Absolutism

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The Time of Regents and Monarchs

3.3 Absolutism

+ disaster hits the Republic

Louis XIV (the fourteenth) was the king of France

The Sun King

Absolutism

Sun King; in other words: l'état, c'est moi en le roi soleil (France or Europe revolved around them; no life without Louis

Absolutism; so he had all three central powers (executive = government, legislative = parliament and judicial). So Louis could actually come up with a law on the spot to exclude opponents, approve this law and immediately implement it, have his opponents arrested and thrown in prison without trial, then you have the role of minister, majority of parliament and independent judge in one person, so all three rights in one = absolutism)

Nobody could speak against an absolute King

Droit
Divin

This was due to the:

A threat?

All of Europe had to work together to stop Louis; many wars, against ever-changing alliances. Louis sought natural boundaries, namely the Rhine in the east.

He finally got the Nobility under his thumb after the revolt of the Fronde. He played them at Versailles and completely eliminated their power over him. This is in contrast to England or The Republic..

Droit
Divin

Divine right to rule (given by God)

La guerre Hollandaise

He entered into a strategic marriage with Spain/Austria-Hungary and remained personally faithful to her despite his many well-known escapades with other women.

He was the natural enemy of our stadtholder – and later English king – William III. These gentlemen did everything to make life and politics difficult for each other.

Louis cancelled the 'Edict of Nantes'

A true Catholic Monarch

He put an end to the Edict of Nantes, while other princes/countries started to push for more religious tolerance

...and took away power of
other Nobles of France

..by appointing officials

La Fronde imprisonée

Versailles not only made its power clear, but was also part of it by keeping the entire upper nobility here miserably in a boring way of watching the King's daily worries "kill them with kindness". Versailles was really a tool of power in this case.

He kept the Nobility satisfied by throwing huge parties at his palace of Versailles

And further established his power by raising an immense army.

Louis was actually a small guy (1,62 m)

But with an enormous wig and high heels he appeared to be 2,13 m

Le roi plus moderne

He was the trendsetter of Europe when it came to art, culture, politics, dance, entertainment, fashion, etc.

He made France a central unitary state (language, rules, culture) and the country largely got its current borders.

What does 'Droit Divin' mean?

1. Becoming King by birth
2. Being appointed by the Pope to be King
3. The Godly right to rule
4. 'Lone ruler' in French

Does the Brittish royal family have absolute power?

1. Yes
2. Only the King/Queen, not the entire family
3. No the royal family has no power at all
4. No

Louis XIV spent 40 years and used over 35,000 workers to build the sickest palace of all time 13 miles away from Paris in Versailles

The palace had over 700 rooms (and 1 toilet)

Versailles

inside Versailles: the Hall of Mirrors

next slide: watch the animation about the development of Versailles

Louis spent 50 years of his reign fighting wars of agression

In 1672 he invaded the Netherlands 

Louis used:

mercantilism

mercantilism

mercantilism




More export

mercantilism

Than import

mercantilism

...in order to make more money

mercantilism

Than spending it

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Wat is mercantilism ?

1. The divine right to rule
2. Taxes in France
3. The way Louis XIV ruled 17th century France
4. An economical strategy

3.3 ABSOLUTISM

King Louis XIV (14th) of France is the best known example of an 

"absolute monarch"

This means that:

1. The king's power was absolute. He could make every decision without consulting anyone.
   
2. His monarchy was divine: he was made king by God to carry out the will of God (so he claimed).
   

some people today would really love to be an absolute king.....

MERCANTILISM

• Comes from the word merchant / merchandise.
• Who? European countries
• What? rules about TRADE 
• Why?  to make their own country rich and more powerful
• How? make sure you export (sell) more goods than you import (buy).

• The colonies play an important role in this: (copy schematic)

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Louis XIV

• He became king at the age of four.
• He married a Spanish princess who was his first cousin
• He built the extravagant palace of Versailles
• He is known as the Sun King. His best known quote: "The state, that's me!"
• he took away the right of worship from French Protestants
• The American state Louisiana was named in his honor.

Which of the following best describes the term "mercantilism"?

1. an political system in which a country focuses on its own economy and in which import is very important
2. an economic system in which a country focuses on its own government and in which export is very important
3. an economic system in which a country focuses on its own economy and in which import is very important
4. an economic system in which a country focuses on its own economy and in which export is very important

a favorable balance of trade means:

1. import > export
2. export > import

3c) Explain that mercantilism is the opposite of commercial capitalism, used in the Dutch Republic

Disaster Year 1672

struggle in the Republic:

orangists          vs           Anti-Orangists

Stadtholder                   Grand Pensionary

Prince of Orange            Johan de Witt

Because prince William III was still very young, most power was for the Grand Pensionary.  Johan de Witt even tried to abolish the post of Stadtholder.

Disaster Year 1672

The Republic was attacked from 3 sides:

- the Germans came from the east

- the British attacked from the west

- the French invaded from the south

Disaster Year 1672

Only a stadtholder (general) could save the Republic now. William III was appointed. 

He succesfully ended the war in 1679. 

Johan de Witt was murdered.

The Oranges now became more important...

The end of the war also marks the end of the power of the Dutch Republic

To do...

Join the lessonup class. (link will be shared in the chat)

Make exercises 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3

Don't forget to hand in your world map on teams.