Absolutism in Absolutism in Eastern Europe Eastern Europe
Mar 27, 2015
Absolutism in Eastern Absolutism in Eastern EuropeEurope
Austria, Prussia, and Russia
Monarchs were in “control” up to 1918 These monarchs will have a powerful
impact on culture– Architecture – Arts
Unlike the West
Powerful Nobility Unlike the West- Nobles were able to
suppress the serfs Weak Middle Class Oppressed Peasants-serfs
Lords and Peasants in Lords and Peasants in Eastern EuropeEastern Europe
Serfdom increases in the East
Lords created laws that restricted the free movement of peasants – run-a-ways in Prussia had their ears nailed to a post and given a knife to cut themselves free
Landlords took more and more of their land and increased labor obligations
Local lords were judge and jury
Consolidation of Serfdom
Poland – Lords could inflict death
Prussia (1653 ) Hereditary subjugation
Russia – (1649) 9 year time limit on runaways was lifted
Increase in Agriculture
As European economy expanded, the price of food increased
More peasants meant a surplus of local products were sold to foreign markets
Was it simply to develop of export markets?
No effective Central Government
Political rather than economic factors were the difference in the status of serfs.
Identical developments caused opposite results in the west.
Local nobles held more power over weaker kings and increased their political demands
A king in the east was the first among equals Nobles undermined cities power. Products were sold
directly to foreign capitalists Importance of urban middle class declined “ no more
did town air make one free.”
East as least and West as Best
Because of social inequalities and harsher economic conditions, the west perceived the east as barbaric and uncivilized.
Therefore the east was considered morally inferior which was eventually tied to ethnicity
The Ottomans
The Rise of Austria and Prussia
Toward a Central Government
Monarchs gained power in three key areas
– Imposed and collected taxes without consent– Created standing armies– Conducted relations with foreign states as they
pleased
Austria and the Ottoman Turks
Devastated by the Thirty Years War The loss made them turn inward Established direct rule over Bohemia The robot… 3 days a week of unpaid labor Protestants were stamped out 1683 – Ottomans are in retreat to the east
the Habsburgs take Hungary
The Pragmatic Sanction1713
Habsburg land was divided into three fragile political entities– Austria– Bohemia– Hungary
• Rakoczy- Revolt• Defeated 1703
All would be passed to a single heir.
Hapsburgs . Hungary accepts Habsburg ruler but is never fully integrated into the Empire.
Prussia in the 17th Century
The Elector of Brandenburg – had prestige to elect the Holy Roman Emperor, but no military power
Estates of princes’ were weakened by the Thirty Years War
Frederick William the “Great Elector”– Comes to power 1640
Frederick William The Great Elector [r.1640-1688]
The Junkers
Landowning nobles that had dominated Prussia
Frederick was not resisted in his drive toward absolutism by the nobles “they barked but did not bite”
Different than England which had moved to constitutionalism
Frederick the Great Elector
Introduced permanent taxes without consent Paid for a standing army The size of the army grew ten-fold Two major reasons for success
– The invaders to the east demanded a consolidation of forces
– Allowed the nobles to continue their rights and privileges over the peasants, but the royal authorities could tax the townspeople
Frederick the Ostentatious1688-1713
Weak in mind and body Man crush on Louis XIV Luxury and petty tyranny
Frederick William I“ The Soldier King”
1713-1740
Prussian war psychology- cult of the military- with the Junkers as officers– Best and strongest soldiers– “Dog eat dog” view of world politics– Violent temper – immediate and severe
punishments– Obsession for tall soldiers
The Prussian Military
Grows from 38,000 to 83,000 Amazing discipline and precision Although ready for war, he was usually at
peace Tall males were recruited
Replaces the Estates with bureaucracy
Frederick was austere which made his country economically conscientious
Ministers were honest and fair
Russia
It is a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma … Winston Churchill
The Mongol Yoke
Russia was forced to pay tribute The Greatest prince was the one that paid the
most money Ivan I – “money bags”(r1328-1341)
– Collects taxes for the Mongols– Ivan III (r 1462 – 1505) Muscovite princes’ gain
authority– Ivan III stops acknowledging Mongols
• Fall of Constantinople – holy Russia 1480
Ivan the Terrible(IV)
R. 1533-1584 Turns west against the Poland and Lithuanian state Destroys leading Boyars with secret police Purges many other elements of society Greater oppression of the serfs All were servants of the Prince