what factors led to the rise of absolute monarchies

what factors led to the rise of absolute monarchies

1 year ago 68
Nature

The rise of absolute monarchies in Europe was influenced by several factors, including:

  • Invasions and fear: Invasions by Vikings and other "barbarian" groups created fear amongst the population, which created a perfect environment for all-powerful leaders to rise.

  • Decline of feudalism: The decline of feudalism allowed monarchs to centralize power and create a more unified state.

  • Religious wars: Religious wars, especially the Thirty Years War, can be considered as the most basic reason for the rise of absolute monarchy. The basic power of a state such as military, entitlement of judgment was gathered in the hand of absolutist monarchs.

  • Growth of the middle class: The growth of the middle class and the taxation system resulted from the climate change that affected Europeans life and economy too negatively by causing suffering and deprivation.

  • Divine right of kings: Most absolute monarchs believed they had the divine right to rule, meaning that God created the monarchy they ruled over and they alone were Gods representative on Earth.

  • Consolidation of power: Once absolute monarchs gained power, they began to consolidate, or reinforce, their power within their borders. They would set up large royal courts, which were an extended royal household, including all those who regularly attend to the monarch and the royal family. Monarchs did this in order to appear more powerful and to control the nobility. They also regulated religion to control the spread of ideas.

  • State control of culture: State control of culture reached unprecedented heights under Louis XIV, the Sun King. Newly created academies in the arts and sciences generated heroic representations of the king that reinforced the royal religion. Increasing censorship targeted "scandalous" texts and political writings incompatible with absolute monarchy.

Overall, the rise of absolute monarchies was a complex process influenced by a variety of factors, including political, social, and cultural changes.

Read Entire Article