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Absolutism: The Divine Right of Kings. Absolutism. The theory that all power in a state rest in the hands of the King or Queen. Devine Right: The idea that God created the monarchy and that the monarchy acted as God’s representative on earth. The Meaning of This?.
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Absolutism • The theory that all power in a state rest in the hands of the King or Queen. • Devine Right: The idea that God created the monarchy and that the monarchy acted as God’s representative on earth.
The Meaning of This? • To question the King, is to question God. • God is infallible, so the King can never be wrong. • In certain lands the Kings were to uphold justice and fairness, however Kings often forgot about fairness.
Famous Quote… • 'Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men.‘ - Lord Acton, 1887
Examples: Absolute Monarchs • Louis XIV • France • Known as “the Sun King”
Maria Theresa • Queen of Austria • Mother of Marie Antoinette (Future Queen of France) • Had 16 Children
Fredrick the Great • King of Prussia • Years of War with Austria
Ivan the Terrible • Ruler of Russia • Ruled under two periods: “the Good” and “the Bad”
What led to Absolutism? • Read selections on monarchs and fill in the sections of the chart.
Why Important Today? • Will help us better understand the French Revolution. • We still have Absolutism today (Totalitarianism) • Example: North Korea