Monarchs of Europe
Jan 18, 2016
Monarchs of Europe
I. FRANCE
• Henry IV – Ushered in the “House of Bourbons” – Issued the Edict of Nantes
• Protected freedom of religion
– Could not solve tax problem– Murdered in 1610
• Cardinal Richelieu– Chief minister under Louis XIII– Worked to reduce strength of nobles and to
reform the economy
• The Thirty Years’ War– Protestant rebellion against Holy Roman
Empire– Ended with Treaty of Westphalia in 1648
• Gave independence to Netherlands, Germany, and Switzerland
• Overall it weakened the Holy Roman Empire
The Sun King
• Louis XIV became king of France– 72 years reign– Ruled during French Exploration of New World– Believed in divine right of king
• Said, “I am the state”
• Versailles– Expense of palace strained the French economy
• Domestic and economic policies– Absolute power for king– Reformed tax system– Leading naval power
• Louis XIV’s legacy– France became a leading European power
• Caused destruction
• Loss of life and resources
• Loss of territory
II. RUSSIA
• Isolation– Asian influence (Mongols)– Religious differences
• Eastern Orthodox vs. Roman Catholic or Protestantism
– Geographically separated from Europe– Michael Romanov united Russia
Peter the Great
• Westernizing Russia– Improved training and weaponry– Western architecture – Modernization in society
Catherine the Great
• Catherine’s policies– Domestic policies were meaningless or harmful to most
Russians
– Foreign policies won new territory and extended the Russian empire
• Poland– Russia split Poland with Prussia and Austria
• Expansion eastward– Siberia and Alaska
III. CENTRAL EUROPE
• Habsburgs– Maria Theresa
• Pragmatic Sanction allowed her to inherit all Habsburg lands
• Frederick William I– Sought to make Prussia a great power– Efficient system of government
• Moved away from French influence
• Cut lavish spending
• Frederick the Great– Highly intelligent– Expanded territory and prestige
Conflict Between Prussia and Austria
• The Diplomatic Revolution– Reversal of alliances resulted in France and Austria
opposing Prussia and Great Britain
• The Seven Years’ War – 1756 to 1763– Began in North America as the French and Indian War
• The years of peace– European powers reluctant to fight again
– Rebuilt and strengthened kingdoms at home
IV. ENGLAND
• House of Tudor– Henry VII was the first Tudor to rule– Henry VIII followed and established a new
religion• Anglican Church
– Married 6 times, had 3 children
• Edward VI– Youngest of Henry’s offspring, but only male heir– Took power at age of 9– Though young, was responsible for many reforms
in the Anglican Church – Chronic health problems, fell ill & died at 15– Named his Protestant cousin, Jane Grey, as his
successor
• Mary I– Eldest of Henry VIII’s children– Daughter of Catherine of Aragon, Henry’s 1st wife
• Spanish princess, devout Catholic– Had Jane Grey beheaded & claimed power– Mary I married Philip II of Spain– Persecuted Protestant clergy– Failed because persecutions were too extreme– “Bloody Mary”
Elizabeth I• Elizabeth and Mary Queen of Scots
– Mary plotted to kill Elizabeth• Catholics again attempting to end Anglican rule
– Elizabeth had Mary beheaded
• The Spanish Armada– English ships defeated “Invincible Armada”– English had smaller faster ships
• Religious problems – Puritans wanted to rid church of all Catholic practices– Tudors persecuted non-Anglicans
• Relations with Parliament– Parliament challenged royal power– Elizabeth managed them skillfully
English Parliament (congress)
• House of Lords– Made up of nobles and
clergy
– Born into position
• House of Commons– Made up of gentry and
burgesses
– Gentry were landowners with no formal titles
– Burgesses were merchants and professional people
James I
• Son of Mary Queen of Scots (Stuart Family)– Ruled England and Scotland
• Strong supporter of Anglican Church
• King James Version of Bible• Lacked economic and
diplomatic skill• Believed in divine right of
kings, did not like sharing power with Parliament