Absolutism is a system in which a ruler holds total power. In seventeenth- century Europe, absolutism was tied to the idea of the divine right of kings. It was thought that rulers received their power from God and were responsible to no one except God. Absolute monarchs had tremendous powers. They had the ability to make laws, levy taxes, administer justice, control the state’s officials, and determine foreign policy.
King Louis XIVThe reign of Louis XIV has long been regarded as the best example of the practice of absolutism in the seventeenth century. French culture, language, and manners reached into all levels of European society. French diplomacy and wars dominated the political affairs of western and central Europe. The court of Louis XIV was imitated throughout Europe. He believed that all things revolved around him and called himself the Sun King, often saying, "I am the state," to impress upon others his absolute authority. To limit the ambitions of the French nobility, Louis XIV invited them to stay for long periods at his magnificent palace at Versailles, where the enjoyed a life of luxury. While the nobility remained occupied at Versailles, they were under the watchful eye of the king, away from their castles and unable to start any conflicts with him.
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Peter the GreatPeter the Great was a Russian king who had absolute power over his kingdom. He wanted to revolutionize Russia's mainly agricultural economy and its culture by adapting Western systems. Peter was well aware of Russia's need to have access to warm-water seaports on the Baltic Sea, as well as the inferiority of the Russian army against European forces. In his youth, Peter was exposed to Western scholars. While traveling incognito in Europe, he became interested in shipbuilding and navigation, as well as other forms of technology and science. He brought 1,000 Western experts to Russia to bring it in line with Western technological advances. This was the first time in history that a society had deliberately tried to Westernize. However, Peter was an autocratic ruler that brutally suppressed all revolts against him. Peter also reorganized his army and modeled it after Western armies. He implemented the use of European officers and Western uniforms, drew soldiers from each territory, and armed his regiments with Western guns and cannons, so that by 1704, Peter led his forces against the Swedes. This gave Russia Estonia, Livonia, and parts of Finland, and most importantly, his long-sought presence on the warm waters of the Baltic Sea, which enabled Russia to become a major force in diplomatic and military affairs in Europe.
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