Unit 3 2 Absolutism in Eastern Europe I

Unit 3. 2 Absolutism in Eastern Europe

I. Overview of Eastern Europe (“HOP RAP”) A. Three aging empires: Holy Roman Empire Ottoman Empire Polish Kingdom gave way to new empires of: Russia Austria Prussia

Explain what became of the HRE into the 17 th Century. n Define: Holy Roman Empire-

1. Holy Roman Empire (HRE): religious divisions due to the Reformation and religious wars in 16 th and 17 th centuries split Germany among Catholic, Lutheran and Calvinist princes

Holy Roman Empire, 1648

Compare and contrast Eastern European absolutism to the French version. n Consider the following: Nobility n Middle class n Peasantry n War n Asians n

B. Eastern European absolutism differed from French absolutism 1. Eastern: based on a powerful nobility, weak middle class, and an widespread serfdom 2. France: nobility’s power had been limited, middle-class was relatively strong, and peasants were generally free from serfdom n Louis XIV built French absolutism upon the foundations of a well-developed medieval monarchy and a strong royal

C. Threat of war with European and Asian invaders motivated eastern European monarchs’ drive to consolidate power. 1. Reduced the power of the nobility n However, nobles gained greater power over their serfs. 2. Three methods in gaining power: a. Kings imposed and collected permanent taxes without the consent of their subjects. b. Permanent standing armies. c. States conducted relations with other states as they

3. Absolutism in eastern Europe reached its height during the reign of Russian Tsar Peter the Great.

Unit 3. 2 PART II Absolutism in Eastern Europe

Austria and Prussia ABSOLUTISM IN EASTERN EUROPE

Identify the Significance of the following Terms: Bohemia n Austria Proper n Hungary n Magyars n Ferdinand III n Leopold I n Siege of Vienna n Charles VI n Pragmatic Sanction n Prussia n Honenzollerns n Frederick William, The Great Elector n Junkers n “King of Prussia” n Frederick William I n n “Sparta of the North”

Objectives: TSWBAT n n n n Trace the rise of the Hapsburg Austrian Empire Identify what kept Austria from becoming a unified national state like France. Explain why Leopold and Charles VI were important to the emergence of Austria as a power. Identify the significance of the Hohenzollerns and Brandenburg Describe how Frederick William, the Great Elector put Prussia on course for greatness. ( politically, economically, socially) Briefly explain how Frederick I (Elector Frederick III) became the King of Prussia. Explain why Frederick William I was the most important Hohenzollern in establishing Prussian absolutism. What was a major difference in the Prussian Junkers in comparison with the Huguenots and other nobles in France?

III. Austrian Empire (Habsburg Empire) A. Rise of Austria 1. Ruler was traditionally selected as Holy Roman Emperor 2. Habsburgs no longer ruled Spain after 1713 3. Habsburg Empire included: a. Sardinia, Milan, and Naples b. Austrian Netherlands c. Hungary and Transylvania

Habsburg Empire in 1700

4. Ineffective Habsburg rule in HRE forced monarchs to consolidate power from within the Austrian empire; they looked inward and eastward to consolidate their diverse holdings into a strong unified state a. Reorganization of Bohemia after 30 Years’ War was a major step towards absolutism n Czech (Bohemian) nobility was wiped out during the Bohemian phase of the 30 Years War n Ferdinand II redistributed Czech lands to aristocratic soldiers from all over Europe n Conditions for serfs worsened

4. Ineffective Habsburg rule in HRE forced monarchs to consolidate power from within the Austrian empire; they looked inward and eastward to consolidate their diverse holdings into a strong unified state b. Old hereditary provinces of Austria Proper were centralized by Ferdinand III -- He created a standing army; unprecedented for the Hapsburgs c. Hungary: was the 3 rd and largest part of the dominion -- Magyars were the dominant cultural group 5. Serfdom was intensified in Hapsburg lands

Growth of Austrian (Habsburg) Empire

B. Government organization 1. Austria was NOT a national state: multinational empire a. Austria proper: Germans, b. Bohemia: Czechs, Germans c. Hungary: Hungarians, Serbs, Croats, Romanians 2. No single constitutional system or administration existed in the empire as each region had a different legal relationship to the Emperor

C. Important Habsburg rulers 1. Ferdinand II (1619 -1637): gained Bohemia during the 30 Years’ War 2. Ferdinand III (1637 -1657): centralized the gov’t in the old hereditary provinces of Austria. 3. Leopold I (1658 -1705) a. Severely restricted Protestantism b. Siege of Vienna: Successfully repelled Turks from gates of Vienna in 1683 n n Last attempt by the Turks to take central Europe In 1697, Prince Eugene of Savoy led Austria’s forces to victory over the Ottoman’s at Zenta, thus securing Austria from future attacks by the Ottomans

4. Emperor Charles VI (1711 -1740) a. Austria was saved from Louis XIV during the War of Spanish Succession with its alliance with Britain and military leadership of Prince Eugene. b. Charles issued the Pragmatic Sanction (1713) n n Hapsburg lands were never to be divided and were to be passed intact to a single heir. His daughter, Maria Theresa, inherited Charles’ empire in 1740 and ruled for 40 years (it would be tested by Prussia in the War of Austrian Succession)

IV. Prussia: Hohenzollerns A. Background 1. Ruler of Brandenburg was became one of 7 electors in the Holy Roman Empire in 1417. 2. Yet by the 17 th century, Brandenburg not significantly involved in HRE affairs 3. Marriages increasingly gave the Hohenzollerns control of German principalities in central and western Germany.

B. Frederick William, the “Great Elector” of Brandenburg (r. 1640 -88) 1. Background a. Strict Calvinist but granted toleration to Catholics and Jews b. Admired Swedish system of gov’t & Dutch economic power c. Threatened by Swedish-Polish struggle in the Baltic and wars of Louis XIV

B. Frederick William, the “Great Elector” of Brandenburg (r. 1640 -88) n State of permanent crisis n Prussia was invaded in 1656 -57 by the Tartars of southern Russia who killed or carried off as slaves more than 50, 000 people n Invasion weakened the noble estates and strengthened the urgency of the elector’s demands for more money and a larger army n (also explains why Germany and Russia don’t historically like one another! n Prussian nobles rushed to join representatives of towns in resisting royal power

2. Established Prussia as a great power and laid foundations for the future unification of Germany in the 19 th century a. Most significant: oversaw Prussian militarism and created most efficient army in Europe b. Employed military power and taxation to unify his Rhine holdings, Prussia and Brandenburg into a strong state c. Increased military spending through taxation (2 x that of Louis XIV) Prussian nobility not exempted n Soldiers also served as tax collectors and policeman, thus expanding the governments bureaucracy n

d. Junkers formed the backbone of the Prussian military officer corps. n These nobles and landowners dominated the Estates of Brandenburg and Prussia. n 1653, hereditary subjugation of serfs established as a way of compensating the nobles for their support of the Crown

3. Encouraged industry and trade a. Imported skilled craftsmen and Dutch farmers b. New industries emerged: Woolens, cotton, linens, velvet, lace, silk, soap, paper and iron products c. Efforts at overseas trade largely failed due to Prussia’s lack of ports and naval experience.

C. Frederick I “The Ostentatious” (r. 1688 -1713): 1 st “king” of Prussia 1. Most popular Hohenzollern a. Sought to imitate the court of Louis XIV b. Encouraged higher education Founded a university and encouraged the founding of an academy of science n Welcomed immigrant scholars regardless of religion n

2. Fought two wars against Louis XIV to maintain the balance of power a. War of the League of Augsburg and War of Spanish Succession b. Allied with the Habsburgs c. After Treaty of Utrecht (1713), the elector of Brandenburg/Prussia was now recognized internationally as the “King of Prussia” in return for aid to Habsburgs. n Thus, Frederick I was the first “King of Prussia”

D. Frederick William I (r. 1713 -1740) “The Soldiers’ King” 1. Established Prussian absolutism n n Calvinist like his dad Obsessed with finding tall soldiers for army 2. Infused militarism into society a. became known as “Sparta of the North” b. Nearly doubled the army’s size n n Best army in Europe’s 4 th largest army -80% of revenues went to military -Army designed to deter war - only once FW I fought a war - when Sweden occupied a N. German city; Swedes were kicked out

3. Most efficient bureaucracy in Europe n n A. removed the last of the parliamentary estates and local self-government B. demanded absolute obedience and discipline from civil servants • • n -Promotions based on merit (performance and loyalty) -Some commoners were able to rise to positions of power -High level of taxes 4. Junkers continued to grow as the official officer caste in the army in exchange for support of the king 5. Established compulsory education for children in 1717 -- Established about 1, 000 schools for peasant children

AP REVIEW n Which of the following institutions was most responsible for the rise of Prussia? A. B. C. D. E. The army The navy The monarchy The organized civil service system The States General

AP REVIEW n Which of the following explains the significance of the 1683 siege of Vienna? A. B. C. D. E. The defeat of the Ottomans at Vienna ended any significant threat to Europe from the Turks It showed that Europeans would never be safe from Ottoman aggression It proved that rifts between European nations were too deep for them to unite against a common enemy The defeat of the Ottomans at Vienna led to the collapse of the Ottoman Empire The defeat of the Polish armies at Vienna showed Poland’s weakness

AP REVIEW n During the 17 th century, Austria A. B. C. D. E. Built a strong navy to fight off the Ottoman Turks and defeated them at the battle of Lepanto Was never able to form a strong centralized state because of the many nationalities that co-existed within its borders Was ruled by the Hohenzollern family, which built a strong military state dominated by the king and the Junkers Was constantly threatened by attacks from the Russian empire Lost control of the Italian states and was forced to cede them to Spain at the beginning of the 18 th century