Abolute Monarchs Essay

The 17th century of European history, colloquially known as the “Age of Crisis”, gave rise to a new form of government: absolutism. Religious wars, economic troubles, inflation, and new agricultural challenges such as the Little Ice Age wracked the nations of Europe and caused tremendous fear and uncertainty among the masses. Thus, as many felt that life itself was endangered, they were willing to accept the rise of a strong, independent ruler who might lead them from the darkness. In this way, absolutism emerged- a new form of monarchy based on a hereditary ruler with complete authority. Perhaps the most well known example of an absolute monarch in European history is Louis XIV, the ruler of France from 1643 to 1715.

Compare and contrast the theories and practice of absolutism and constitutional monarchy during the 17th century.

Louis XIV, Peter the Great, and Tokugawa Ieyasu all considered their own power and strengthened their states in many different ways but their actions were all similar. They united their states, introduced reforms and assessed their power and the effect that they could have on others. Although their techniques were different, the ways these monarchs ruled their states show great similarities.

A Comparison of the Characteristics of the Absolutist Rule of Charles I of England and Louis XIV of France

← Cobban, Alfred. The Absolutist Rulers of Europe. 1969. The 1700s-Headlines in History. Ed. Stuart A. Kallen. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, Inc, 2001. 37-46

They expanded their country by going to war and coquesting. Ivan the terrible created a standing army that dominated the Tartar khanates of Kazan and Astrakhan, extending Muscovy control to the Urals in the east. While Louis XIV, was constantly in war, he would use his massive standing army to conquer. However the grand alliance, made up of England, the Holy Roman Empire and Spain tried to destroy the threat that Louis XIV was causing. Both, Ivan the great and Louis XIV advanced mercantilism through not importing just exporting.

Louis XIV, the ruler of France from the late seventeenth century to the early eighteenth century, claimed, “I am the state.” He considered this to be absolutism. His goal, also acquainted with absolutism, was, “one king, one law, one faith;” Furthermore, Louis wanted to promote religious unity, royal dignity, and security of the state. In order to achieve this goal, he had to rule with a firm hand, laying down the law for all to see. Louis XIV’s absolutism fostered in four major parts: the building of Versailles to control the nobility, the breeding of a strong military, the improvement of France’s economy, and, while quite harsh, the brutal extinction of religious toleration.

There were many forms of government through the 17th and 18th century. Two forms of government that were used a lot were democracy and absolutism. The form of government during these centuries that was most effective was democracy.

By the close of the 17th century, England had developed into a Constitutional Monarchy and France had developed into an Absolutist, centralized form of monarchy.

Another great piece of evidence supporting the statement that Louis XIV is the best example of an absolute monarch is his palace at Versailles. This palace was bigger than any other palace, more expensive, and better in just about everyway, except for being good for its country, France. The palace at Versailles was originally built as a small hunting lodge by Louis XIV’s father, Louis XIII in 1624. In 1669, Louis XIV decided to expand the palace, and moved into the palace in 1682 while parts of the building were still under construction. The palace was of monumental size, with a around 2,000 rooms, 15,000 acres of gardens and lawns and woods, and costing what would cost an estimated $2 billion in 1994, a extremely large sum of money for France. To run the fountains, it would cost so much money and use so much water that Louis’ workers would turn the fountains on when they saw him coming, and turn them off when he passed. The palace usually held about 7,000

After the Renaissance, there were many factors that gave way and led to chaos, and then the choice between an absolutist government, or a constitutional one. These factors included the decline of the previous social order of Feudalism, the Protestant Reformation, new logical and scientific ideas from famed Renaissance thinkers, and riots/revolts from unhappy citizens of numerous classes. Some states like France, Russia, and Prussia, resulted in all the power gathered under the monarch’s personal control, which happened due to comparable actions by the ruler. In the 1600s and 1700s, Absolute monarchs like Louis XIV, Peter the Great, and the Soldier King of Prussia, had similar methods to strengthen bureaucracy and control the nobles, develop

In the latter half of the 1600 's, monarchial systems of both England and France were changing. Three royal figure throughout history who all tried to establish a role of absolutism in their societies all of them had varying factors with the greatest success from least to greatest being Charles I, Louis XIV, and Peter the Great. Absolutism is a form of government where a king or queen rules with unrestricted powers. They are often followed in heredity by passing on the leadership through bloodlines. All over the world these bloodlines still exist except, that most of them only remain as a symbolic figure or a person of fame. A couple of monarchs that still rule are Brunei, Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Swaziland, the emirates comprising the UAE, and Vatican City.

In the Middle Ages your social status depended on your rank. The ranks were kings, nobles, knights, and then serfs.(Doc.1) Typically, the serfs did the most for everyone else, they provided food and services when demanded in exchange for protection and maybe something to eat.(Doc.1) Knights provided protection and military service for nobles in exchange for land. (Doc.1)

He gained power by having the nobility who wanted to be in his court to either regularly visit Versailles or take up residence in one of the many apartments of Versailles. This would weaken the power of the nobles, who would be unable to take their personal armies with them or their fortunes with them on these trips or while they lived at Versailles. In addition to this, Louis XIV held “....frequent fêtes….”, or social gatherings among the court and royalty. The fêtes “were means on which the king seized in order to distinguish or mortify the courtiers, and thus rendering them more assiduous in pleasing him” (Doc 3).

This was a serge of art and music since many composer were supported by the King. Through these forms, Louis was able to dignify and refine the culture of France. One of the most famous attempts to do this was through the constructed of Chateau De Versailles or The Palace of Versailles. This architectural wonder is still deeply apart of Frances Culture, which emphasized the Impact of Louis XIV reign. This was a lavish project that accentuated the absolute power of Louis XIV onto his subjects and the other European countries. Since the Palace was located in the suburbs, It help distance the King from the Nobility. This furthermore increased to the power of the King.