European Monarchs and Power Shifts: 16th-18th Centuries
European Monarchs and Power Shifts (16th-18th Centuries)
Philip II: Inherited Spain, the Spanish Netherlands, and the American colonies. He believed it was his duty to defend Catholicism.
Absolute Monarchy: Kings or queens who held all the power within their states’ boundaries.
Divine Right: The idea that God created the monarchy and the monarch acted as God’s representative on Earth.
Edict of Nantes: A document that granted religious freedom to the Huguenots in 1598.
Cardinal Richelieu: A strong minister who greatly influenced King Louis XIII and tried to make France an absolute monarchy by weakening noble power.
Skepticism: A philosophy which suggests that nothing can ever be known for certain.
Louis XIV: He ruled through absolutism and believed in divine right. He was the “Sun King” because he reigned from 1643-1715, the longest in European history.
Jean Baptiste Colbert: An economic advisor to Louis XIV; he supported mercantilism and tried to make France economically self-sufficient, bringing prosperity to France.
War of the Spanish Succession: A war fought over the Spanish throne; Louis XIV wanted it for his son and fought against the Dutch, English, and the Holy Roman Empire to gain the throne for France.
Thirty Years’ War: A war over religion, territory, and power among European ruling families. It ended with the Peace of Westphalia.
Maria Theresa: Empress of Austria who inherited the throne from her father, Charles VI; she faced years of wars against Prussia.
Frederick the Great: King of Prussia who loved the arts such as music, philosophy, and poetry. He also encouraged religious toleration and legal reform.
Seven Years’ War: A conflict in Europe, North America, and India, lasting from 1756 to 1763, in which the forces of Britain and Prussia battled those of Austria, France, Russia, and other countries.
Ivan the Terrible: The first czar of Russia, who ruled with violence and terror. He organized a personal police force to hunt down and murder people he considered traitors.
Boyar: Russian nobles.
Peter the Great: Czar of Russia who introduced ideas from western Europe to reform the government, military, education, and the economy.
Westernization: A process whereby societies come under or adopt Western culture.
Charles I: King of England who had numerous conflicts with Parliament; fought wars with France, Spain, and Scotland; eventually provoked the English Civil War, was convicted of treason, and beheaded by Oliver Cromwell.
English Civil War: A war fought between Royalists and Roundheads because Parliament tried to limit the powers of the King.
Oliver Cromwell: An English general who led the Roundheads and won the English Civil War. He publicly beheaded Charles I and abolished the monarchy.
Restoration: The period of Charles II’s rule over England, after the collapse of Oliver Cromwell’s government, in which he “restored” the monarchy of England.
Habeas Corpus: This law gave every prisoner the right to obtain a writ or document ordering that the prisoner be brought before a judge to specify their charges.
Glorious Revolution: The bloodless overthrow of King James II of England by William and Mary.
Constitutional Monarchy: A King or Queen is the official head of state, but their power is limited by a constitution.