Age of Absolutism (1550-1800)

Age of Absolutism (1550-1800) ● The thirty years war ○ Fought between Protestants and Catholics in the Holy Roman Empire ● Louis XIV ○ Known as The Sun King ○ Ruled for 72 years ○ Ignored the French Parliament ○ Built the strongest military in Europe ○ Spent Lavishly, in arts and architecture ○ France became a hub for culture ○ Neglected the lower class ○ Revoked the Edict of Nantes ○ Wars made the country broke ○ Married Maria Theresa of Austria ● Absolutism in France ○ Louis XIV said that monarchy personified the state ○ Absolutism was created under Cardinal Richelieu who secularized France and was loyal to the French state ○ Richelieu gained power by alienating the nobles ○ The threat to the monarchy was nobles ○ Kept armies for the first time ○ Louis XIV built the Palace of Versailles as a testament to his power and used it to gain control of the nobility ● Palace of Versailles ○ Built by Louis XIV - visited daily ○ Nobility competed to perform tasks for the king to be under his belt and have a good reputation with him. Age of Absolutism (1550-1800) (continued) ● Absolutism in Eastern Europe ○ Peter I (Peter the Great) Russia ■ Modernized Russia through westernization ■ Taxed subjects heavily to pay for projects ■ Killed 1000 members of the Streltsy when they tried to depose him ● England in the 17th century ○ Constitutionalism ruled - no absolutism ○ England’s monarchs were held accountable to Parliament ○ Monarchs (England): ■ James I support absolute rule ■ Charles I fought with Parliament over money for his wars with Spain ■ Charles II learned a lesson from his ancestors - don't mess with Parliament ■ James II unpopular because open Catholicism turned into absolute rule ○ Monarchs (Spain): ■ Phillip II - ruled over the Netherlands (protestant) sent an armada to attack England but storm destroys ships - defeated ● Glorious Revolution ○ William of Orange, Dutch monarch, asked by the English to depose King James II ○ Bloodless coup ensued as James II fled England ○ Parliament now in charge ○ Bill of rights outline powers of Parliament ● Bill of Rights 1689 ○ Ruler can’t ■ Suspend Parliament law ■ Raise taxes w/o perm ■ Interfere with freedom of speech ■ Penalize a citizen who criticizes the king Age of Absolutism (1550-1800) (continued) ● Revolutions ○ The gap between church and science widened in the 1600s ○ 1633 - Galileo was tried before the church ● English Civil War ○ Queen Elizabeth had no children, so when she died the crown went to James I, a Stuart (Scottish) ○ Parliament was fighting with James so he would not gain more power ○ James asserted his authority over the gov - conflict with Parliament ○ Spent lavishly ○ Ended a war with Spain - England forced to pay reparations to Spain ○ Oliver Cromwell - led the Roundheads to victory, when the Royalists surrendered ○ Charles I is put on trial, and executed - shocked the country ● New Government (Aftermath of the war) ○ The commonwealth ■ Crushed opposition from Loyalists in Ireland and Scotland ■ Cromwell got rid of Parliament, placed England under a Puritan, military rule ■ When Cromwell died, the son took over, but couldn’t keep power, and England turns into a monarchy Age of Absolutism (1550-1800) (continued) ○ Treaties and Religions ■ There were three major religions ● Protestants - England and Prussia ● Catholics - France and Austria ● Eastern Orthodox Christianity - Russia ■ Alliances that were formed were to balance power in Europe, and no one country could surpass another, and conquer them ■ Alliances shifted depending on the goals of the leaders that were involved ■ People from different countries married each other (such as in the royal family) so that they would make a peace treaty, and not attack each other. This is what Prussia and France did. The two married at 14 and were used as a symbol of a peace treaty. Maria Theresa Married King Louis XIV to end the 30-year war.