Absolute Monarchs In Europe 1500 1800 Power and

Absolute Monarchs In Europe 1500 -1800

Power and Authority n Monarchs acted to establish absolute power! n Monarchs used the divine right theory to justify power. n Parliament and the Puritans in England resisted absolutism. – A limited monarchy was established in England.

n In the 1500 s and 1600 s, monarchs in Europe and Asia sought to centralize their power. This led to absolutism. n Absolutism – autocratic rulers have COMPLETE authority over government and the lives of the people.

Absolutism in Spain n In the 1500 s, Spain was very powerful. n Wealth from its colonies in the Americas helped Spain’s power to grow.

Absolutism in Spain Charles V n From 1519 to 1556, Charles V, the grandson of Ferdinand Isabella, was king of Spain.

Absolutism in Spain Philip II n Son of Charles V n Ruling from 1556 to 1598, he expanded his own power as well as the influence of the Catholic Church and the Spanish empire. n He wanted to control all aspects of government, believing that he ruled by divine right.

Ferdinand Isabella n Took over Spain from the Moors and made Spain into a Catholic country. n SPANISH INQUISITION: Church court sentenced to non-Catholic people who did not believe in Catholic Church. n Thousands of Jews were sentenced to death or driven out of Spain. This means that they were forced to leave.

Absolutism in France n By the late 1600 s, France had replaced Spain as the most powerful European nation. Absolute monarchs, too, ruled it.

Absolutism in France The Sun-King – Inheriting the throne in 1643 as a five-year old child, Louis XIV ruled France for 72 years. n He continued to strengthen, taking the sun as the symbol of his power and commanding complete loyalty from his subjects. n

Absolutism in France n During his reign, Louis: 1. Expanded the bureaucracy, appointing officials to collect taxes, recruit soldiers, and carry out his rule in the provinces. 2. Build the lavish, immense Palace of Versailles outside of Paris. 3. Organized a highly disciplined army, the strongest in Europe. 4. Persecuted the Protestants, depriving the nation of many of its most hard-working and prosperous citizens.

~King Louis’ Legacy~ n Under Louis XIV, France was a wealthy, powerful state with great cultural influence. n However, Louis’ extravagant parties at Versailles and his costly wars, left France in debt.

Versailles

n Why did Louis XIV consider himself the “Sun-King”? How is that naming an example of his belief in absolutism?

Absolutism in Russia

“Absolutism” in England n In 1215, the barons, who were wealthy Landowners, forced the King to sign an agreement that would guarantee them certain rights. This agreement was called the Magna Carta. This was the first written document that limited the power of the King.

The Magna Carta made the King: n Discuss new laws and taxes n Allow a person to have a jury trial The Magna Carta was an important step toward a more just government in England.

The First Parliament In 1295, the first Parliament met. A Parliament is a law-making body made up of nobles, clergy, knights, and townspeople. During this time in England, therefore, the King shared power with Parliament.

During the early part of the Reformation, England remained Catholic. Then, King Henry VIII broke away from the Catholic Church because he wanted a divorce. When the Pope refused to end Henry’s marriage, King Henry VIII broke away from the Catholic Church and began the Church of England, also known as the Anglican Church.

King Henry VIII gained much wealth and power and made England even stronger. Eventually, Henry’s daughter, Elizabeth becames Queen

England under Elizabeth I Elizabeth ruled from 1558 -1603 and is considered to be one of England’s greatest monarchs. Some of her accomplishments were: n Building up England’s navy to protect England its shipping routes. n Increasing its trade with other countries making England a wealthy nation. n Speaking several languages and knowing how to deal with foreign rulers.

Absolutism in England n While other nations turned to absolutism in the 1500 s and 1600 s, England moved in a different direction. England’s Parliament managed to resist successfully the consolidation of royal power.

Absolutism in England n Puritans – were a certain group of the English, who were seeking to “purify” the Church of England by eliminating Catholic power n Charles I – inherited the throne in 1625. He created problems during his reign by: § Putting his enemies in prison without trials § Imposing high taxes § Angering the Puritans § Dissolves Parliament

Absolutism in England n English Civil War – was an important turning point in the history on Constitutional government in England. The ideas of the Puritans also shaped the development of the colonies that became the United States in the 1700 s.

Absolutism in England n Oliver Cromwell was the military commander who led the Puritans, country landowners, and town-based manufacturers against the Cavaliers who supported King Charles I.

n What do you think Oliver Cromwell did to King Charles? ? ? n King Charles was captured in 1647; Parliament put Charles I on trial and beheaded him in 1649.

Absolutism in England n Parliament’s House of Commons abolished the monarch. England became a republic, called the Commonwealth, with Oliver Cromwell as its leader. In 1653, Cromwell took the title of Lord Protector, and ruled through the army.

Absolutism in England n In 1660, Parliament invited Charles II, the son of Charles I, to become king of England. n In 1685, his brother James II, inherited the throne. James quickly became unpopular because of his Catholicism and his absolutist policies.

The Glorious Revolution n Parliament overthrows James II. n Parliament asks James’s daughter, Mary, and her husband William, to take the English throne. Mary and William, both Protestants, arrived in England as James II fled to France, completing a bloodless transfer of power. This time period is called the Restoration – bring back the monarchs!

The English Bill of Rights n William and Mary were forced to accept the English Bill of Rights, a set of acts passed by Parliament to ensure its superiority over the monarchy.

n The Bill of Rights: – Stated the King must work regularly with Parliament – Stated the king must give the House of Commons financial control – Abolished excessive fines & cruel and unusual punishment – Affirmed habeas corpus, meaning that no person could be held in jail without first being charged with a crime.

n With this Bill of Rights, England became a limited monarchy, a government in which a legislative body limits the monarch’s powers. n HOW IS THIS DIFFERENT FROM THE MONARCHIES OF SPAIN AND FRANCE? ?

Causes of Absolutism LONG TERM CAUSES Feudalism ends n Rise of Cities/Middle Class n Growth of countries n Church power weakened n

Causes of Absolutism IMMEDIATE CAUSES Religious Wars n Build Up of Armies n Increased Need for Taxes n Crush Peasant Revolts n

Causes of Absolutism All this resulted in… Absolute Monarchies!