Absolutism in Spain

& Limited Monarchy in

England

Spanish Absolutism

Renaissance Spain - Politics

– Originally divided into several independent Christian kingdoms– Unified with marriage of Isabella of Castile, 1474-1504 to

Ferdinand of Aragon, 1479-1516– Religious uniformity “Reconquista” – Spanish Inquisition– Promoted exploration for mercantilist and missionary interests

Charles V – 16th c.

•by far the most powerful sovereign in Christendom.

•inherited lands far exceeded those of the Frankish emperor Charlemagne.

• territory included the Spanish kingdoms of Aragón and Castile; the Netherlands; the Italian states of Naples, Sicily, and Sardinia; Spanish conquests in America and Africa;

Charles VLife of War – a scholar but forced

into life of combat

• Wars with France• Conflict with Martin

Luther in Germany (Peace of Augsburg, 1555 will officially end religious conflict in Holy Roman Empire – Germany)

• Attacks by the Ottoman Turk seeking control of Mediterraean trade.

Renaissance Spain - Politics• Philip II of Spain, 1556-1598

– Strict conformity to Catholicism– Married “Bloody” Mary Tudor

(Henry VIIIs daughter – English Parliament refused to recognize him as king; after her death he tried to get Queen Elizabeth to marry him – she rejects him)

– Created “holy league” against Turkish encroachment in Mediterranean - Battle of Lepanto, 1571, against the Turks

• Problems with the Netherlands (Phillip raised taxes to pay for lost of revenues in New World) – England supported Netherlands – Phillip responds with Armada (1588), Netherlands gains indep.

• Philip went bankrupt from excessive spending in 1596

Phillip II launched an enormous fleet of ships, the Armada, in 1588 against England. Due to bad weather and planning, it failed miserably.

Elizabeth established a strong navy empire – under the leadership of adventurers like Sir Francis Drake.

Renaissance Spain - Politics• Thirty Years War (1618-1648)

• German protestants rebelled against Catholic Hapsburg seeking to establish their own churches.

• Most European countries took sides – following religious beliefs and in attempts to maintain a balance of power. Except France – Cardinal Richelieu joined protestant side in order to check Spanish power in Europe.

• Ended with Peace of Westphalia (German princes could decide religious status of their states. Germany would remain divided for 200 years. Power of Hapsburg/Holy Roman Emperor was almost eliminated. France became central power in Europe)

Result – economic devastation,

1/3 population died

English “Limited” Monarchy

Background:

English lost the 100 yrs. War to France (Joan of Arc). Although all the fighting took place in France, there was political turmoil in England.

War of the Roses – civil war in England from 1455-1485. Two contenders to the throne – House of Lancaster (red rose) and House of York (white rose).

• Henry Tudor (House of Lancaster) defeated Richard III (House of York) becoming new king, Henry VII.

• The bloody battles of the War of the Roses wiped out hundreds of noblemen, leading to the end of feudalism in England.

Henry VIII king of England (1509-1547),

the image of the Renaissance king, exuding confidence and power.

•Henry VIII had six wives,

•fought numerous wars in Europe, and even aspired to become Holy Roman Emperor in order to extend his control to Europe.

•He ruthlessly increased the power of royal government, using Parliament to sanction his actions.

Troubles with the Catholic Church• Wanted to annul his 24 yr. marriage to

Catherine of Aragon (daughter of Isabella and Ferdinand of Spain) – she was aunt to Charles V.

• Grounds for divorce – no male heir and previously married to Henry VIIIs brother – which previous Pope had allowed although normally no.

• Pope Clemens VII refused (did not want to anger Charles V)

• Henry will have the Archbishop of Canterbury annul it anyway

• Catholic church will excommunicate all of England

Formation of Anglican Church

• Creates Act of Supremacy which establishes himself as head of the English Church

• New group of sacraments

• Book of Common Prayer - 1549

Katharine of Aragon - I

Anne Boleyn - II

Jane Seymour - III

Anne of Cleves - IV

Catherine Howard - V

Katherine Parr - VI

Wives of Henry VIII

Upon Henry VIII’s death, Edward VI (age 10) becomes king. He was son of Jane Seymour. A very sickly boy, he did not spend much of his life with his dad and instead became very well educated. Died at the age of 16.

“Bloody” Mary Tudor (r. 1553 – 1557) daughter of Henry and Katherine of Aragon.

•Catholic, devoted to her mother.

•Henry declared her illegitimate upon his divorce of Katherine.

•When Elizabeth was born to Henry and Anne B., Mary was forced to be her younger sister’s lady-in-waiting.

•Upon younger brother’s (Edward VI) death, became queen.

•She spent entire reign trying to reestablish with violent force Catholicism – thus “bloody” Mary•Marries Phillip II of Spain but when Parliament refuses to recognize him as King he abandons her – makes her bitter.

Elizabeth I (r. 1558 – 1603)

Was daughter of Henry and Anne Boleyn. Unlike siblings was very healthy. Like Mary was declared illegitimate.

Became such a strong, absolute monarch that an age “Elizabethan” was named after her.

Accomplishments of Elizabeth I

•Anglican Church, free from Rome. Constantly juggled Protestant and Catholic desires.

•Scotland was ruled by great-granddaughter of Henry VII, Mary “Queen of Scots” who was Catholic. Elizabeth feared Mary would try to take throne of England, so had her beheaded on charge that she conspired with Philip II of Spain.

What Limits the Monarchy in England

• Magna Carta – 1215

• Parliament – 1295 (House of Lords & House of Commons)

• Never truly Divine Right – split from Catholic Church underlines that fact

• 1688 – English Bill of Rights

Stuarts - JAMES I(1603 - 1625)

• Elizabeth I died without heir, leaving throne to Scottish King James VI (now James I of England), son of Mary Queen of Scots who had been killed by Elizabeth.

•Unites Scotland, England and Ireland into “Great Britain”

Two Problems – he believed in divine right and he was Scottish.

“Therefore (my Son) first of all things, learn to know and love that God, to whom you have a double obligation; first, for he made you a man; and next, for he made you a little God to sit on his Throne, & rule over other men.”

- James I

Charles I, son of James I, was king of England from 1625 to 1649.

What tyrannical things did he do?

Although he agreed to this petition to gain his money, he soon revokes it causing the 4yr English Revolution or Civil War, which was fought between the armies of the king and those of Parliament.

Parliament drafted Petition of Rights (1628)

• No funds could be borrowed or raised through taxes and tariffs without the explicit approval of Parliament.•No free person could be imprisoned without reason.•No troops could be garrisoned in a private home without permission.

English Civil War

King’s Side – aristocracy, landowners, and adherents of Anglican “high church”

Parliament’s Side – middle class, Puritans, and eventually Oliver Cromwell (who proposed each area of England should have independent say on religion)

After two years of failure, the Parliamentary Side eventually wins, imprisoned King Charles, and tries him for treason.

“I would know by what power I am called hither. . . . by what Authority, I mean, lawful; there are many unlawful Authorities in the world, Thieves and Robbers by the highways: but I would know by what Authority I was brought from thence, and carried from place to place, (and I know not what), and when I know what lawful Authority, I shall answer: Remember, I am your King, your lawful King, and what sins you bring upon your heads, and the Judgment of God upon this Land, think well upon it, I say, think well upon it, before you go further from one sin to a greater”

- Charles I, in defense of charge of treason

An absolute monarch on trial

A revolutionary’s response:

“Sir, you have held yourself, and let fall such Language, as if you had been no ways Subject to the Law, or that the Law had not been your Superior. Sir, The Court is very well sensible of it, and I hope so are all the understanding People of England, That the Law is your Superior, that you ought to have ruled according to the Law, you ought to have done so. …Sir, as the Law is your Superior; so truly Sir, there is something that is Superior to the Law, and that is indeed the Parent or Author of the Law, and that is the People of England”

- Chief Prosecutor

The Result:

Charles was publicly executed in 1646.

They established a commonwealth with Parliament taking over the traditional responsibilities of the monarch (judicial and military)

Oliver Cromwell didn’t like Parliament’s bickering so he disbanded it and established himself as a Puritan absolute monarch.

Daily life became “pure” – very restrictive laws on how people should act.

When Cromwell died, people wanted Charles I’s son back in power.

Charles II, son of Charles I (1660-1685)“Restoration Period”

•Declaration of Indulgence – granted freedom to all Catholics and all Protestants.•Parliament made him revoke it.

Cause – James II (Charles II’s brother) was Catholic. Parliament did not want to recognize him as successor, so James II dissolved Parliament (like Charles I).

Dissolving Parliament lead to Glorious Revolution (1688).

•Parliamentary Supporters – Whigs•Monarchial Supporters – Tories

Glorious Revolution

Parliament votes to have William of Orange (James II’s brother-in-law) as King – VOTING FOR KING????

William comes with army – James flees to France with no bloodshed. William and Mary (wife) rule England.

Bill of Rights – written by Parliament, approved by William and Mary.

Result: severely restricted the power of the monarch; became fundamental basis of American Bill of Rights

No monarch could assume the throne without the express approval of Parliament.

The monarch would be subject to all the laws of the realm.

No Catholic could assume the English throne.