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Sovereign power or ultimate authority in the state rested in the hands of a king who claimed to rule by divine right –

power from god

Age of Absolutism

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Themes

During the 17c and 18c, Britain, France, Austria, Prussia, and Russia were able to establish or maintain a strong monarchy, standing army, efficient tax structures, large bureaucracy, and a more or less domesticated, divided or loyal nobility so that this period is known as the "Age of Absolutism."

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Themes

French culture and political power dominated Europe in the 17-18c.

England and France experienced very different political and social developments in the late 17c.

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Themes

One of the major reasons for the strong position of England from 1685-1763 lies in the supremacy of a parliament dominated by landowners and nobles of similar interests.  The 18c became known as the "Age of the Aristocracy".  Therefore, this supremacy of Parliament provided Britain with the kind of unity sought elsewhere through absolutism.

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Themes

This period saw the beginnings of two long-term conflicts--Britain and France over trade and overseas empires and Austria and Prussia over the leadership of Germany.

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France – Henry IV

Bourbon Dynasty to end War of 3 HenriesEdict of Nantes – religious tolerationCut privileges of Fr. nobility“Chicken in every pot” – well loved by citizensMurdered by catholic fanatic

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Cardinal Richelieu

Primary goal to strengthen French monarchy eliminated military/political rights of Huguenots used spies to uncover plots royal intendants to execute orders of gov increase taxes involved France in 30 Years War

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Cardinal Mazarin - Louis XIV

Put down the Fronde - revolts by nobilityDied when Louis XIV 23

Voltaire - period of 1661-1715 “Age of Louis XIV”

Sun King - source of light for all his people“I am the State”

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Administration & Gov

Large bureaucracy made up of lesser nobles and middle class

distracted the upper nobility with life at Versailles

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Religious Policy

“one King, one law, one faith”Edict of Fontainbleau - revoked Nantes

minority groups could lead to a divided nationSome 200,000 Huguenots flee France

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Financial Issues

Versailles, maintaing court, wars cost $Jean-Baptiste Colbert - controller of finances

mercantilism - regulate economy tax exemptions for industries built roads/canals to move goods overseas colonies – Quebec & Louisiana raised tariffs on imports

Problem - more Colbert brought in, the more Louis spent

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Wars of Louis XIV

1667 invades Spanish Neth. and Franche-Comte Triple Alliance stops (Dutch, English,Swedes)

1672 invades United Provinces Coalition of Brandenburg, Spain & HRE stop Louis France received Franche-Comte from Spain

War of League of Augsburg - east against HRE Treaty of Ryswick Louis keeps Strasbourg and part of

AlsaceWar of Spanish Succession - Spanish throne

left to grandson of Louis XIV balance of power rest of Europe moves against

France/Spain

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Wars continued

Peace of Utrecht 1713 & Rastatt 1714 Philip V Spanish ruler but Spain and France to be

separate Spanish Neth, Milan & Naples given to Austria Brandenburg-Prussia gained additional territories England gained Fr territories in New World

France left surrounded by enemies and bankrupt

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How absolute was Louis?

Adv: made France more powerful w/ improved military centralized Fr gov tamed the Fr aristocracy

Dis Adv: taxed the peasants created huge debt court at Versailles too removed from lives and

problems of common people

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Spain in Decline

Philip II - Left Spain BankruptPhilip III - weak rule allowed duke of Lerma to

run affairs – which he only helped his familyPhilip IV (1621-1665)

tried to centralize power and cut influence of Catholic Church

aristocracy too strong 30 Yrs War defeat @ Rocroi decline of silver from New World 1620s-40s killed

economy internal struggles - no real middle class

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German States

Peace of Westphalia - Germany independent states

By 17th c - 2 emerging empires Brandenburg-Prussia Austria

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Austria

Hapsburg power over HRE declined after 30 Years War

Turned attention to traditional Hapsburg lands of SE Europe

16th c wars of religion had added Bohemia and parts of NW Hungary to Haps land

Ferdinand II (1619-1637) crushed Protestantism in Bohemia – land to loyal Catholic aristocracy

Ferdinand III (1637-1657) permanent standing army

Leopold I (1658-1705) crushes Ottoman advance at Vienna 1687

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Austria continued

Treaty of Karlowitz added Hungary, Transylvania, Croatia, Slovenia to Austrian Empire (from Ottoman)

War of Spanish Succession - Austria gains Spanish Neth and Spanish influence in Italy: Milan, Mantua, Sardinia, Naples

Never became centralized absolutist state bc of various national groups but strong bond in support of House of Hapsburg and Catholic faith

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Brandenburg Prussia

1415 Hohenzollerns begin rule in Brandenburg

1600s acquire land in west Germany and East Prussia

Frederick William, the Great Elector(1640-1688) General War Commissariat (military run state) members of Commissariat - Prussian aristocrats,

JunkersFrederick makes deal with nobility

free hand in running gov for unlimited power over peasants

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Brandenburg Prussia continued

Frederick and Economy - mercantilist favored nobility at expense of middle class

Frederick’s son, Frederick III helps HRE in War of Spanish Succession - in return granted title of King of Prussia - King Frederick I (1689-1713)

Frederick William I (1713-1740) Increased army – 12 in pop yet 4th largest army Forced conscription - …”army that possesses a state”

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Russia

Ivan IV the Terrible 1533-1584 1st to use title tsar

Used cruelty and fear to crush boyars – nobility

Expanded east to include nearly a billion acres

Son too weak to rule – end of dynasty

Time of Troubles – famine and civil unrest

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Russia continued

1613 Zemsky Sober chose Michael Romanov Dynasty last until 1917

Peter the Great 1689-1725 Strong military (conscription of 25yr service) Table of Ranks – based on merit Military consumed 4/5 of revenue bad for taxed

peasants Mercantilist policies but had to resort to heavy taxation Tried to “westernize” – women benefited

Window to the West – Great Northern War against Sweden to gain port – St Petersburg capital - 1917

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Ottoman Empire

Never granted a seat at European tableOppressive yet tolerant

Christian slaves – raised Muslim and military training Opportunity to move up based on merit Janissary Corp becomes voluntary for Muslim or Christian

Millet System – religious communities granted autonomy for paying taxes to sultan

Suleiman the Magnificent – 16th century golden age of Ottomans – expansion and domination of trade in eastern Med.

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England

England moves from Divine Right to Constitutional Monarchy Response to Reformation – religious reasons Rising middle class – gentry w/ “Protestant work ethic”

House of Commons full of willing taxpayers that want influence

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James I

E-Liz cousin (son of Mary, queen of Scots) – STUART

Divine Right – not real friendly w/ ParliamentRefused Puritan request to “purify” church of

bishops

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Charles I

Goes back on Petition of Right 1628Kicks out Parliament 11yrs, taxes through

ship moneyMarried Louis 13 Catholic sis – Henrietta

MariaLAST STRAW – tried to force Anglican

practices on Scotland – Scotland mostly Presbyterian (Calvin brand)

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English Civil War

Has to call Parliament - needs army to put down Scottish revolt and growing rebellion in Ireland

Parliament won’t deal unless they get reform (Long Parliament 1640-1660)

Triennial Act – must call Parliament every 3 years Impeach Archbishop Laud

Charles starts arresting radical parliamentarians (roundheads)

ENGLISH CIVIL WAR

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Oliver Cromwell & Protectorate

Puritans forces of Parliament led by Oliver Cromwell capture Charles I 1646

Parliament Splits Cavaliers– loyal to king Roundheads – support Cromwell

Charles looks for help from Scotland, captured again 1648

Rump Parliament charges Charles w/ treason – off with his head

Cromwell – New Model Army military rule til death 1658

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Restoration of Charles II

Parliament reestablishes Anglican Church – laws forcing Catholics and Puritans – Test Act 1673

Charles tried to remain neutral as did not want his dad’s fate but sympathized w/ Catholics

Secret alliance with cousin Louis XIV

Parliament attempts to pass bill to block his bro James II (catholic) from throne – Whigs & Tories

Whigs – suspicious of Catholics want to keep James out Tories – loyalty to monarchial tradition and supported

James

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Glorious Revolution

Parliament was going to wait out James II until had a Catholic boy

Nobles invite William of Orange, husband of James’ daughter Mary

Bill of Rights 1689

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Dutch Republic

7 Northern Provinces broke from Spain late 16th c.

Rejected absolute rule in favor of republic Separate provinces with local assemblies (Estates) Wealthy merchant class made up Estates

Appointed an executive officer – stadholder Federal assembly – States General handled foreign

affairsHolland largest Navy and most wealthy

Amsterdam – financial center of 17th c Shipbuilding and trade brought in great wealth

Religious toleration attracted entrepreneurs

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European Culture

Many phases after RenaissanceReflected the tension and emotion of the

period Religious Wars, Counter Reformation,

Absolutism

Music - BachArt - Mannerism - BaroqueArchitecture - big palaces

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Mannerism - Italy 1520s/30s

Attempted to break down High Ren. principles of balance and harmony

Elongated figures - sense of suffering, strong emotion filled w/ anxiety and confusion

El Greco

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Baroque - End of 16th-17th c.

Emphasized emotion and power objects in motion diagonal movement

Contrasts of light - shadow

Italy/Spain - Supported Catholic Reformation attract viewers back to the Church

France - mix of religion and absolute powerProtestant Europe - secularized, genre focused

reflective of emerging middle class patronizing art

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Night Watch - Rembrandt

Men getting their rifles together Light/shadow, in motion Street in Amsterdam

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Ecstasy of St. Theresa - Bernini

Vision of Spanish mystic an angel pierced heart of St. T - transporting her to a state of religious ecstasy

Raw emotion, light/shadow Religious focus

Attract viewers in

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Las Meninas - Valazquez

Maids of honor that serve the princess King Philip and queen reflection in mirror

on back wall Power, absolutism

People in motion, not portrait Light/Shadow

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Raising of the Cross - Rubens

Religious in subject matter - Counter Reformation Emotional - draw viewer in

Light/Shadow Diagonal movement

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Entombment - Caravaggio

Jesus being taken from the cross - emotional Counter Reformation

Diagonal movement Light/Shadow

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Syndics of the Cloth Guild - Rembrandt

Group of Protestant merchants - secular theme, genre

Rise of middle class Light/shadow Dutch Masters Cigars

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Judith Slaying Holofernes - Gentileschi

Biblical story of Judith saving Israelites cutting off head of Holo - very graphic, emotional

Woman artist, woman hero - role of women stepping out in society more

Movement Light/shadow

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Architecture29

Versailles Schonbrunn

Stockholm

“builds his versailles, has his mistresses, and maintains his army” - Fred Great