- Principles of European absolutism
- In which countries did absolutism occur in Europe?
- Causes of European absolutism
- Consequences
- References
The European absolutism is the name of a political period that took place in Europe and who distinguished himself for being despotic and authoritarian. The absolute state was protected by divine laws that justified its existence.
Absolutism began in Europe in the 15th century as a form of government in which the monarch was the highest authority. After the religious wars and the devastation that they meant for the continent, there was a mode of government based on the sole and absolute authority.
The theory of the divine right of power was born in the last quarter of the 16th century, in an environment of religious wars in France. In Europe the divinization of the king stated that the representative of God was the king and whoever was against the king disobeyed God.
In European absolutism, the monarch made laws according to his interests, which were often confused with those of the State. Hence the famous phrase of Louis XIV “L`Ètat, C`est moi” or “The State is me”.
The monarchical class was constituted by groups of nobles, which were attributed functions of advisers and direct assistants of the king in their decisions.
The political power of that time had no more authority than the judgment of the monarch. In Europe, absolutism begins in the Modern Age and coincides with the development of mercantilism.
The implementation of absolutism caused a substantial change in the conception of the dependence of intermediate authorities between the subject and the State, a situation that led to the creation of an effective bureaucracy and a permanent army.
Absolutism is a widespread phenomenon in Europe, in France and Spain. Although the only perfect and finished absolutism is French.
The end of absolutism was marked by the French Revolution of 1789, which slaughtered the king to show that his blood was not blue and replaced the monarchy with the bourgeoisie.
Principles of European absolutism
From the beginning of the 15th century until the first part of the 16th century, a first phase of absolutism in formation took place, which is characterized by the gradual concentration of power in the hands of the monarch, although religious power still imposed limitations.
- Divine right: the monarch had carried the word and the will of God, therefore he had the divine right to do his will on behalf of God.
- Hereditary and lifelong power: the power generally fell to the king's eldest son and he held it until he died.
- Absolute power: the king did not have to consult any body or person for their decisions. There were no organs to balance the balance of power
- Estate society: in the period of absolute monarchies, society was divided into social classes. The privileged classes were the monarchy and the clergy, while in the lower strata were the peasants, bourgeoisie and other wage earners.
- Centralized administration: the collection of taxes was part of the wealth of the king, who used the proceeds to maintain the army and accumulate wealth.
In which countries did absolutism occur in Europe?
Absolutism took place in several countries belonging to Europe, among those the best known: France, Russia, Spain, Sweden, England, Portugal and Austria.
- France: the most complete and well-known absolutism occurred in France. Its most notable representatives were Louis XIII, Louis XIV, Louis XV and Louis XVI, who ended up being slaughtered in the midst of the French Revolution.
- Russia: it is called Tsarism, but they are practically the same precepts of absolutism. In Russia, Peter I, Ivan IV, Michael III, Catherine the Great and Nicholas II, who was overthrown by the Bolshevik revolution of 1917, are famous.
- Spain: Felipe V, Fernando VII, Fernando V and José I stand out. Spain continues to have a monarch but under the facade of a constitutional monarchy.
- England: the English nobility was sui generis by admitting the existence of parliament. Its best known representatives are Carlos II, Jacobo II, Enrique VII and Isabel I.
- Sweden: Swedish absolutism had its highest representatives in Carlos X and Carlos XI, the latter is famous for the reconstruction of Sweden after the war period.
Louis XIV of France (large photo), Philip V of Spain and Elizabeth I of England
Absolutism caused the rise of the Enlightenment, the rise of the bourgeoisie, and the French Revolution.
Causes of European absolutism
Religious wars and the idea of superiority by divine design are the triggers that start the absolutist period. Even the kings drank potions that they claimed made their veins look bluer than the rest, suggesting they had blue blood.
The conquest of America led Spain and Portugal to gather large amounts of wealth in silver and gold, which demonstrated the success of the absolutist system, in force in those countries, over their neighbors.
There was the decline of feudalism and feudal lords because of the crusades. The concentration of power allowed the territorial union of the countries.
In view of the need to merge large military forces, as in the case of the Hundred Years War between France and the British Empire, the States created regular armies commanded by the king and no longer by dispersed and isolated feudal lords.
Consequences
During absolutism, inequality and the decline of the lower classes increased. The privileges were directed only to the nobles and clergy, whose rights were superior to those of the majority regardless of the living conditions of the rest.
The political model of the absolute monarchy has as its central feature the concentration of all power in the king without control or limits of any kind. Fortunately, the countries advance in models of balance of powers.
The desire to obtain power led the European kings to confront politically, economically and militarily for continental and world hegemony. It was an eminent period bloody by the voracity of power and control of the monarchs.
The philosophy of the Enlightenment judges all these precepts and sets in motion the constitution of modern states with freedoms and a balance of powers to avoid the tyranny caused by absolute power.
References
- EcuRed (2016) Absolutism. Recovered from: ecured.cu.
- Rivero, P. (2005) Merchants and finance in 16th century Europe. Editorial Complutense. Madrid Spain.
- Pérez, J; Gardey, A. (2009) Absolutism. Recovered from: definicion.de.
- Wikipedia contributors (2017) European absolutism. Recovered from: es.wikipedia.org.
- Perry, A. (1979) The absolutist state. Editorial Alliance. Spain.
- Butrón, G. (2016) French intervention and the crisis of absolutism. Alba Editorial. Spain.