne, but that Spain and France must remain two separate states; maintained the balance of power in Europe

Professional Armies

military forces that are trained, well-equipped, and maintained by a state, as opposed to irregular forces or mercenaries. They play a crucial role in sustaining the authority of monarchy and state during the era of absolutism; absolutist monarchs increasingly depended on these armies, and were (in the case of Louis XIV) able to raise armies of proportions never before seen

military revolution

occurs in Europe with absolutist rulers getting professional standing armies, funding of expansive armies via taxes and powerful bureaucracies, organization, etc.

Gustavus Adolphus

King of Sweden; built a massive professional standing army, organized into ranks so that the hierarchy of authority was clear

constitutionalism

a political system in which governmental authority is derived from and limited by a constitution, balancing power among various branches of government.

Cavaliers

supporters of King Charles I during the English Civil War, known for their loyalty to the monarchy and opposition to the Parliament.

Roundheads

opponents of King Charles I, mainly composed of Parliament supporters and puritans during the English Civil War.

Restoration

the period in English history after the fall of Oliver Cromwell's Commonwealth, marking the return of Charles II to the throne in 1660.

Monument to the Great Fire of London

a structure built to commemorate the Great Fire of 1666, located near the site of the fire, symbolizing resilience and rebuilding; showed the divide between Protestants and Catholics following the English Civil War, as it was inscribed by Protestants blaming Catholics for the fire

Test Act

a law passed in 1673 in England that restricted public office to members of the Church of England, aimed at excluding Catholics from political power.

Aphra Behn

Englishwoman and supporter of the Stuarts who travelled to the Netherlands to gather intelligence on Stuart enemies; author of several plays and novels, including the notable work "Oroonoko," which is one of the first novels in English literature.

Thomas Hobbes

an English philosopher known for his political theories, particularly his work "Leviathan," which argued for the necessity of strong, absolutist central authority to avoid chaos and violence in society.

Leviathan

a work by Thomas Hobbes in which he outlines his theories on social contract and the necessity of an absolute sovereign to maintain order and prevent conflict.

John Locke

an English philosopher who advocated for natural rights, including life, liberty, and property. His work "Two Treatises of Government" greatly influenced democratic thought and the development of constitutional government.

Two Treatises of Government

a foundational text by John Locke that argues against absolute monarchy and emphasizes the protection of natural rights and the idea of government as a social contract.

classical liberalism

a political ideology emphasizing individual freedoms, limited government, and equal protection under the law, rooted in the ideas of Enlightenment thinkers like John Locke.