Absolutism in EuropeAbsolutism in Europe

What is Absolutism?What is Absolutism? Sovereign authority Sovereign authority

(powers) of state in (powers) of state in hands of king who hands of king who ruled by divine rightruled by divine right• Sovereign authority Sovereign authority

came from Godcame from God Make lawsMake laws TaxingTaxing Administer justiceAdminister justice Determine foreign policyDetermine foreign policy Control state bureaucracyControl state bureaucracy

• Divine right = ruler’s Divine right = ruler’s power derived from Godpower derived from God

Absolutism in FranceAbsolutism in France

King received their King received their power from God, so power from God, so their authority was their authority was absolute (total)absolute (total)• Not answerable to Not answerable to

parliamentparliament• Not answerable to peopleNot answerable to people• Only answerable to GODOnly answerable to GOD

But a king’s But a king’s powerpower was was not absolute (law of not absolute (law of God)God)

Absolutism in RussiaAbsolutism in Russia Mongolian “Golden Mongolian “Golden

Horde” controlled Russia, Horde” controlled Russia, 1240-15021240-1502• Decentralized governance Decentralized governance

Native Russians ruled in name Native Russians ruled in name of Khanof Khan

Collected taxes, tribute for Collected taxes, tribute for MongolsMongols

• Rule isolated RussiaRule isolated Russia Princes of Muscovy Princes of Muscovy

became most powerful became most powerful Russian princesRussian princes

Rulers challenged by Rulers challenged by boyars (landed nobility)boyars (landed nobility)

The Golden Horde, c. 1400

Serai - Capitol

France’s MonarchyFrance’s Monarchy

Standard of the Royal Family, the BourbonsStandard of the Royal Family, the Bourbons

BackgroundBackground

Henry IV died, 1610Henry IV died, 1610• First king of Bourbon First king of Bourbon

Dynasty Dynasty • Son, Louis, becomes Son, Louis, becomes

king as Louis XIIIking as Louis XIII Regent = Cardinal Regent = Cardinal

RichelieuRichelieu• Moved to increase Moved to increase

power of Bourbonspower of Bourbons

Cardinal Richelieu

Increasing Power of the French Increasing Power of the French ThroneThrone

HuguenotsHuguenots• Had est. their own cities, allied Had est. their own cities, allied

with Protestant nobleswith Protestant nobles• Rebelled against Louis XIII (est. Rebelled against Louis XIII (est.

state within state)state within state)• Richelieu & town wallsRichelieu & town walls

NobilityNobility• Destroyed castles of nobles Destroyed castles of nobles

not approved by kingnot approved by king• Increased taxesIncreased taxes

Hapsburgs (Spain & Austria)Hapsburgs (Spain & Austria)• Involved France in Thirty Years Involved France in Thirty Years

WarWar

Louis XIVLouis XIV Louis XIII died in 1643 – Louis XIII died in 1643 –

succeeded by son, Louis succeeded by son, Louis XIV (5 yrs)XIV (5 yrs)

• Mom = regentMom = regent Cardinal Mazarin succeeds Cardinal Mazarin succeeds

as Chief Advisor (gambler as Chief Advisor (gambler story)story)

Louis took power when Louis took power when Mazarin died, in 1661Mazarin died, in 1661

Called self “The Sun King”Called self “The Sun King” Moved to gain total power Moved to gain total power

for himselffor himself

Louis XIV: Limiting Power of Louis XIV: Limiting Power of OthersOthers

NoblesNobles• Louis excluded nobles Louis excluded nobles

from his councilsfrom his councils• Louix increased powers of Louix increased powers of

bureaucracy (bureaucracy (intendantsintendants))• Palace of Palace of Versailles as as

symbol of his power symbol of his power (nobles required to move)(nobles required to move)

Jean Baptiste ColbertJean Baptiste Colbert• Minister of FinanceMinister of Finance• Mercantilist (colonies, Mercantilist (colonies,

French self sufficiency)French self sufficiency)

JeanBaptisteColbert

Palace of VersaillesPalace of Versailles

Louis XIV: The War YearsLouis XIV: The War Years Overriding concern Overriding concern

was to bring glory was to bring glory to France, himselfto France, himself

• ““I AM the state”I AM the state”• Sought to protect NE Sought to protect NE

border of France border of France against Hapsburgs, against Hapsburgs, ProtestantsProtestants

Successful warsSuccessful wars• Fought two wars, Fought two wars,

against Spanish against Spanish Netherlands and Netherlands and Dutch Netherlands Dutch Netherlands to straighten borderto straighten border

Louis XIV: The War YearsLouis XIV: The War Years 1689 – League of 1689 – League of

AugsburgAugsburg• Alliance vs. France Alliance vs. France

concerned w/ Louis concerned w/ Louis XIV’s rise to powerXIV’s rise to power

• Fear of Louis XIV; tried Fear of Louis XIV; tried to maintain balance of to maintain balance of powerpower

Main playersMain players• Britain, Holland, Sweden Britain, Holland, Sweden

Austria & SpainAustria & Spain France weakened by France weakened by

bad harvest, many bad harvest, many warswars

(From L: James II, William III, Louis XIV, Leopold I)

Louis XIV: The War YearsLouis XIV: The War Years 1701 - Louis XIV’s 1701 - Louis XIV’s

grandson, Philip, grandson, Philip, became King of Spainbecame King of Spain

• Phil could have unified Spain, Phil could have unified Spain, France under one crownFrance under one crown

• Rest of Europe panickedRest of Europe panicked War of the Spanish War of the Spanish

Succession (1701-1714)Succession (1701-1714)• French, Spanish vs. England, French, Spanish vs. England,

Austria, Dutch, PortugalAustria, Dutch, Portugal• Treaty of Utrecht: ended Treaty of Utrecht: ended

war, Phil kept throne, but no war, Phil kept throne, but no unifying France, Spainunifying France, Spain

Big winner = Britain (got Big winner = Britain (got French colonies, trade)French colonies, trade)

Philip V, King of SpainAnd grandson of Louis XIV

Czars of RussiaCzars of Russia

Coat of Arms of RomanovsCoat of Arms of Romanovs

Ivan “the Terrible”Ivan “the Terrible” BackgroundBackground

• Came to power in 1533, Came to power in 1533, at age 3 at age 3

• Mom was regentMom was regent• Had problems with Had problems with

Boyars (nobles became Boyars (nobles became regents at age 8)regents at age 8)

• Seized power at age 16 Seized power at age 16 and called self Czar, and called self Czar, which means “Caesar” which means “Caesar” (reference?)(reference?)

• Married Anastasia Married Anastasia RomanovRomanov

Boyar, boyarina

Ivan IV,The Terrible

Ivan “the Terrible”: The Good Ivan “the Terrible”: The Good YearsYears

• Won victories against the Mongols• Defeated other Russian states• Added land to Muscovy• Restricted movement of peasants (becoming serfs)

Ivan “the Terrible”: The Bad PeriodIvan “the Terrible”: The Bad Period Bad Period (1560-1584)Bad Period (1560-1584)

• Anastasia died under Anastasia died under mysterious circumstancesmysterious circumstances

Mercury poisoning!Mercury poisoning!

• Ivan resigned as CzarIvan resigned as Czar Some boyars had betrayed Some boyars had betrayed

Ivan in a warIvan in a war Boyars, church, knew Boyars, church, knew

Muscovy would collapse Muscovy would collapse without Ivanwithout Ivan

Begged him to returnBegged him to return

• Ivan agreed to return, Ivan agreed to return, with some conditions…with some conditions…

Death of Anastasia

Ivan the Great: The Bad PeriodIvan the Great: The Bad Period Formed Formed OprichninaOprichnina

• ““Separate land”Separate land”• Best parts of Muscovy were Best parts of Muscovy were

put under Ivan’s direct put under Ivan’s direct controlcontrol

Created Created oprichnikioprichniki• Ivan’s secret policeIvan’s secret police• Tortured, murdered Tortured, murdered

enemies of Ivan (esp. enemies of Ivan (esp. boyars)boyars)

Seized lands and gave to Seized lands and gave to loyal boyarsloyal boyars

1581 – killed own son, 1581 – killed own son, Ivan, in an argumentIvan, in an argument

Modern interpretation of symbol of Oprichniki

Time of Troubles (1584-1613)Time of Troubles (1584-1613) Ivan died, 1584; weak Ivan died, 1584; weak

successor died in 1598 successor died in 1598 without heirwithout heir

No strong leader No strong leader among boyars = civil among boyars = civil warwar• Rise of “false Dmitris” Rise of “false Dmitris”

(claimed to be son of (claimed to be son of Ivan)Ivan)

1613 – election of 1613 – election of Romanov as CzarRomanov as Czar

Election of Michael Romanov

Let’s jump forward 80 Let’s jump forward 80 years or so…….years or so…….

Peter the Great (1672-1725)Peter the Great (1672-1725) Became co-tsar in Became co-tsar in

1682, with brother, 1682, with brother, Ivan Ivan • Regent = aunt SophiaRegent = aunt Sophia• 1689: wrestled control 1689: wrestled control

from Sophia, but from Sophia, but Peter’s mom stepped Peter’s mom stepped in as Regentin as Regent

• 1694: Mom died1694: Mom died• 1696: sole Tsar w/ 1696: sole Tsar w/

death of Ivandeath of IvanYoung Peter in full regalia

Russia vs. Europe, in 1700Russia vs. Europe, in 1700 Serfs & boyarsSerfs & boyars

• Serfs = peasants tied Serfs = peasants tied to landto land

• What was happening What was happening in Europe? Rise of in Europe? Rise of middle class!middle class!

Religion Religion isolated isolated RussiaRussia• Russian OrthodoxRussian Orthodox• Focused on Moscow, Focused on Moscow,

not Romenot Rome

Russia vs. Europe, in 1700Russia vs. Europe, in 1700 Mongol rule through Mongol rule through

Golden Horde Golden Horde isolatedisolated Russia from Russia from Renaissance, Age of Renaissance, Age of ExplorationExploration

Geography of Russia Geography of Russia isolatedisolated it from rest of it from rest of worldworld• Sheer size of countrySheer size of country• Lack of warm water ports Lack of warm water ports

= wars vs. Swedes and = wars vs. Swedes and OttomansOttomans

Peter the GreatPeter the Great ““The Great Embassy” The Great Embassy”

(1697-98)(1697-98)• Peter visited the West to Peter visited the West to

build alliance vs. Turksbuild alliance vs. Turks• Also to learn Western Also to learn Western

customscustoms• Learned techniques of Learned techniques of

building / manufacturingbuilding / manufacturing• Tried to keep identity Tried to keep identity

secret, but…secret, but…• Goal was to westernize Goal was to westernize

Russia (eventual military, Russia (eventual military, commercial competition w/ commercial competition w/ West)West)

Statue of Peter working as Shipwright in Holland

Peter the GreatPeter the Great Peter as Absolute Peter as Absolute

MonarchMonarch• Eastern Orthodox Church Eastern Orthodox Church

brought under state brought under state controlcontrol

• Imposed high taxes on Imposed high taxes on peasants to pay for peasants to pay for westernizationwesternization

• Increased size of army and Increased size of army and trained it in modern trained it in modern European styleEuropean style

• Reduced power of boyars Reduced power of boyars (sound familiar?)(sound familiar?)

Peter the GreatPeter the Great

Westernization of RussiaWesternization of Russia• Introduced potatoIntroduced potato• Established “Table of Established “Table of

Ranks”Ranks” Bureaucracy based on Bureaucracy based on

merit, not birthmerit, not birth Lessened boyars’ authority, Lessened boyars’ authority,

controlcontrol

• Introduced western Introduced western fashionfashion

Established “beard tax”Established “beard tax” Ordered boyars to dress in Ordered boyars to dress in

western fashion western fashion Peter cutting off boyar’s beard

Peter the GreatPeter the Great Built new capitalBuilt new capital

• Old capital, Moscow, was Old capital, Moscow, was landlockedlandlocked

• Peter wanted “Window to Peter wanted “Window to the West” , a port city, as the West” , a port city, as capitalcapital

• Fought Sweden to gain a Fought Sweden to gain a warm water portwarm water port

• 1703: began construction 1703: began construction of St. Petersburg of St. Petersburg

25-100k serfs died building 25-100k serfs died building citycity

When completed, Peter When completed, Peter ordered boyars from Moscow ordered boyars from Moscow to move to new capitalto move to new capital

Peter the Great’s LegacyPeter the Great’s Legacy Died in 1725 w/ no kids; Died in 1725 w/ no kids;

wife became Empress wife became Empress (set precedent)(set precedent)

First Autocrat of RussiaFirst Autocrat of Russia• Autocrat = one who rules Autocrat = one who rules

with unlimited authority, with unlimited authority, powerpower

• Took absolutism to its Took absolutism to its logical conclusionlogical conclusion

Russian tsar became Russian tsar became most powerful monarch most powerful monarch in Europe, until 1906in Europe, until 1906