Absolute Monarchies of the Eighteenth Century Louis XIV

Absolute Monarchies of the Eighteenth Century

Louis XIV- The Model of Absolutism(Ruled 1643 -1715) n France’s Grand Monarch, called himself the “Sun King” n Divine right of kings n Increased France’s borders…barely n Attempted religious uniformity n Domesticated the Aristocracy n Palace of Versailles n Fights four major wars

How did Louis Do It? n n n Cardinal Bossuet acts as propagandist for divine right of kings philosophy using Bible as support Insulates the business of politics and pleasures of court from the social machinery of Paris-Palace of Versailles Builds extensive bureaucracy that revolves around himself and stocks it with able men(Colbert, Louvois) Uses his natural skills to equally dominate administration and court (business in the front, party in the back) Aristocrats become satellites of his grandeur

Economy n Jean Baptist Colbert-Finance minister – – – n Subscribed to the philosophy of mercantilism Promoted good farming methods Built roads and canals Supported a large navy, manufacturing , shipping Regarded the United Provinces as major danger to France’s wealth Edict of Nantes revoked in 1685 to promote religious uniformity, Huguenots fled, economy suffered.

The Wars of Louis XIV n First War ( War of Devolution)1667 -1668 n Second War (With Holland) 1672 -1678 n Third War (War of the League of Augsburg) 1688 -1697 – Tried to take control of Spanish Netherlands – Gained nothing, expensive – Promoted by Colbert – Unsuccessful, expensive – League was headed by Emp Leopold I and William. III of the United Provences – Louis gains territories along eastern border, very expensive

Wars cont’d n Fourth War ( War of Spanish Succession) 1701 -1714 – France vs. the Grand Alliance led by William and Leopold – Louis wanted unification of Spanish and French crowns through his grandson Philip – Grand Alliance wins- Phillip is recognized as King of Spain, but no unification with France – France gains nothing, very expensive

The Sun Goes Down War, famine (1690, 1709), and time wear down Louis n Sincerity of the servants becomes empty vanity of courtiers n Louis becomes more religious but the genuine conviction of the monarch is hypocritically followed by the court n Louis had pushed his natural talents to capacity to balance the affairs of state and court. No successor could maintain. Glory, unkempt, gives way to revolution. n

Frederick Who? n Frederick William the “Great Elector” 1640 -1688) (r. – Calvinist; showed toleration toward Catholics and Jews – Built strong standing army with heavy taxes; upper nobility not exempt – Sought guidance from God – Inspired by the Edict of Nantes, joined League of Augsburg in 1686

n Frederick IIII (r. 1688 -1713) – King Frederick I – Weak and deformed – Founded the University of Halle – Participated in the War of the League of Augsburg and the War of Spanish Succession – Gained the title “King” From HRE Leopold.

n Frederick William I (r. 1713 -1740) – Envisioned a stronger army and richer treasury – Built the 4 th largest army in Europe, paid off all state debts and left his successor a magnificent surplus of funds. – Gained reputation for incorruptible Bureaucracy – Maintained close relationship with Holland England

n Frederick the Great (Frederick the Great) (r. 1740 -1786) – Considered himself the “first servant of the state” – Went to war with France, Austria, and Russia § 180, 000 Prussians lost § Emerged with increased territory in 1763 § 1772 in the first partition of Poland he acquired west Prussia to link his territories