Louis XIV (example of Divine Monarch called King) French Bourbon king

  1. Proclaims himself a divine ruler ("I am the State")
  2. Builds Versailles and creates an atmosphere of grandeur
  3. Requires the court of chosen nobles to live at Versailles and serve him personally.

    4. a. They advanced only by getting royal favors and offices.

  4. Ruler for 72 Years (1643-1715)
  5. Revoked the Edict of Nantes (provided religious freedom to the French Huguenots)
  6. Colbert and Louvois were his advisors
  7. Fought four wars, expanded French territory, and alarmed other European countries
  8. Fought the War of Spanish Succession which he gained for his grandson, Phillip V

    9. but in the Treaty of Utrecht agreed not to unite the thrones of France and Spain.

  9. Drained the treasury of France with constant wars and building Versailles

Peter the Great (Divine Monarch called a Czar) Russian Romanov

  1. Traveled in Europe in pseudo cognito to learn western ways
  2. Reorganized his army along French lines and equipped it with the best European weapons.
  3. Took territory from Sweden which gave Russia access to the sea in the northern

    4. Baltic region

  4. Built St. Petersburg on the Baltic, moved Russia’s capital from Moscow to St.

    5. Petersburg, bringing the Russian capital closer to the European capitals.

  5. Woman began to participate in Russian public affairs by allowing them to attend

    6. the official gatherings and balls that had only been attended by the European

    women.

  6. Changed the appearance of the Russian men by forcing them to change their long robes and cut their beards.
  7. Taxed long beards and daily activities to accumulate capital to finance his wars and encouraged foreign trade and manufacturing (mercantilism)
  8. Created a new service nobility, whose rank and privileges depended on the amount of government service performed rather than on family status.
  1. granting these new government employees new lands and serfs
  2. increasing the number of serfs who later revolted and caused great problems for Russia.

Catherine the Great (Although called a Romanov actually from a small German city state)

  1. Supported the arts, literature, and theater
  2. Extended serfdom increasing numbers and later problems
  3. Further Westernized the nobility who began to speak French at court
  4. Acquired vast new territories

a. Won control of the southern Crimea region which provided a warm water port

b. Acquired Polish territory in the east to provide greater European ties

c. Moved Eastward all the way to the Pacific