Crisis and Absolutism

in Europe

Landscape with Merchants (1630), by Claude Lorrain

• Reformation created Opposites & Conflict– Protestants and Catholics battled for

territory & authority– No room for compromise

• “only one TRUE faith”– Compounded by Monarchies

• One Ruler promoting One Faith• Belief of Nobles?

I. Wars of Religion

• French Wars of Religion (1562-1598)– Monarchy, vast majority of subjects

were Catholic– Half of nobility were Huguenots

• French Protestants influenced by Calvin

– Peasants side with Huguenots. Why?

Saint Bartholomew’s Day Massacre(1630), by Francois Dubois

I. Wars of Religion

I. Wars of Religion• French Wars of Religion (cont.)

– After many battles, Huguenots win– Henry of Navarre

• Political leader of Huguenots• Takes throne as Henry IV• Converts to Catholicism, why?• Edict of Nantes (1598)

– Catholicism still official religion…– But Huguenots free to worship,

hold public office

Henry IV

I. Wars of Religion• Militant Spanish Catholicism

– Philip II, the “Most Catholic King”, wanted more control over his lands

• Used religion to do so• Resistance in Spanish Netherlands

– Calvinists destroy Catholic statues– William the Silent, prince of

Orange– 12yrs of war = Dutch independence

• Spain has large empire (where?) • But also very large debt

King Philip II of Spain

I. Wars of Religion• The England of Elizabeth

– Inherits throne from “Bloody” Mary– Repeals Catholic-Friendly laws– Sought to balance power of France

and Spain• If one seemed to be gaining power,

she favored the other– Led to war with Spain

• Spain wanted a Catholic England• Spanish Armada fails

Queen Elizabeth I of England

I. Wars of Religion• The Thirty Years War (1618-1648)

– Battle over religion, politics, territory– Begins in Holy Roman Empire

• Calvinists nobles (Protestants)– Ignored by Peace of Augsburg

• Hapsburg Emperors (Catholic)– France, Spain, others get involved

• Struggle for European dominance– Devastated German people, land– Peace of Westphalia (1648)

• All German states able to choose religion– France now dominant, end of H.R.E.Battle on the Charles Bridge (1648), Petri Krohn

II. Rise of Absolutism• Religious crisis creates need for

stability– Requires strong rulers that resist

change

• Absolutism– System where ruler has total power– “Who put this guy in charge?”

• Justification: Divine Right of Kings– King receives power from God– Responsible only to God

II. Rise of Absolutism• King Louis XIV of France

– Rise to power• 1643:Louis takes throne, age 13

– Cardinal Mazarin rules for him» Stops rebellion,

strengthens crown» Dies when Louis is 23

– Louis XIV takes complete control

– Builds myth of “Sun King”King Louis XIV, the “Sun King”

II. Rise of Absolutism• King Louis XIV of France (cont.)

– Palace at Versailles (VURH-sigh)• Personal household of King• Many nobles moved in as well

– Louis encouraged it. Why?• Place where powerful subjects

came to find favors, offices• Center of elite French culture

– Examples?The Palace at Versailles

II. Rise of Absolutism• King Louis XIV of France (cont.)

– Religious Policy• Goal: maintain religious harmony• Anti-Protestant policies

– Hoped to Convert Huguenots– Destruction of churches, schools– Huguenots flee

– Economy & War• Adhered to mercantilistic policies• Waged four wars for fame, land• On deathbed: Regretted war,

overspendingReception of Le Grand Condé at Versailles,

by Jean-Léon Gérôme (1878)

III. Changes in England• English Revolution

– Tudor Dynasty ends, enter James I• King of Scotland• Believed in Divine Right of Kings• Role of British Parliament?

– Roots from Magna Carta– Assumed King shares ruling power

• Puritans (English Calvinists)– Wanted less moderate Church of

England– Gentry, landowners, ParliamentKing James I of England and Scotland

III. Changes in England• English Revolution (cont.)

– Charles I• Supports Divine Right of Kings• Refuses power to Parliament• Imposes more religious ritual

– Many Puritans head to America• 1642: Civil War

– Cavaliers: support King Charles– Roundheads: back Parliament

» Led by Oliver CromwellOliver Cromwell

Charles I

III. Changes in England• English Revolution (cont.)

– Oliver Cromwell• Defeats, executes Charles I• Cleans house in Parliament

– Abolished monarchy, declared England a commonwealth

• Frustrated by Parliament, set up military dictatorship

– Restoration• Cromwell dies, monarchy returns• Charles II: Catholic sympathizer• James II: Devout Catholic. conflict?James II

Charles II

III. Changes in England• Glorious Revolution

– James II had 2 Protestant daughters• His successor would be Protestant• had son with 2nd wife, a Catholic

– William of Orange (Dutch)• Son-in-law of James II (Mary)• Invited by English nobles to invade• “bloodless” Glorious Revolution• William and Mary are monarchs

– Accepted a Bill of Rights from Parliament

» Legitimized role of Parliament» Granted individual rights» No Catholic could be monarch

– Solidified Constitutional MonarchyWilliam and Mary

IV. Eastern Absolutism• 2 powerful German states emerge• Prussia

– Fredrick William the Great Elector• Small, open land, no natural defense• Builds 4th largest army in Europe• Creates General War Commissariat

– Levy taxes, oversees army– Runs civil services– Bureaucracy = chief tool for rule

• Son becomes King Frederick IThe Prussian State & Frederick William, the Great Elector

IV. Eastern Absolutism• Austria

– Hapsburg clan• No longer Emperors (H.R.E)• Expand south & east (defeat Turks)• Gain large territory, but never

becomes absolutist state…– Many different national groups– Lack of common identity,

culture

Seal of the Hapsburgs

IV. Eastern Absolutism• Absolutist Russia

– Continual expansion (p. 446)– Ivan IV (“Ivan the Terrible”)

• First czar, Russian for “Caesar”• Crushed power of Boyars (nobles)

– “Time of Troubles” = anarchy– Peter the Great, 1689

• Claims Divine Right of Kings• Determined to Westernize

– Updates Army, founds Navy– St. Petersburg = window to WestRussian Expansion, St. Petersburg, and Peter the

Great

IV. Eastern Absolutism• Effects of Enlightenment in

Eastern Europe– Prussia

• Frederick I– Strong bureaucracy to serve King– Strong state through strong army

• Frederick II (Frederick the Great)– Big army to watch over bureaucrats– Abolished torture– Limited free speech & religion– Kept rigid class system, serfdom

William I and William the Great of Prussia

IV. Eastern Absolutism• Enlightenment in E.Europe (cont)

– Austria• Maria Theresa (Empress in 1740)

– Tried to centralize Austrian Empire– Give more power to state– ease conditions of serfs

• Joseph II, Maria’s son– Abolished serfdom, death penalty– Absolute religious toleration– Failure, alienates those he tried to

help (too much too soon)Maria Theresa and Joseph II of Austria

IV. Eastern Absolutism• Enlightenment in E.Europe (cont)

– Russia• Catherine the Great (1762-1796)

– Open to Enlightenment ideas of reform

– But does nothing, favors nobility over peasants

– Absolutist ideals help gain territory to the south and east

Catherine the Great of Russia