Absolute MonarchyChapter 13

Two Models of Political Development

CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHY Government where the monarch is subject to the law and power is limited

England: Representative Body of the People vs. power of the king Limiting the kings power

1215-Magna Carta 1300’s-Parliament 1640’s-Petition of Right 1690’s-English Bill of Rights

Major Conflict English Civil War (Puritans) Glorious Revolution

ABSOLUTE MONARCHY Government where the monarch controls the government, the economy, and

society Divine Right to rule Personal Rule

Louis XIV

History France ruled by strong ministers

Richelieu and Mazarin Created centralizing policies that provoked

rebellions by the nobility (the Fronde) 1649-1652 Remember the relationship between the

Huguenots and the nobility Louis worried about heavy-handed practices

Centralized power while assuring local control and influence for the nobility

Louis XIV

Divine right to rule Leader divinely appointed and answerable only to God

Louis’ tutor was Political theorist Bishop Jacques-Benign Bousset Old testament rulers divinely appointed and answerable only to

God Medieval Church: only God could judge a Pope; extended this for

the king “L’etal, cést moi” (I am the State)—Louis XIV

The king still duty bound to reflect God’s will through his policies; not bound to nobles or Parlements (courts)

Representative of the State in foreign affairs Not the father of his people; that was left to local nobility

Louis XIV

Personal Rule Assumed control 1661

21 years old Relationship with nobility Directly managed political affairs

Councils Parlements

Social Control Versailles

Louis XIV

Foreign Policy: Early Wars Securing French borders

War of Devolution 1667 Invasion of Flanders 1670 Secret Treaty of Dover 1672 Invasion of the Netherlands 1678, 1679 Peace of Nijmwegen

Louis XIV

Religious Policy To secure political unity and stability

Suppression of Jansenists Revocation of Edict of Nantes

Louis XIV

Later Wars Nine Years War and the League of Augsburg New World War of Spanish Succession

Louis XIV

France after Louis XIV Louis XV Duke of Orleans John Law

Mississippi Bubble Renewal of Authority of Parlements