ABSOLUTISM Russia England France Spain Prussia Austria Centralize

ABSOLUTISM

Russia England France Spain Prussia Austria

Centralize Authority Around Yourself • Sovereignty is embodied in the person of the ruler • Divine Right – Responsible to God alone • Tried to control competing jurisdictions, institutions, interest groups

Pacify and Subjugate Your Nobles • Secure the cooperation of the one group historically the monarchy’s greatest threat THE NOBILITY • Abolish the liberties held by areas/groups

Power often results from how financial problems solved • Establish new state bureaucracies that directed the economic life of the country • Bureaucracies composed of career officials appointed and solely accountable to the king

Power Results from how financial problems solved cont… • Often from the Middle Class (Fr. ) or nobility (Spain & E. Europe) • Served the state as represented by the king (not to enrich selves) – salary paid by state

Permanent Standing Armies • In peacetime and wartime • Deployed troops in/out of country in interest of monarchy • Army = basic feature

Build Something Worth of Your Glory

Dominate the Cultural Scene Mirror, Mirror on the Wall Who’s the most copied European Monarch of all? ?

Make Religion Work for You • Regulate religious sects • Emphasize ONE Religion

LASTLY • Did not have consent of the governed • Lacked idea of rule of law Embodiment of the State L’etat, c’est moi! I am the State!