AC - Absolutist Approaches to Power (Lesson)
Absolutist Approaches to Power
Absolutist regimes not only consolidated political power from 1450 – 1648, but they also helped to organize European societies. Holding absolute power made the ruler sovereign over his kingdom, giving him or her the power to control foreign policy, taxes, lawmaking, and other administrative matters. Many of the absolute leaders subscribed to the theory of divine right which meant that they were chosen by God to rule and their power was absolute. Absolutism did not look the same in all European countries but they all shared some similar attributes.
The Philips of Spain
When Spain began exploring and colonizing the New World, it became a massive empire with an extremely large population. It also became incredibly wealthy as they brought back silver, other precious metals, and goods for trade. Unfortunately, the massive influx of silver caused inflation in Spain, coupled with the excessive spending of Philip II, Philip III, and Philip IV, caused Spain to be bankrupt by the beginning 17th century. The Catholic Church also benefited from the wealth of Spain but appearances were not reality. Spain was broke with corrupt administrators. By the time Philip III became king in 1598, the government was in poor shape with a weak military, inefficient government, and weak trading relationships. The nobles lived a grand life while the peasants suffered.
With the reign of Philip IV, efforts were made to revive Spain’s economy. Reforms were passed with would take power and money away from the nobility and give power back to Philip but this wasn’t successful because the nobility was too strong. They did not want to give up the luxurious life they already had. This resistance by the nobles along with the constant warfare that Spain was involved in never allowed Spain to return to its glory days from before.
While the Philips may have had varying degrees of absolute control over Spain, their practice of allowing aristocrats to accumulate power and wealth backfired on them as they were not able to control the nobility’s participation in governance.
Of Kings and Men: Peter the Great
Peter the Great
- Was 9 when chosen as Czar
- In early life, he witnessed the massacre of his family by soldiers in Moscow
- Resolved to leave the capital
- Was over 6 ft tall (considered a giant)
- Had only son Alexis imprisoned and refused to attend the funeral once Alexis died
In 1692, he moves to St Petersburg (which had been built on a swamp by forced peasant labor).
Early in his military career he suffered a defeat by the Swedes, which convinced him of the need to bring Western advances to Russia.
- Disguised himself and went incognito throughout England, France, & Netherlands
- Brought back the court system
- Academy of Sciences (1725)
- Russian Newspaper
- Brings back Italian artists, Scandinavian army officers, German engineers, Dutch shipbuilders and has all of these teach the Russians how to do the various tasks. . . eventually the Russians no longer need the outsiders
- Forced all to westernize with him: had guards stand outside city walls, cut off long beards, cut long coats
Ruling
- Ignored the Duma (Russian Parliament)
- Created a large parliament based on the Prussian model instead
- Created ministries by department and area
Laid foundation for 2 class society
- All peasants are on 1 level (poll tax, conscription, forced public works)
- Everyone else has a life of privilege
Although Peter the Great is credited with westernizing the Russian state and society as well as transforming political, religious, and cultural institutions, Catherine the Great continued his work. Catherine, the Prussian princess who was the Queen Consort to Peter III of Russia, overthrew her husband to become the sole ruler and Empress of Russia in 1762. Catherine was inspired by Enlightenment thinkers and made the following changes to Russia:
Political
- Extended the boundaries of Russia to include present day Ukraine, both militarily and through diplomacy.
- Negotiated trade deals and an alliance with Great Britain but was always wary of British power.
- Helped carry out the partition of Poland.
- Issued codes.
Economic
- Issued the first paper money in Russia.
- Encouraged immigration to benefit business.
Social
- Established hospitals and collected health information.
- Was inoculated for smallpox.
- Gave some rights to the serfs including the right to file complaints against their lords but serfs were still oppressed.
Arts and Culture
- Recommended schools to educate non-serfs between 5-18.
- Sponsored art such as paintings, sculptures, and writing.
- Introduced the Chinese style of art and architecture to Russia.
- Worked with intellectuals such as Voltaire and Diderot.
- Patron of opera.
Religion
- Russian Orthodox, nationalized the churches
- Less religious power.
Of Kings and Men: Louis XIV.
In 1643, Louis XIII dies. His son, Louis XIV is only 5. Anne of Austria, Louis XIV's mother, takes control and places all power in the hands of the Italian Cardinal Mazarin. Mazarin used his power only to amass great personal fortune. In 1648, Mazarin determines he needs more money and begins withholding the salaries of officials for 4 years. Officials respond by drawing up a charter of demands:
- No new offices created.
- Power to approve taxes.
- Habeas corpus law.
Mazarin responds by arresting Parisian Parliament leaders, creating an uprising, the Fronde, and he and the royal family flee. Chaos ensues. The Fronde (1648-1653) never caused serious harm because of the great centralization of power that had occurred under Richelieu. It also never raised issues peasants would unite under, instead it remained an upper-class revolt. Mazarin took advantage of this weakness and began to assert the authority of the king. The regency was declared to be over and Louis XIV was seen as fit to rule, though he is only 14. By 23, he assumes full control of the government and does not name a chief minister of state.
Louis XIV's Vision of Absolutism:
- Louis XIV created the court at Versailles in 1680, this is part of his overall plan to create a grand image.
- Power came from unlimited authority.
- Divine right (anointed with holy oil at his coronation).
- Seen as God's representative on earth.
- Treason seen as blasphemy.
- Religious Unity.
- "I am the state"/"l'etat, c'est moi."
The reality is he worked with the nobles to maintain order. He made certain they benefited from his increase in authority and maintained their local influence, but made certain that it was dependent upon his support. Religious unity was central to his philosophy that he was chosen by God to rule as all must believe in the same god for this to be as powerful as he wished. Louis revokes the Edict of Nantes and expels Jews and Muslims. This results in the loss of the talented middle class as the Huguenots go to other nations that offer religious toleration.
Primary Source Practice: Examine the Edict of Fontainebleau.
Links to an external site. Think about how this document helps solidify the power of the monarch and his control over the religious life of his subjects.
Louis was a patron of the arts and thus the arts flourished at Versailles. Moliere was the official playwright, yet Louis bans the play "Tartuffe" due to its excessive mocking of religious devoutness. The play was reworked for five years before it was performed. France also became the epicenter of culture during this time and the French language became the language of business and politics throughout all of Europe.
Louis XIV was a gifted administrator:
- The French state had control over armed forces, formulation and execution of laws, and collection and expenditure of taxes.
- Created training programs.
- Instituted use of experts.
Louis was king in council (administrator) and king in court (cultivator of arts). He avoided sacrificing affairs of the state for royal pomp. All government policies and courtliness were an effort in state building.
His advisors
Jean Baptiste Colbert:
He was a finance wizard who believed mercantilism was key to the state, and that government should place priority on increasing wealth. Following mercantilist policies, all resources should be put into the service of the state, and the state's wealth is measured by its ability bring in more money than it spends. To that end Colbert:
- Created national industries.
- Regulated imports and exports.
- Adjusted internal tariffs.
- Improved infrastructure.
- Increased the taille (land tax).
Marquis de Louvois:
He believed the army should be a foundation of power and that resources should be devoted to strengthening borders and the army.
- Constructed military academies.
- Built barracks.
- Created drilling grounds for practicing maneuvers.
Louis' goals were to expand France's frontiers and assert superiority over other European states. Louis relied on Colbert until a war with the Dutch (over maritime trade) was a bust. Then he began to lean on Louvois to expand the empire.
War of Devolution
Louis' wife Marie-Therese was the daughter of Philip II. When Philip dies, he left all of his lands to his son Charles II. Louis argued that the lands should have devolved to the children of the first marriage rather than the second, thus Marie-Therese held a higher claim than Charles II. Louis moves to invade the Spanish Belgian provinces, but England, Sweden and the United Provinces ally to stop him. Louis has no choice but to seek peace and signs the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle. Louis attempts a second invasion, but he is easily fought off by William of Orange.
Put down your Weapon
As the absolutist leaders rose and strengthened their control over European countries, the possibility of war to maintain that power as well as help the country grow and prosper was a constant threat. During the period of 1648 to 1815, European society was fortunate to have new advances in military technology. This new technology, such as muskets and mobile cannons, is even more deadly. Militaries of the time also used infantry more than the naval resources of earlier centuries as armies could move quickly and across land. However, all of these advancements required more money than ever before the price was astounding, Absolute leaders had to increase taxation and support larger bureaucracies to keep up with the needs of the military. This created a situation where countries who could afford to put out the necessary funds to maintain large standing armies with the latest in weaponry and technology became more powerful, albeit poorer, while small countries who didn’t have sufficient resources couldn’t establish a sustainable military environment.
In your notes, respond to the following.
- Create a chart of the Absolute Rulers of Europe including Louis XIV, Maria Theresa, Peter the Great, & Philip II. Please include countries ruled, years ruled, accomplishments, wars, and areas in which they struggled.
- How were they similar? How were they different?
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