Eastern Europe in the Age of Absolutism: Brandenburg-Prussia & Austria

Eastern Europe in the Eastern Europe in the Age of Absolutism:Age of Absolutism:

Brandenburg-Prussia & Brandenburg-Prussia & AustriaAustria

AP European HistoryAP European History

Eastern Europe: Eastern Europe: Land of lords and peasantsLand of lords and peasants

►In Eastern Europe: powerful nobility, weak middle class, serfs 1400 – 1650: Serfdom reintroduced by

princes and “landed nobility”► Due to population decline as a result of the PLAGUEDue to population decline as a result of the PLAGUE

Lords solve econ. problems by exploiting serfs (peasants) Lords solve econ. problems by exploiting serfs (peasants) - -

► By 1500 – serfs throughout EastBy 1500 – serfs throughout East Lords take peasant lands – enslave serfsLords take peasant lands – enslave serfs Restrictions on movement – runaways hunted!Restrictions on movement – runaways hunted! Demands made for unpaid serf laborDemands made for unpaid serf labor

Political Reasons for SerfdomPolitical Reasons for Serfdom►Weak monarchs could not resist powerful Weak monarchs could not resist powerful

lordslords►Kings don’t protect peasantsKings don’t protect peasants►Peasants had less political power in Eastern Peasants had less political power in Eastern

EuropeEurope►Uprisings failedUprisings failed

BUT STRONG KINGS ARISE. . . (the point of our BUT STRONG KINGS ARISE. . . (the point of our story!!!!)story!!!!)

AUSTRIA AUSTRIA rises in 17rises in 17thth century!!! century!!!

► Problems: struggles with Turks / 30 Years’ War / Problems: struggles with Turks / 30 Years’ War / Internal Issues (fighting btw. nationalities)Internal Issues (fighting btw. nationalities)

►30 Years’ War failed to renew HRE – but -30 Years’ War failed to renew HRE – but - Protestants wiped out, 1620 at White Mountain Protestants wiped out, 1620 at White Mountain

– – centralization under Catholicismcentralization under Catholicism►(nobility decimated so lands given to soldiers!)(nobility decimated so lands given to soldiers!)

Ferdinand III creates Ferdinand III creates standing armystanding army (1637-57) (1637-57)►Now – Austria turns Now – Austria turns EastEast for land for land

► Ottomans – Ottomans – from from central Asia to Turkeycentral Asia to Turkey (Anatolia) – followers of (Anatolia) – followers of Islam – determined foes of Catholic HapsburgsIslam – determined foes of Catholic Hapsburgs

► The The SultanateSultanate – peaks 1520-1566 – peaks 1520-1566 Under Under Suleiman the MagnificentSuleiman the Magnificent Sultan was Sultan was absolute headabsolute head of state of state

►Little private property – except slavesLittle private property – except slaves►Male children in conquered Christian lands in Balkans! Male children in conquered Christian lands in Balkans!

((JanissariesJanissaries))► Habsburg VictoryHabsburg Victory

Final Turk attack on Vienna in the 17Final Turk attack on Vienna in the 17thth century - turned back in century - turned back in 16831683 (Polish king – (Polish king – SobieskiSobieski helps); helps);

Treaty of Karlowitz, 1699Treaty of Karlowitz, 1699 = Hungary, Transylvania, Croatia & = Hungary, Transylvania, Croatia & Slovenia incorporated into Austrian EmpireSlovenia incorporated into Austrian Empire

““Sick man of EuropeSick man of Europe” = beginning of the end for Turkey in late ” = beginning of the end for Turkey in late 1717thth century century

Austria and the TurksAustria and the Turks

Hussar, King Sobieski (Poland), Pancerni, Light Calvary, Dragoon, Infantry, Ensign, Infantry Officer

Deli, bannerat, visir, porte-wuntschuk, spahi, artillery, janissary, peik, captain of Janissaries, solak

Austrian PowerAustrian Power►Habsburg Family PossessionsHabsburg Family Possessions

Austria – Bohemia – Hungary Austria – Bohemia – Hungary Union of rulers: not law or peopleUnion of rulers: not law or people --- Slavs, Hungarians, --- Slavs, Hungarians,

Croats, Serbs, Romanians, Czechs, Poles, Italians, GermansCroats, Serbs, Romanians, Czechs, Poles, Italians, Germans► Pragmatic Sanction, 1713Pragmatic Sanction, 1713

Declared by Charles VI Declared by Charles VI (1711-1740)(1711-1740)►Hitherto, only males can rule HREHitherto, only males can rule HRE►BUT he has no son – only daughter Maria Theresa BUT he has no son – only daughter Maria Theresa

SO -- argued for SO -- argued for no division of Austrian propertiesno division of Austrian properties; ; land should be passed intact to a single heir = land should be passed intact to a single heir = Maria Theresa = Empress of Austria, 1740Maria Theresa = Empress of Austria, 1740; her ; her husband, Francis-Stephen of Lorraine elected husband, Francis-Stephen of Lorraine elected HREmperor, 1745HREmperor, 1745

An Eastern European Anomaly:An Eastern European Anomaly:Brandenburg – PrussiaBrandenburg – Prussia

1640 1688 1713 1740

Frederick WilliamFrederick III (King Frederick I)

Frederick William I

► Hohenzollern FamilyHohenzollern Family AT FIRST “Elected” to lead as “first among AT FIRST “Elected” to lead as “first among

equals” BUT the Elector of Brandenburg is equals” BUT the Elector of Brandenburg is relatively “helpless” relatively “helpless” ►SO prestige without power BUTSO prestige without power BUT

In 1614 inherits In 1614 inherits territory on the Rhineterritory on the Rhine In 1618 inherits In 1618 inherits PrussiaPrussia from cousin from cousin By 1640 Frederick William will raise By 1640 Frederick William will raise

Brandenburg-Prussia to new heightsBrandenburg-Prussia to new heights

*stronger absolutism than Austria *unites German people in 19th century!!!

Frederick William - The Great Frederick William - The Great Elector Elector 1640-16881640-1688

Devastation of 30 Years’ War helps Fred. Wm. increaseDevastation of 30 Years’ War helps Fred. Wm. increase family power over Estates (aka Nobility) weakened family power over Estates (aka Nobility) weakened by warby war

Ignored traditional representative rights: Ignored traditional representative rights: RULEDRULED ABSOLUTE LYABSOLUTE LY

Used Used military forcemilitary force and and taxationtaxation to: to:►Weaken the (feudal) Estates: Weaken the (feudal) Estates: JunkersJunkers ►Weaken the authority of townsWeaken the authority of towns

Example: Opposition leader in Königsberg was simply Example: Opposition leader in Königsberg was simply arrested and imprisoned for life!arrested and imprisoned for life!

Frederick William - The Great Frederick William - The Great ElectorElector

Permanent Standing ArmyPermanent Standing Army est. 1660-1688 est. 1660-1688►War CommissariatWar Commissariat = oversaw taxation, growth = oversaw taxation, growth

and training for military / eventually became a and training for military / eventually became a branch of civil gov’t. that directly answered to the branch of civil gov’t. that directly answered to the ElectorElector

Permanent taxationPermanent taxation without consent without consent SoldiersSoldiers doubled as doubled as tax collectorstax collectors and and

policemanpoliceman►Revenue triplesRevenue triples►In 1688, Prussia had 1 million people; 30,000 In 1688, Prussia had 1 million people; 30,000

person permanent army -- and was at peace person permanent army -- and was at peace ►Many soldiers French Huguenot immigrants – Many soldiers French Huguenot immigrants –

welcomed as hard workerswelcomed as hard workers

Frederick William, The Great Frederick William, The Great ElectorElector

► But – But – needs war for unityneeds war for unity --- so: --- so: Fighting Sweden / Poland over BalticFighting Sweden / Poland over Baltic Fighting Louis XIV’s expansionismFighting Louis XIV’s expansionism Fighting Tartars of CrimeaFighting Tartars of Crimea

KingKing Frederick I, 1688-1713 Frederick I, 1688-1713

““the ostentatious” - Weak imitator of the ostentatious” - Weak imitator of Louis XIVLouis XIV

Granted title of Granted title of KingKing by Holy by Holy Roman Emperor in Roman Emperor in 1701701 (after 1 (after helping with helping with War of Spanish War of Spanish SuccessionSuccession!)!)

Characteristics of Prussian Characteristics of Prussian BureaucracyBureaucracy

EfficientEfficient HonestHonest SuccessfulSuccessful Paradoxically, most militaristic BUT almost Paradoxically, most militaristic BUT almost

always at peace!!!always at peace!!! ““Sparta of the North”Sparta of the North”

rigidity / discipline / obedience rigidity / discipline / obedience ““to keep quiet is the first civic duty”to keep quiet is the first civic duty”

Tried to develop the economyTried to develop the economy

King Frederick William I, King Frederick William I, 1713-17401713-1740

►Fuses Prussian bureaucracy and militarismFuses Prussian bureaucracy and militarism 1740 army = 80,000 men1740 army = 80,000 men Separate laws for military and civilians!!Separate laws for military and civilians!! Officer corps (remember these are primarily Officer corps (remember these are primarily

Junkers) = highest ranking social classJunkers) = highest ranking social class►Monarchy and Junkers join together to form a Monarchy and Junkers join together to form a

unified political entityunified political entity HOWEVER Frederick William I uses the military HOWEVER Frederick William I uses the military

as a Prussian unifier NOT to wage foreign as a Prussian unifier NOT to wage foreign wars!!wars!!