History 105:  Age of Absolutism                  Prof. Popkin            September 6, 2002

 

            We often call the period of European history from 1660 to 1789 the “age of absolutism,” because the system of government in most of the major European states of the period was a so-called absolute monarchy, in which the ruler came to power by heredity and exercised all the powers of government.  An absolute monarch combined the powers that the American constitution divides among the president (executive branch of government), Congress (legislative branch), and the Supreme Court (judicial branch).  The absolute monarch decreed laws, collected taxes, raised armies and negotiated with other rulers, without having to consult any kind of legislature.  The monarch also appointed and dismissed ministers and other government officials, including the leaders of the church as well as political officials.  Finally, an absolute monarch appointed judges to law courts and served as a final court of appeal.  Absolute monarchs were not limited by written constitutions.

 

I.                    The Justifications of Absolutism:  The Examples of Louis XIV (1643-1715) of France and Frederic the Great of Prussia (1740-1786)

A.    The need for order

B.     The religious justification of absolutism

C.    Social and psychological bases of absolutism

 

II.                 The Limits of Absolutism

A.    The power of tradition

B.     Corporate institutions

C.    Lack of efficient machinery of government

D.    The danger of revolt

 

III.               Absolutism and reform

A.    Goals of enlightened reform:  rationality, uniformity, efficiency

B.     Obstacles to reform

1.      privileged groups

2.      the attitude of the common people

 

Cardinal Bossuet justifies royal absolutism in France (1709): “Princes therefore act as the agents of God and his lieutenants on earth…  Without this absolute authority, he can neither do good nor repress evil; his power must be such that no one can hope to escape him.”

 

Frederick the Great of Prussia on the responsibilities of rulers (1777):  “We have remarked that men granted preeminence to one of their equals in expectation that he should do them certain services.  These services consisted in the maintenance of the laws; a strict execution of justice; an employment of his whole powers to prevent any corruption of manners and morals; and defending the state against its enemies.  It is the duty of the magistrate to pay attention to agriculture; it should be his care that provisions for the nation should be in abundance, and that commerce and industry should be encouraged… Princes and monarchs, therefore, are not invested with supreme authority that they may, with impunity, riot in debauchery and voluptuousness.”