Absolutism

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Absolutism Thesis Examples

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 * Absolutism -** **F**orm of government in which the ruler has complete control over the country and doesn't have to answer to anyone (Pope, royal council, etc.). Justified by rulers (and many citizens) by the doctrine of divine right. Cooperation of nobles was expected. Royal standing armies were commonplace. One step down from totalitarianism. They hired career politicians to help improve their cabinet. Ex. Cardinal Richelieu


 * Jean-Baptiste Colbert -** Applied mercantilism to France (export more than import) to improve economy. Increased taxes on farmers (not nobles) because more money was needed to support the enormous royal army of Louis XIV. Agricultural economy of France suffered because of heavy taxation, population decline, and poor harvests.


 * Jean Bodin-** was a French jurist, political philosopher and a member of the Parliament in Paris. Known for his theory of sovereignty.


 * balance of power**-the idea that not one country in Europe could be more powerful than another. If a country begins to become too powerful all the other countries will combine together to take down the country that is gaining power to knock them out of the top. (experienced this first when France was about to get control of Spain)


 * Thomas Hobbit, //Leviathan-//** work by Thomas Hobbes published in 1651 regarding the state of England's politics. Puts forth the belief that absolutism is the only way to keep society under control. It said the king had absolute power, but not divine right.


 * War of the Leaque of Augsburg- in 1689, king william of orange,hapsburgs, spain, sweden and 3/7 of the golden bull went to war against france.**

Court preacher to [|Louis XIV of France], Bossuet was a strong advocate of [|political absolutism] and the [|divine right of kings]. He argued that government was divine and that kings received their power from God. He was also an important courtier and politician.
 * Bishop Bossuet-**


 * War of Spanish Succession-** It was decided that Spain's king Charles II was incompetent and could not produce an heir, so France the Holy Roman Empire would divide the land of Spain upon his death. However, Charles named Louis XIV's grandson Philip king. The Dutch and English worried that this union would disrupt the balance of power in Europe, so they--along with the Austrians and the Prussians-- created the Grand Alliance to stop French expansion and power.

“**divine right” of kings -** Kings were "chosen by God" to rule and only had to listen to god. Kings had power and justification to do whatever they pleased, thus leading to the absolute reign of kings. Kings led without having to justify actions to the Church or parliamentary bodies.


 * Treaty of Utrecht: was signed in 1713, said that france and spain cant unite. consequences: creates a balance of power, completes the decline of spain,expands the british empire and ends french expansionist policy.**


 * First Estate-** members of the clergy-could not be taxed


 * Philip II** - Holy Roman Emporer for a time. Spanish Armada defeated in 1588. He ruled the 17 provinces from1556-1581. Also known as Philip the prudent, he ruled one of europe's largest empires. He is the son of Charles V. Under his rule, Spain reached the height of its influence and power, directing explorations all around the world and settling the colonization of territories in all the known continents.


 * Second Estate-** the nobility- some had tax exemptions, some gave up their titles in order to not be taxed.


 * Escorial A monastary that housed Jeromite Monks during the reign of Philip II of Spain. Used as his personal place of refelection and decision making center.**


 * Third Estate-** the peasants, merchants, and artisans- of course they bore the brunt of the taxation. A few were able to purchase examtions


 * “price revolution” The result of the population explosion in about 1500. The same amount of food for more people drove prices up faster than wages increased. This crisis was increased by the influx of presious metals from teh new world, resulting in an infaltionary crisis that made the price revolution very hard to bear for the poor and lower middle-classes. This price revolution resulted in a genreral decline in living standards for a majority of the european population.**


 * Henry IV (Henry of Navarre) (Henry the Great)** Beloved king of France; lowered taxes (but added more), and was able to control the nobles. Appointed Maximilian de Bethune, the Duke of Sully, as his chief administrator.


 * Spanish Armada -** (1588) Phillip II's attempt to conquer England. Huge fleet of massive ships were destroyed by quick, mobile british vessels and the fleet was decimated by bad weather. Marked the start of Spain's decline (empire had finnally suffered a large defeat). England was now established as a major power.


 * Bourbon dynasty -** A string of French rulers, beginning with Henry IV (Henry of Navarre). Dynasty would exist for about 150 years.


 * Treaty of the Pyrenees, 1659-** ended a war between French and Spanish. It was a peace treaty between Louis XIII and Philip IV.


 * Nobility of the sword** - Nobles whose families had ruled for many generations. Rulers often controlled the military or were in positions of great strength.


 * Baroque**- Style which emphasized the use of clear detail to depict various emotions and scenes. Started in Rome in the early 1600's, the style was encourage by the Catholic church and was often used to depict religious themes through painting, sculpture, and other artistic means. A few of the great baroque artists include: Caravaggio, Poussin, Vermeer, Maderno, Rembrandt, Gentileschi, Rubens, and Bernini.


 * Nobility of the robe** "New Nobles" who were of the middle class; they were appointed by the king, so they were extremely loyal to him. They were career politicians.


 * Bernini -** Full name: Gian Lorenzo Bernini. Italian artist (primarily sculpture and architecture). Had great ability to carve a dramatic moments in to marble. Highly skilled.


 * Duke of Sully: King Henry IV** - A devout protestant who was Henry IV's chief minister. Initiated a a quick recovery of the French economy by decreasing individual tax rates on the peasants, but increasing the expanse of taxes. He improved the French highway system, created a subsidized company for trading with Indies, reduced debt, increased the treasury, and created the //Paulette// which was a fee that nobles would have to pay to retain their tax exemption.


 * Versailles Palace -** Founded by Louis XIV of France (the Sun King). Originally built for Louis' lavish lifestyle, it was also used as a means for carrying out state policy. Limited power of nobles by making many of them reside in the palace and utilizing the court at Versailles, thus curbing many aristocratic offenses. Helped in formation of a centralized French state.
 * Cardinal Richelieu -**Assisted Catherine de Medici while she effectively ruled the French state, and ruled alone under the young king Louis XIII in ruling France (chief minister). Utilized policy of total subordination of all groups in the French monarchy and established an efficient admin. system to weaken the nobility. Furthered France's progression toward aristocratic rule. Set France up as an Absolutist nation. Hated the Huguenots' fortified cities and successfully ended their independence from the state.


 * // Politique- //** a group of people who found it more important to maintain a strong monarchy rather than to maintain a certain religion.


 * Winter Palace**- The main palace of the Russian monarchy. Aqua in color and designed by Bartolomeo Rastrelli. The Winter Palace served as the Place of the Russian court during the time of the monarchy. The Winter Palace was to Russia what Versailles was to France.


 * Intendant system- ** A system put in place by absolutist kings in which each local area is looked after by an intendant. The intendant is a member of the nobles of the robe and lived in an area different from the one in which he or she presides. With this policy, the king can ensure all localities are properly satisfying the necessary policies for the king, collecting taxes, helping to form a military, etc. With this system, the local nobles are undermined and the intendant lacks any conflict of interest.


 * Dutch Style -** More realistic and intimate than most baroque art. Portrait painting a common practice that utilized the dutch style


 * Peace of Alais-** Treaty Cardinal Richelieu made with Huguenot leaders that stated the Huguenots had no political rights.


 * Rembrandt-** A Dutch painter and etcher. Considered one of the greatest painters and in European art history and the most important in Dutch history. Known for self-portraits, portraits, and other works.


 * Louis XIV, “sun king”**-King of France from 1643-1715. Called sun king because scathing revolved around Louis, like the solar system revolves around the sun. His rule brought about the "Age of Louis XIV" or "Age of Magnificence" due to France's prosperity. As a child he received a practical education,preparing him for ruling. Louis manipulated the nobles in his court by convincing them they were sharing power with Louis when in reality they performed tasks for him only to be rewarded with spending minimal amounts of time with him. He was involved in every aspect of governing France and had absolute power due to no first minister or Estates-General meetings. Louis hated division so he revoked the Edict of Nantes.


 * French Classicism**-the art and literature of the age of Louis XIV. Artists and writers of the late seventieth century imitated he style and topics of classical antiquity. They had the qualities of balance, discipline, and restraint. Popular artists included Jean-Baptiste Lully who combined animation with restraint, Francois Couperin who played a mean harpsichord, and Marc-Antoine Charpentier who played great religious music. Moliere was a director, actor, stage manager, and a playwright, creating great satyrs on the follies of society. Jean Racine analyzed the power of love in tragic dramas.


 * “L’etat,C’est moi”** French for "the state, that's me!" Means that as the king, he rules all. Said by Louis XIV, proving his absolutism. He felt that he embodied the state in all he did.


 * Jean Baptiste Racine-** wrote plays based on tragedy of Greek and Roman legends. He analyzed the power of love and liked to focus on good vs evil.


 * Fronde** Civil wars against the government. Supporters were called //frondeurs.// They thought that there should not be taxation during times of peace and refused to pay.


 * Moliere-** French playwright for King Louis XIV. Wrote comedies as commentaries on French society. Most famous works include //Tartuffe//, a satire on religious hypocrisy, and //Les Femes Savanles// which mocked the fashionable pseudo-intelligence of the time.


 * Cardinal Mazarin-** took over control of France during the early stages of Louis XIV's rule. Led France to economic ruin and political instability.He lead the country into war with Spain, ended the war with the Peace of Westphalia (1648) and authorized new taxes to pay for the war after it was over. The people did not like this and revolted in the Fronde.


 * Corvee-** labor, often unpaid, that is required of people of lower social standing and imposed on them by their superiors (often an aristocrat or noble).


 * Edict of Fountain bleu-** issued June 1, 1540 in France declaring Protestantism the highest form of treason. Voided the earlier French traditions of religious tolerance.


 * Jansenists -** followers of the Christian theological movement (primarily in France). Movement emphasized original sin, human depravity, the necessity of divine grace, as well as predestination.


 * mercantillism**: a collection of governmental policies for the regulation of economic and commerical activities by and for the state.


 * bullionism**: Wealth of a nation is directly related to supply of gold and silver in that nation.