Glossary
Absolutism
A political system where a single ruler, typically a monarch, holds complete and unrestricted power over the state and its people.
Example:
Peter the Great's reforms in Russia, such as the Table of Ranks and control over the Orthodox Church, were hallmarks of his absolutism aimed at centralizing power.
Catholic Church
The dominant religious institution in Western Europe, whose wealth, landholdings, and spiritual authority often clashed with the ambitions of absolute monarchs seeking to consolidate state power.
Example:
Absolute monarchs like Philip II of Spain often used the power of the Catholic Church to reinforce their rule, while others, like Henry VIII, challenged its authority to gain more control.
Celtic regions
Areas such as Scotland, Ireland, and parts of France where distinct Gaelic languages and cultures persisted, often challenging the centralizing authority of emerging nation-states.
Example:
The English Crown faced ongoing resistance and rebellions from the Celtic regions of Ireland, as local lords and populations resisted English control and cultural assimilation.
Defenestration of Prague
An event in 1618 where Protestant Bohemian nobles threw two Catholic imperial officials from a castle window, sparking the Bohemian Revolt and escalating into the Thirty Years' War.
Example:
The Defenestration of Prague served as a dramatic catalyst, transforming local religious tensions into a continent-wide conflict.
Divine Right of Kings
A political and religious doctrine asserting that a monarch's authority is derived directly from God, making them accountable only to God, not to their subjects or any earthly power.
Example:
When James I of England claimed his power came directly from God, he was asserting the Divine Right of Kings, which often put him at odds with Parliament.
Dutch Revolt
A prolonged struggle (1568-1648) in which the Protestant-majority provinces of the Netherlands fought for independence from the Catholic Spanish Habsburg rule.
Example:
The success of the Dutch Revolt against Spain demonstrated that even a powerful absolute monarchy could be challenged and defeated by determined local resistance.
Jacques Bossuet
A French bishop and theologian who was a prominent advocate for the Divine Right of Kings, arguing that monarchs were God's representatives on Earth.
Example:
Jacques Bossuet's writings provided a strong theological justification for the absolute power wielded by monarchs like Louis XIV.
Jan Hus
A Czech religious reformer and philosopher who advocated for Church reform in the early 15th century, becoming a symbol of Czech resistance against the Holy Roman Empire and Catholic Church.
Example:
Long before the Reformation, Jan Hus's execution for heresy made him a martyr and inspired a Hussite rebellion, foreshadowing later religious conflicts.
Monarchical Sovereignty
The principle that a monarch holds supreme and independent authority over a territory, free from external or internal challenges.
Example:
Louis XIV's reign exemplified monarchical sovereignty, as he asserted complete control over France, famously declaring 'L'état, c'est moi' (I am the state).
Nobility
The aristocratic class, traditionally holding significant land, wealth, and political influence, who often resisted the centralizing efforts of absolute monarchs.
Example:
Louis XIV built Versailles not just for grandeur, but to entice the nobility to live at court, thereby keeping them under his watchful eye and reducing their independent power.
Thirty Years’ War
A devastating European conflict (1618-1648) primarily fought in Central Europe, stemming from religious disputes between Protestants and Catholics, and evolving into a struggle for political power and territory.
Example:
The Thirty Years’ War led to widespread destruction and depopulation, ultimately weakening the Holy Roman Empire and paving the way for stronger, more centralized states.
Thomas Hobbes
An English philosopher who, in his work *Leviathan*, argued that human nature is inherently selfish and chaotic, necessitating a powerful, absolute sovereign to maintain order and prevent civil war.
Example:
Thomas Hobbes's philosophy suggested that individuals willingly surrender some freedoms to an absolute ruler in exchange for security and stability.