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The Thirty Years' War (1618-1648), caused by the Reformation and the peak of the century of religious warfare with everybody losing as a result. In 1555, the Peace of Augsburg stated that German princes could decide if their country would be Lutheran or Catholic, but the treaty did not have an allowance for a new religion, Calvinism. As a result, Calvinists tried to claim lands of their own in Bohemia, for example, when they rejected the Hapsburgs as rulers. Defenestration of Prague (1618) two Catholic officials were sent to Prague, Bohemia to put a stop to the Calvinists but were thrown out of a 2nd-story window as a protest against their authority, giving Catholic armies reason to invade and wage war, and a very complicated one at that. The war was not simply Catholics and Portestants since it involved all but England and even Sweden, a generally neutral country Treaty of Westphalia (1648) finally brought peace by adding Calvinism and stated: "The religion of the prince is the religion of the realm". As a result, the Netherlands were given independence from Spain after an 80-year struggle. Germany was devastated by war, famine, and disease, broke into hundreds of kingdoms, and would not unite for two more centuries (1870) Spain With the wealth of the New World, the country seemed to be in a golden age in the early 1600s: Spanish Renaissance with painters such as El Greco Miguel Cervantes Helped make vernacular Spanish popular with: Don Quixote, about 1610 which mocked age of chivalry and satirized modern Spain's religious wars with the conflicts being shown as hopeless struggles,like Quixote's battles against windmills Decline of Spain was ironic since New World wealth hurt Spain in the long run since it allowed them to waste money on endless wars neglect trade; (nobles looked at merchants with contempt as the Confucians did), so a strong Middle Class never developed as they drove out talented artisans and merchants who were Muslims or Jews (1492, La Reconquista by Ferdinand and Isabella) After the 30 Years' War, Spain was in serious decline, and England was on the rise, but France was the greatest power in Europe Le Rol Soleil During Reformation and religious wars, Nobles gained some power over kings, but In the 1600s, the tide shifted, led by Louis XIV of France, the quintessential absolute monarch (king with absolute power) Jean Bodin (1500s): power cannot be divided, it must rest with one "Absolute Ruler" Bishop Bosseut (1600s): kings rule by "Divine Right", answer only to God Louis XIII (r. 1610-43): son of Henry IV Cardinal Armand Richelieu (1585-1642), chief minister (handpicks his successor when he falls ill) started France toward absolutism as Cardinal Jules Mazarin centralized the government and put it into the hands of Louis XIV Intendants local officials who kept an eye on the nobles Louis XIV King at 5; abused by nobles in Paris during a civil war (much like Sophia in Moscow to Peter the Great)and ruled for himself when Mazarin died in 1661. He made MC men chief ministers (taking jobs away from nobles to make sure they do not acquire too much power) educated, talented, and trustworthy so he doesn't have to worry about nobles plotting against him and slowly but greatly weakened the nobility, never called the Estates-General (equiv. to Parliament, only comes when needed by the King) (last met in 1614, not called for 175 years until the French Revolution) and since the nobles did not meet often, there was no way for them to unite and overthrow the King Versailles magnificent palace just outside Paris room for 10,000; all nobles required to live there part of the year (too keep enemies close to keep an eye on them also for an army of servants), occupied them w/ trivial social events while keeping them isolated from govt. and the nobles enjoyed being there which became the cultural capital of Europe but was very expensive The Sun King Made everyone see him as the personification of France and once said: l'etat ce'st moi! (I am the state). By 1685, France was the center of Europe, Versailles was the center of France and Louis was the center of Versailles Finances were Louis' biggest weakness His expanding govt., constant wars, & elaborate court extremely expensive. To raise funds, he sold offices and titles which acted as a quick fix for a worsening problem. (it also worsened the problem over time since more people were becoming tax-exempt)Nobles and later, many in the MC became exempt from taxes, leaving poor peasants with the entire burden Jean-Baptiste Colbert (1619-1683) was a brilliant finance minister ; mercantilism (sell more than having to buy, more gold coming in than going out) who improved roads and canals (more trade), supported industries; encouraged craftsmen to immigrate to France, started colonies in Canada and Caribbean to produce raw materials, but... However, he was never able to overcome the incredible royal spending since gold coming in would be spent more quickly Louis' Big Mistake (1685) Revocation of the Edict of Nantes, 1685 since he abhorred (loathed) religious division: "un roi, un loi, un foi" one King, one law, one faith and closed Huguenot churches; forced conversions. As a result, many fled France, skilled craftsmen and businessmen, which greatly hurt France in the long run Military ambitions Louis tried to take over Europe and was at war for 33 of 54 years of his rule (after Mazarin), but gained little territory and left France nearly bankrupt.40,000 new offices and titles were sold to pay for wars, and now tax exempt. Died 1715; ruled 72 years and in 1715, Saint-Simon, his admirer and critic wrote, ..."the people, ruined, abused, despairing, now thanked God for a deliverance which answered their most ardent desire" James VI and I cousin of Elizabeth; son of Mary, Queen of Scots began House of Stuart but was seen as an outsider, heavy brogue and believed in divine right. He was unpopular due to this and the fact that he wasted money and flaunted gay lovers Charles I r. 1625-1649): was a strong Catholic who tried to practice absolutism and rule without Parliament: levied taxes without consent which was seen as illegal and many refused to pay, causing a revolt. The Scottish Revolt (1637) Scotland revolted and Charles was forced to call Parliament. The HC wanted more say in government; argued with king. They refused to pay for an army that might be used against them, so they formed an army and revolted, causing the Civil War English Civil War (1642-1649) with over100,000 killed and involving cavaliers: Charles, nobles, and mercenaries versus Roundheads: HC, MC, Puritans, and Gentry led by Oliver Cromwell. The Roundhead wons, Charles was captured, tried for treason, and beheaded in 1649. Many wanted the Revolution to end there but Oliver Cromwell took control The Commonwealth A military dictatorship under The "Lord Protector," Cromwell (r. 1653-1658), civil war fought to prevent absolutism, but ended with absolutism Olly Cromwell (r. 1653-1658) tried to purify the Anglican church and enacted many new laws preventing anything fun. He closed saloons, theatres, and attacked Ireland, but he died in 1658, and two years later, Parliament invited Charles II to take back the throne as he was dug up and hanged James II (r. 1685-1688) Catholic on throne just as L14 revoked the Edict of Nantes and made worse the tense situation, also appointing Catholics to government and ignored laws made by Parliament. When his male heir was born in 1688, revolt was triggered. Glorious Revolution Parliament offered the throne to daughter of James,Protestant Mary and her Dutch husband William of Orange and in December 1688, James fled to France--William marched in and took control. William and Mary agreed to rule under the new restrictions, mainly the English Bill of Rights which divided the power between the crown and Parliament and stipulated that the monarch must be Protestant and the King ruled with the consent of his people: a constitutional monarchy Parliament made laws; king could not overrule them, No tax without consent of Parliament, and many of these ideas later adopted by the US Thomas Hobbes (1651): Leviathan Argued that Governments arose in history to tame anarchy (the people decided they needed one) and before that, lives were "nasty, brutish, and short".The state needed complete obedience; those who rebelled should be crushed which was harsh, but also: right to rule, came from the people, not God John Locke 1689 Two Treatises on Government, People are INHERENTLY (innately) decent and moral and deserve their natural rights: life, liberty, and property and the role of Government to protect these rights and that the people have the right to revolt if their rights were not protected. Frederick I (r. 1713-1740): "The Soldier's King", established absolutism and gave the country its military flavor; called an "army with a country" Peter the Great (1682-1725): Huge man; restless energy, hungry mind, and very frenetic, goal was to "westernize" Europe and determined to drag Russia into the modern world, built a new capital in St. Petersburg (1703) by forced labor and made many nobles move there to a palace like Versailles which was all done to augment military efficiency. In 30 years of personals rule, at war 29 of those year. Extended Russia territory, but at great cost, built a gigantic standing army (200 k) and an entirely new navy (850 ships) that drafted peasants for life; commanded by nobles. By 1725, Russia was a major power in Europe and argued that he was working for the common good but he alone decided what the "common good" was as the EPITOME of an absolute ruler