Unit 3: States and Other Institutions of Power (Absolutism)

Defining Absolutism

Absolutism is a form of monarchical power that emerged in Europe during the 17th and 18th centuries where the ruler claims sole and incontestable power. It stands in stark contrast to Constitutionalism (limited government), which was developing simultaneously in England and the Dutch Republic.

Key Characteristics

  • Sovereignty: Complete authority resides in the king, not the nobility or a parliament.
  • Divine Right of Kings: The theological justification that monarchs derive their authority directly from God and are answerable only to Him (famously articulated by Bishop Bossuet).
  • Control Mechanisms: Monarchs consolidated power by controlling the military, the legal system, and the tax collection agencies, drastically reducing the power of the nobility.

Map of Absolutist Europe

Absolutism in France: The Model of Control

France provided the blueprint for European absolutism, reaching its zenith under the Bourbon dynasty.

Foundations: Henry IV & Louis XIII

  • Henry IV: Laid the groundwork by restoring peace (Edict of Nantes) and issuing administrative reforms.
  • Cardinal Richelieu: As First Minister to Louis XIII, Richelieu systematically dismantled the power of the nobility and the Huguenots. He established the Intendant System—royal officials sent to provinces to execute orders, collect taxes, and recruit soldiers, ensuring loyalty to the crown rather than local lords.

Louis XIV (r. 1643–1715) — "The Sun King"

Louis XIV is the quintessential absolute monarch. His famous declaration, "L'état, c'est moi" ("I am the state"), summarizes his reign.

  1. Domestic Control (Versailles)
    • Louis moved the court to the Palace of Versailles. This was not just a home; it was a political trap.
    • He required high nobles to live there for part of the year, distracting them with elaborate rituals (removing the king's nightshirt, gambling, distinct etiquette) so they would not plot against the crown.

Diagram of Versailles Political Function

  1. Religious Uniformity

    • Believing that "One King, One Law, One Faith" was essential for unity, Louis issued the Edict of Fontainebleau (1685), which revoked the Edict of Nantes.
    • Consequence: Hundreds of thousands of skilled Huguenots fled France, hurting the economy but solidifying Catholic uniformity.

  2. Economic Policy: Mercantilism

    • Managed by his finance minister, Jean-Baptiste Colbert.
    • Mercantilism is the economic theory that a nation's power is based on its wealth (specifically gold/silver reserves).
    • Goal: Exports > Imports.
    • Colbert subsidized domestic industries (silk, tapestry), put high tariffs on foreign goods, and encouraged colonization (Quebec/Louisiana).

  3. Wars of Expansion

    • Louis kept France at war for much of his reign (e.g., War of the Spanish Succession) to expand France's natural borders.
    • Impact: These wars created a "Balance of Power" coalition against France and bankrupted the French treasury, setting the stage for the French Revolution.

Absolutism in Central & Eastern Europe

Unlike Western Europe, where the middle class was growing and serfdom had largely vanished, Eastern Absolutism relied on a compromise: The monarch gained political power, and in exchange, the nobility was given total control over the peasantry (the consolidation of Serfdom).

Prussia: The Hohenzollerns

Prussia rose from the devastation of the Thirty Years' War to become a military powerhouse.

  • **Frederick William,