Absolute monarchy: Absolute monarchy is a monarchical form of government in which the

Absolute monarchy Absolute monarchy is a monarchical form of government in which the monarch monarch has  has absolute power 

among his or her people. An absolute monarch wields unrestricted political power  over  over the sovereign state and state  and its people. Absolute monarchies are often hereditary but other means of transmission of power are attested. Absolute monarchy differs from limited monarchy, monarchy, in which the monarch's authority is legally bound or restricted by a constitution. constitution.[1] In theory, the absolute monarch exercises total power over the land, yet in practice the monarchy is counterbalanced by political groups from among the social classes and castes of the realm, such as the aristocracy aristocracy,, clergy see caesaropapism caesaropapism!, !, bourgeoisie bourgeoisie,, and  andproletarians proletarians.. "ome monarchies have wea# or symbolic legislatures and other governmental bodies that the monarch can alter or dissolve at wil l. $ountries where the monarch still maintains absolute power are %ahrain %ahrain,, %runei %runei,,[&] atar ,[(] )man )man,,[*] "audi Arabia, Arabia,[+] "wailand "wailand,,[-] the emirates comprising the A/[0] and atican $ity[2] the 3ope 3ope,, however is however is elected! elected!

Historical examples 4hroughout much of /uropean history, the 5ivine 6ight of 7ings was the theological 8ustification for absolute monarchy. 9any /uropean monarchs, such as those of 6ussia 6ussia,, claimed supreme autocratic power by divine right, and that their sub8ects had no rights to l imit their power. :ames I of  I  of "cotland "cotland later also :ames I of /ngland of  /ngland!! and his son $harles I of "cotland and /ngland tried to import this principle. $harles I's attempt to enforce /piscopal polity on polity on the $hurch of "cotland led to rebellion by the $ovenanters $ovenanters and  and the %ishops' ;ars, ;ars, then fears that $harles I was attempting to establish absolutist government along /uropean lines was a ma8or cause of the /nglish $ivil ;ar , despite the fact that he did rule this way for 11 years starting in 1-&<, after dissolving the 3arliament of /ngland for a time. %y the 1

?othing so clearly indicates the limits of royal power as the fact that governments were perennially in financial trouble, unable to tap the wealth of those most able to pa y, and li#ely to stir up a costly revolt whenever they attempted to develop an ade= uate income. [1@] ;illiam %ouwsma

Absolute monarchy in France Absolute monarchy in France slowly emerged in the 1-th century and became firmly established during the 10th century. Absolute monarchy is a variation of the governmental form of monarchy in which all governmental power and responsibility emanates from and is centered in the monarch. In Brance, Couis DI was the most famous exemplar of absolute monarchy, with his court central to Brench political and cultural life during his reign. Ee lent absolute monarchy in Brance its most famous =uotation> F L'État, c'est moi! F Absolute monarchy in France  slowly emerged in the 1-th century and became firmly established during the 1 0th century. Absolute monarchy is a variation of the governmental form of monarchy in which all governmental power and responsibility emanates from and is centered in the monarch. In Brance, Couis DI was the most famous exemplar of absolute monarchy, with his court central to Brench political and cultural life during his reign. Ee lent absolute monarchy in Brance its most famous =uotation> F L'État, c'est moi! F

Establishing Absolute Monarchy In France %y the early 1-th century, the efficient administration of $harlemagne's /mpire was ensured by highG level civil servants, carrying the, then nonGhereditary, titles of counts in charge of a $ounty!, mar=uis in charge of a 9arch!, du#es military commanders!, etc. 5uring the course of the the nobility's titles and lands became hereditary, and the authority of the #ing became more religious than secular and thus was less effective and constantly challenged by powerful noblemen. 4hus was established feudalism in Brance. )ver time, some of the #ing's vassals would grow so powerful that they often posed a threat to the #ing. "ince then, Brench #ings had continuously tried to strengthen existing royal powers scattered among their nobles. 3hilip the Bair , $harles the ;ise and Couis the $unning were instrumental in the transformation of Brance from a feudal state to a modern country. %y the time of Brancis I, Brance was a very centralied state but the Brench ;ars of 6eligionposed a new threat to royal absolutism with =uasiGindependent 3rotestant strongholds developing in various locations in the country. ;ith his s#ilful 3rime 9inister 6ichelieu, who vowed Fto ma#e the royal power supreme in Brance and Brance supreme in /urope.F  source: Cardinal Richelieu's Political Testament !,Couis DIII established Absolute 9onarchy in Brance during his reign. ; hen his son and successor Couis DI came to power, a period of trouble #nown as the Bronde occurred in Brance, ta#ing advantage of  Couis DI's minority. 4his rebellion was driven by the great feudal lords and sovereign courts as a reaction to the rise of royal power in Brance.

4he rebellion was crushedH however, many obstacles stood in the way of absolutism in Brance> •

?obles had the means to raise private armies and build fortifications. 4he #ing did not have the means to raise and #eep an army himself and had to rely on these nobles to defend the nationH

•

Cesser nobles, who had the ability to read and write, also acted as the #ing's agents. /ffectively, they were his representatives of government to the people. 4hey collected taxes, posted edicts, and administered 8ustice.

•

4he Euguenots, who since the 1+<2 /dict of ?antes by Eenry I, held the rights to bear arms and to build fortifications in certain locations.

4o overcome these obstacles 7ing Couis DI used several tools> )ne of the more unsubtle acts of this consolidation of power was the repeal of the /dict of ?antes with the /dict of Bontainebleau in 1-2+.  A more subtle tactic was the demolition of the nobles castles, disguised as a budgetary act to reduce maintenance costs by removing unnecessary fortifications on the nations interior, this /dict of 1-&removed any ability of the nobles to rebel. Couis DI reduced the nobles power further by re=uiring them to spend at least some portion of the year occupying ersailles. At ersailles, the #ing could watch and be sure his nobles werent plotting against the crown. 6ather than seen as demeaning, the nobles too# this as a high honor. ?obles, being granted residence at ersailles, were only too happy to give up their duties as government ministers, and Couis DI, with the help of his minister of finance, :eanG%aptiste $olbert, replaced them with members of the merchant class who could read and write and whose titles were revocable and not heritable. $onse=uences 4he final outcome of these acts did centralie the authority of Brance behind the #ing. 4he replacement of government ministers, removal of castles, and other financial polices of $olbert did reduce Brench national debt considerably. In the 12th century, however, the relocation of nobles and the sheer obsolescence of ersailles became an important place for a rising merchant class and an instigative press. 3erhaps the most pressing conse=uence of absolutism in Brance is the emigration of the Euguenots. )f the merchant class, their emigration effectively leads to a brain drain and a loss of tax revenue for  Brance. 9oreover, barred from ?ew Brance, they immigrated to other nations, most notably the 1(

colonies, ta#ing their s#ills of printing, glass ma#ing, carpentry, ceramics, a deep belief in the needs for freedom of religion at least for 3rotestantism!, and the right to bear arms.