Absolutism Actual Guide Updated 2023 with complete
solution
absolutism
a form of government in which the ruler is an absolute dictator (not restricted by a
constitution or laws or opposition etc.)
divine right
belief that rulers only have to answer to God
Jean Bossuet
Court preacher to Louis XIV of France, Bossuet was a strong advocate of political
absolutism and the divine right of kings. He argued that government was divine and that
kings received their power from God
aristocracy
a government in which power is in the hands of a hereditary ruling class or nobility
meritocracy
the belief that rulers should be chosen for their superior abilities and not because of
their wealth or birth
Henry IV
Henry of Navarre- 1st Bourbon King. ended french civil wars- Edict of Nantes- some
religious protection of Huguenots ( French Potestants). Assassinated in 1610
Louis XIII
French king who succeeded Henry IV when he was nine years old; his reign was
dominated by the influence by his mother and regent Marie de Medici, Cardinal
Richelieu, and nobles
Louis XIV
The French King who built the palace at versailles, The longest standing King of France
"Sun King",, One of the most powerful monarchs of Europe, ruling 72 years. Created the
corvee and tailee taxes, built Versailles
Cardinal Richelieu
the chief minister of Louis XII who ran the French government from 1624 to 1642. he
was a political genius who wanted to make the king supreme in France and France
supreme in Europe. he set out to destroy the power of the nobles and the Huguenots
who were protected by the Edict of Nantes. He strengthened France economically and
appointed intendants
Cardinal Mazarin
became dominant power in the government. Continued the centralizing powers of
Richelieu, but in 1648 his unpopular attempts to increase royal revenues and expand
the state bureaucracy resulted in a widespread rebellion known as the Fronde
Versailles
Mansion built by Louis XIV for himeslelf, millions of dollars, extremely big
Tailee
tax on peasants and non nobles
Corvee
royal tax on labor
intendents
, royal officials who collected taxes, recruited soldiers, and carried out his policies in the
provinces.
War of Devolution
When Louis XIV's armies invaded the Spanish Netherlands. They were forced to give
land back in the treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle
War of Spanish Succession
Caused by the death of the last Spanish Hapsbug and the succession of the Bourbon
family to the Spanish throne in 1701; ended by the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713; resulted in
recognition of Bourbons, territorial loss, and grants of commercial rights to English and
French.
Jean Baptiste Colbert
This mercantilist economist was the financial advisor to Louis XIV
Common Code Louis
Louis XIV: Louis's refined French law code that was enforced all over France
Academie Francais
Officially established in 1635 by Cardinal Richelieu, the chief minister to King Louis XIII.
The members set the standards for use of the French Language, A group of leaders in
the literature and thought of France. With the support of the French government, they
set the standards for use of the French Language in an attempt to keep French culture
pure.
Edict of Nantes
1598, decree promulgated at Nantes by King Henry IV to restore internal peace in
France, which had been torn by the Wars of Religion; the edict defined the rights of the
French Protestants -- religious freedom/toleration
Fronde
1648-53. Brutal civil wars that struck France during the reign of Louis XIV. Caused
political upheaval and economic devastation.
Brandenburg
Founding city of Prussia, capital. Built around the state of Brandenburg
junkers
Prussian, conservative, land-owning class
Tsar
The Russian emperor, ruler, or king
muscovy
A former principality in west-central Russia. Centered on Moscow, it was founded c.
1280 and existed as a separate entity until the 16th century, when it was united with
another principality to form the nucleus of the early Russian empire. The name was then
used for the expanded territory.
Prussia
Former country in north-central Europe including present-day northern Germany and
northern Poland
Austria
country in central Europe
Anti-Machiavell
Frederick the Great: essay going against Machiavelli and his book "The Prince";
disagreed that it was better to be feared than loved
solution
absolutism
a form of government in which the ruler is an absolute dictator (not restricted by a
constitution or laws or opposition etc.)
divine right
belief that rulers only have to answer to God
Jean Bossuet
Court preacher to Louis XIV of France, Bossuet was a strong advocate of political
absolutism and the divine right of kings. He argued that government was divine and that
kings received their power from God
aristocracy
a government in which power is in the hands of a hereditary ruling class or nobility
meritocracy
the belief that rulers should be chosen for their superior abilities and not because of
their wealth or birth
Henry IV
Henry of Navarre- 1st Bourbon King. ended french civil wars- Edict of Nantes- some
religious protection of Huguenots ( French Potestants). Assassinated in 1610
Louis XIII
French king who succeeded Henry IV when he was nine years old; his reign was
dominated by the influence by his mother and regent Marie de Medici, Cardinal
Richelieu, and nobles
Louis XIV
The French King who built the palace at versailles, The longest standing King of France
"Sun King",, One of the most powerful monarchs of Europe, ruling 72 years. Created the
corvee and tailee taxes, built Versailles
Cardinal Richelieu
the chief minister of Louis XII who ran the French government from 1624 to 1642. he
was a political genius who wanted to make the king supreme in France and France
supreme in Europe. he set out to destroy the power of the nobles and the Huguenots
who were protected by the Edict of Nantes. He strengthened France economically and
appointed intendants
Cardinal Mazarin
became dominant power in the government. Continued the centralizing powers of
Richelieu, but in 1648 his unpopular attempts to increase royal revenues and expand
the state bureaucracy resulted in a widespread rebellion known as the Fronde
Versailles
Mansion built by Louis XIV for himeslelf, millions of dollars, extremely big
Tailee
tax on peasants and non nobles
Corvee
royal tax on labor
intendents
, royal officials who collected taxes, recruited soldiers, and carried out his policies in the
provinces.
War of Devolution
When Louis XIV's armies invaded the Spanish Netherlands. They were forced to give
land back in the treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle
War of Spanish Succession
Caused by the death of the last Spanish Hapsbug and the succession of the Bourbon
family to the Spanish throne in 1701; ended by the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713; resulted in
recognition of Bourbons, territorial loss, and grants of commercial rights to English and
French.
Jean Baptiste Colbert
This mercantilist economist was the financial advisor to Louis XIV
Common Code Louis
Louis XIV: Louis's refined French law code that was enforced all over France
Academie Francais
Officially established in 1635 by Cardinal Richelieu, the chief minister to King Louis XIII.
The members set the standards for use of the French Language, A group of leaders in
the literature and thought of France. With the support of the French government, they
set the standards for use of the French Language in an attempt to keep French culture
pure.
Edict of Nantes
1598, decree promulgated at Nantes by King Henry IV to restore internal peace in
France, which had been torn by the Wars of Religion; the edict defined the rights of the
French Protestants -- religious freedom/toleration
Fronde
1648-53. Brutal civil wars that struck France during the reign of Louis XIV. Caused
political upheaval and economic devastation.
Brandenburg
Founding city of Prussia, capital. Built around the state of Brandenburg
junkers
Prussian, conservative, land-owning class
Tsar
The Russian emperor, ruler, or king
muscovy
A former principality in west-central Russia. Centered on Moscow, it was founded c.
1280 and existed as a separate entity until the 16th century, when it was united with
another principality to form the nucleus of the early Russian empire. The name was then
used for the expanded territory.
Prussia
Former country in north-central Europe including present-day northern Germany and
northern Poland
Austria
country in central Europe
Anti-Machiavell
Frederick the Great: essay going against Machiavelli and his book "The Prince";
disagreed that it was better to be feared than loved
