Monarchs of Europe

I. FRANCE

• Henry IV – Ushered in the “House of Bourbons” – Issued the Edict of Nantes

• Protected freedom of religion

– Could not solve tax problem– Murdered in 1610

• Cardinal Richelieu– Chief minister under Louis XIII– Worked to reduce strength of nobles and to

reform the economy

• The Thirty Years’ War– Protestant rebellion against Holy Roman

Empire– Ended with Treaty of Westphalia in 1648

• Gave independence to Netherlands, Germany, and Switzerland

• Overall it weakened the Holy Roman Empire

The Sun King

• Louis XIV became king of France– 72 years reign– Ruled during French Exploration of New World– Believed in divine right of king

• Said, “I am the state”

• Versailles– Expense of palace strained the French economy

• Domestic and economic policies– Absolute power for king– Reformed tax system– Leading naval power

• Louis XIV’s legacy– France became a leading European power

• Caused destruction

• Loss of life and resources

• Loss of territory

II. RUSSIA

• Isolation– Asian influence (Mongols)– Religious differences

• Eastern Orthodox vs. Roman Catholic or Protestantism

– Geographically separated from Europe– Michael Romanov united Russia

Peter the Great

• Westernizing Russia– Improved training and weaponry– Western architecture – Modernization in society

Catherine the Great

• Catherine’s policies– Domestic policies were meaningless or harmful to most

Russians

– Foreign policies won new territory and extended the Russian empire

• Poland– Russia split Poland with Prussia and Austria

• Expansion eastward– Siberia and Alaska

III. CENTRAL EUROPE

• Habsburgs– Maria Theresa

• Pragmatic Sanction allowed her to inherit all Habsburg lands

• Frederick William I– Sought to make Prussia a great power– Efficient system of government

• Moved away from French influence

• Cut lavish spending

• Frederick the Great– Highly intelligent– Expanded territory and prestige

Conflict Between Prussia and Austria

• The Diplomatic Revolution– Reversal of alliances resulted in France and Austria

opposing Prussia and Great Britain

• The Seven Years’ War – 1756 to 1763– Began in North America as the French and Indian War

• The years of peace– European powers reluctant to fight again

– Rebuilt and strengthened kingdoms at home

IV. ENGLAND

• House of Tudor– Henry VII was the first Tudor to rule– Henry VIII followed and established a new

religion• Anglican Church

– Married 6 times, had 3 children

• Edward VI– Youngest of Henry’s offspring, but only male heir– Took power at age of 9– Though young, was responsible for many reforms

in the Anglican Church – Chronic health problems, fell ill & died at 15– Named his Protestant cousin, Jane Grey, as his

successor

• Mary I– Eldest of Henry VIII’s children– Daughter of Catherine of Aragon, Henry’s 1st wife

• Spanish princess, devout Catholic– Had Jane Grey beheaded & claimed power– Mary I married Philip II of Spain– Persecuted Protestant clergy– Failed because persecutions were too extreme– “Bloody Mary”

Elizabeth I• Elizabeth and Mary Queen of Scots

– Mary plotted to kill Elizabeth• Catholics again attempting to end Anglican rule

– Elizabeth had Mary beheaded

• The Spanish Armada– English ships defeated “Invincible Armada”– English had smaller faster ships

• Religious problems – Puritans wanted to rid church of all Catholic practices– Tudors persecuted non-Anglicans

• Relations with Parliament– Parliament challenged royal power– Elizabeth managed them skillfully

English Parliament (congress)

• House of Lords– Made up of nobles and

clergy

– Born into position

• House of Commons– Made up of gentry and

burgesses

– Gentry were landowners with no formal titles

– Burgesses were merchants and professional people

James I

• Son of Mary Queen of Scots (Stuart Family)– Ruled England and Scotland

• Strong supporter of Anglican Church

• King James Version of Bible• Lacked economic and

diplomatic skill• Believed in divine right of

kings, did not like sharing power with Parliament