Absolutism refers to a time when kings would rule with absolute power. They controlled all the policies of the kingdom. This system was widely accepted during the 16th and 17th century which followed a time of long wars. The people were willing to give up certain freedoms to bring peace and unite the kingdom in which they lived. Absolute monarchies were effective in uniting and expanding their kingdoms, establishing and maintaining huge armies, gathering great wealth for a time. However, maintaining these accomplishments would prove to be almost impossible. Just as before absolutism, religion would bring it all crashing down. To their detriment, absolute monarchies turned their attention to spreading, defending and controlling their kingdoms under their chosen religion.
The Hapsburg Monarchies of Spain, which was well established before the age of absolutism, was the most powerful royal families during the age of absolutism. It was Phillip II, who ascended the throne in 1556, and effectivity established an absolute monarchy. King Phillip
II had five political agendas during his reign. He wanted to create wealth for Spain and himself, create a powerful Spanish military, expand Spain’s boarders and influence, spread Catholicism throughout Europe and finally make Spain the most powerful country in Europe. King Phillip II was able to achieve the first three of his agenda and was well on his way to achieving the fifth, however the fourth agenda, spread Catholicism throughout
The honor and faith the people had for the rulers was another key factor that leads to the success of absolutism. Without their faith, many of the accomplishments of these monarchs would never have been
In addition, he increased his army to gain more territory. Peter the Great centralized his power through fear of the people, built up his army from nothing, and what also made him an absolute monarch was he did not share his power with anyone at all. Louis XIV is the best example of an absolute monarch because he had all four characteristics. He did not share his power with anyone or any organization. He limited the power of his nobles and princes by having them live in his palace where their power would have been void.
Louis XIV, as mentioned above, wanted to control his people’s religion, mainly because he hoped it would help him become a more powerful king. Peter the Great wanted to control his son, trying to force him to share his own opinions and values. Neither Louis XIV not Peter the Great was entirely successful in their plans to increase their power. When France lost many of the Huguenots due to persecution, Louis XIV lost some of his best subjects, resulting in a worse financial condition for his country. Peter the Great was certainly not successful in convincing Aleksei to study war, or to follow him in any other way.
The United States Supreme Court has made many controversial rulings throughout the many years since it was established. These cases have been decided by a very close vote. Each one shaping the structure and jurisdictions of the government. Some strengthened the powers of government and some gave more rights to the individual. They will forever effect and influence the future of America.
Being an absolute ruler was beyond any other ruler and had no limitations to what
Differences in religion and beliefs could be witnessed across Europe. For example, the Spanish were Catholics, where most of the northern countries were Protestant, and between them was the Holy Roman Empire. This was a place of conflict due to it containing both Protestant and Catholic kingdoms (Source 1). One important political event which occurred was the creation of the Church of England. King Henry VIII removed Catholic church power and introduced such bills as the Submission of the Clergy in 1532 and Act of Supremacy in 1534.
The Age of Absolutism is defined as a time period in Europe in which monarchs gained all of the power and wealth over the state for themselves, expanding the idea of single rule. The Enlightenment, on the other hand, is defined as a movement during the 18th century that rejected traditional social, religious, and political ideas, and introduced a desire to construct governments free of tyranny (or single rule). Document 3, a primary source written by King Louis XIV of France in 1660, is describing the idea of monarchy stating,“ The more you grant . . . [to the assembled people], the more it claims . . . The interest of the state must come first” (Document 3).
Also, during this time period, Frederick William I transformed Prussia into a military state. To become an absolute ruler, Peter the Great made many reforms throughout Russia. However, all these absolute leaders had the same goal. Even though they reigned over different countries, they all strengthened their armies, raised taxes, and unified religion. One thing that all absolute rulers did was increase the strength of their army.
Spain’s empire was vast and held possessions in Europe, the Americas, Asia, and Africa for centuries. Even though the Spanish Empire lasted for many years, there are some important characteristics that defined it; I will name five characteristics that defined the Spanish Empire and what it was like to live there are, these include: the emphasis on religion that the Spanish crowns placed, the incorporation of other races as Spanish subjects, the opportunities for social mobility presented for some despite social stigma, the Hapsburgs’ soft politics and the changes brought by the Bourbons’ ascent to power, and the motives for Spanish Independence. To begin, the Spanish Empire placed a great importance on religion as seen through the creation of the Inquisition, whose primary purpose was to defend the Catholic faith, and further demonstrated by the empire’s justifications for their expansionist ideas. To illustrate, a Needlemaker in Tarragona, Spain was accused by his wife of being a Lutheran since he did not attend mass, cursed God and the church, among other things. Consequently, he had to present himself before the Inquisition, in order to get acquitted or receive an punishment.
Louis XIV treated the people of France unfairly and he didn’t seem to care about their well-being. Louis XIV suppressed the Catholic church, and Nobles. He made the Nobles wait on him. Louis XIV weakened the power of the nobles and excluded them from his councils. This supports my thesis that Louis XIV was the best example of an absolute ruler because this shows he truly only cared about himself and he made sure that he had all of the power, by weakening the power of all of the nobles.
Absolute monarchies had all the power in Europe. Their kingdoms were powerful and accomplished. Although absolute monarchies empowered and enriched their kingdoms, they were still largely detrimental because of King Louis XIV of France, debt, Frederick the Great’s seizure of Silesia, and the city of St. Petersburg. King Louis XIV of France was an absolute monarch.
Thinkers Beliefs How their ideas were radical at that time How their ideas are related to classical liberalism Hobbes His belief was that the reason why humans have so many problems is because of their greed to protect only themselves. And monarchy was always more interested in helping those who benefitted them in return. He believed that a fair executor who would use his authority to stop humans from harming others is needed. His ideas were viewed radical at that time because state had less power and monarchy had all of it, it was times of war where weak people would get killed if they did not listen to wealthier class. His ideas in my opinion are like the base of foundation of classical liberalism as him and his peers were the some of the first people to research the “state of nature”” of people which made many of his successors want to do more for the cause.
Hernán de Pulgar, the Catholic monarch’s chronicler, wrote “Although they are monarchs, they are human beings”. Ferdinand and Isabella was very ambitious leaders who had many goals they wanted to achieve in their reign. Having recently gotten power by uniting their countries, they were still an unstable, and both external and internal threats were coming towards them. To strengthen their power, Isabella and Ferdinand expelled all Muslims and Jews from Spain, spreading Catholicism and getting the money that exiled people were forced to leave behind. Their Catholicism, ambition and the new idea of nationalism led them to create a completely unified Catholic Spain.
Absolute monarchy is rule by one person, usually a King or Queen, who obtains absolute power of authority with no repercussions for what he or she does. Bishop Bossuet held strongly to the argument of absolute monarchy, whereas John Locke opposed on the basis of man's natural rights. Bossuet and Locke have different views on the government’s source of power and their ideas about the rights of the people, but agreed that their chosen theories are in the best interest of the people and held their country's unity in high regard. The first thing we can look at when comparing the two philosophers ideas, is their differences of opinions on the government's source of power.
Absolutist rulers practiced the power of Absolutis Legibus, or the ability to suspend the law for the sake of justice. The belief that God exerts his will through monarchs granted kings this ability, for God himself utilized Absolutis