2.4 Monarchs with absolute power

• History
• Middelbare school
• havo, vwo
• Leerjaar 2

2.4 Monarchs with absolute power

Learning goals 

1. You can explain how kings tried to obtain more and more power since the Late Middle Ages.
   
2. You can explain what an absolute monarchy is and how that worked in France.
   
3. You can write down some of the effects of the introduction of absolute rule in Russia.

Kings want more power 

Old situation 

Kings relied on nobility 

Would give soldiers in exchange for power in smaller areas.

Not always loyal

New situation 

Trade and cities led to taxation ( more money)

This led to usage of government officials and mercenaries and less the nobility. 

Centralized government 

Explain why a mercenary soldier is generally more obedient than a vassal.

Louis XIV gets absolute power

Around 1650 the French king Louis XIV succeeded in acquiring all the power.

• He took all the decisions, for example about new laws and taxes.

• He was the head of all the ministers and officials, who carried out his orders.

• He was the highest legal authority: anyone who did not do what he wanted would be punished by him in the end.

This is what we call absolutism 

Which of the following is absolutism?

1. civil servants implements the Kings laws and judges administer justice
2. The king makes the laws, has the policy carried out and administers the justice
3. The laws are made by the nobility and the king is the highest power
4. The laws are made by the king; the nobility implements them and administers justice

Keep all the power and Versailles

1. Louis kept all the important nobility in Versailles

2. Improved the economy and set more taxes 

3. He encouraged the idea that he had been chosen by God to rule like a father over his subjects

After that he banned Protestantism 

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Army 

He had an army of 400.000 soldiers well trained and armed.

He wanted France to have borders that were easy to defend

He saw the Rhine as an option. 

That's one of the reasons he attacked the Republic 

Explain the difference between a mercenary army and a standing army. Write down one advantage of each.

Other powerful monarchs

The rulers of Sweden, Austria, Russia and Prussia followed the example of Louis XIV. 

Peter the Great ----> 

Was seen as a reformer. 

He visited the whole of Europe to gain knowledge. 

He fought against the Ottomans, Sweden 

Made the city of Saint-Petersburg in the image of Amsterdam.

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