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Absolutism arose in France under Louis XIV, and in Russia under Peter the Great!.

In the 17th Century, with the exception of Britain, Europe saw an astonishing growth in the power of monarchs over their states!. The two centuries leading up to the French Revolution saw the development of absolute monarchies and more tightly-centralized national governments; the growth of the absolute monarchy is regarded by many historians as the origin of the modern state!.

Europe consequently saw the gradual erosion of local power and autonomy of the Middle Ages, and the rise of national legislation and civil bureaucracies!. Because of this growth in absolute and centralized power of the national government and the monarchy, this age in European history is generally called the Age of Absolutism (1660-1789)!. It begins in the reign of Louis XIV and ends with the French Revolution!.

Absolutism has its origins in France, and the greatest European monarch of the era, Louis XIV!. This monarch who fully embodied absolutist principles, ruled France from 1643 to 1715!. Many countries and monarchs turned to him as a model for the new, modern government, and many like to consider the reign of Louis XIV as the beginning of the modern state!.

Most of the practices of the modern state were more or less instituted in the France of Louis XIV: centralized government, a centralized civil bureaucracy, national legislation, a national judiciary that controlled most judicial activity, a large, standing military under the direct, rather than indirect, control of national authorities, and a national tax collection mechanism in which taxes went straight to the national government rather than passing through the hands of regional nobility!.

Louis XIV instituted all these reforms to the French government, which prior to then had followed the decentralized, feudal government and economy of the Middle Ages!.

Peter the Great became Czar of Russia in 1682 and ruled until 1725!. He made it the goal of his reign to modernize Russia, and make it a European power!. Peter felt that Russia could only be modernized by adopting Western European culture, industries, and political management!. His first task was to bring Western European industry to Russia; in 1689, he went to Holland and England and brought back skilled workers!. He also demanded that the nobility adopt Western cultural habits, such as going beardless or wearing only short beards, eating with utensils, wearing European clothes, and engaging in the habits of "polite" speech!.

Peter imitated European armies by creating a standing army that was only answerable to him; he created this army by drafting five percent of the male population of Russia to serve in the army for life!. This army was supplied by state-run factories; the factories were staffed by peasants who had been drafted to work in these factories!. He centralized the tax system by taxing the peasants of Russia directly rather than indirectly through landed nobles!. As in other European states, the nobility were exempt from this tax!. He created a bureaucracy and staffed it with both nobility and civil servants!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

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When Louis the 14th took the throne, things changed!. With the help of Cardinal Richieulu, his mentor, he rose above the nobles, whom he despised and made many laws to limit their power!. He also made them live near them so he could monitor their activities!. He also made laws stating he was above decisions made by nobles in court!. He also took their land if he wanted it!.

Russia achieved absolutism through their past ruler called Ivan the Terrible!. In his early years, he made great change in the country and people were happy!. He was married to a beautiful woman named Anastasia!. After Anastasia's death, those were his bad years; he thought those around him; the nobility, had poisoned his precious wife and let them have no mercy if he found something to be mad at them about!. Using anywhere from execution to confiscating land, he hated the nobility!. He had his own special guards to carry out deeds, especially the killing off of nobles!. To further demonstrate his power, he killed his own son, and the only responsible heir, his other son was deemed mentally incapable later on!.

In came Peter, then to be known as Peter the Great!. He made laws taking away from the nobility's power, once more limiting their role in society!. He wanted to westernize Russia, because he noticed how behind they were in technology!. So, in disguise he traveled to other countries, especially in Europe, and brought the ideas back to his country after years and years of studying!. He brought about a great deal of change through doing this; he established a new port city, and established an academy!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

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Absolutism is defined as a term used to describe the government of Ancien Regime states, especially France, Russia, Spain and Prussia!.

The term indicates that the only legitimate source of power in such states was the monarch!. In particular the rules of such states tried to deprive the aristocracy and the church of the ability to compete with the monarch
Divine right was a theory championed by absolute monarchs in Europe, such as Louis XVI of France, who felt that because he had been born into royalty, his power and authority to rule was derived from God!. Absolutism in France focused on the aristocracy!. The bourgeoisie and the masses did not have much freedom as those in the aristocracy!. Freedom of speech was also curtailed!. There was a marked inequality in the society depending on the status of the person!. The aristocrats were adamant to adopt reforms to enhance the lives of those in the middle and lower classes!.

Peter the Great also practiced absolutism like Louis XVI of France!. In 1721, he abolished the church hierarchy through the Ecclesiastical Reservation placing the church under the Holy Synod and was fully linked to the state!. The 1721 Regulation specifically delineated what the clergy could do; it was intended to control their daily life so that they became an instrument of the state!. The task of the clergy was seen as two-fold: to work for the state and to make their congregations totally submissive to the state by convincing them that Peter was all but God-like to guarantee the population of Russia's total subordination to the crown!.

Both monarchy practiced absolutism!. Unlike Louis XVI though, Peter the Great was a visionary who introduced his homeland Russia to western ideas and customs!. Peter the Great was known for his policies of Westernization!. !.

Throughout the 1700's, Peter the Great did much to modernize Russia by adopting ideas from the European Renaissance from which Russia had been isolated!. Peter the Great helped to westernize Russia by creating new laws aimed at curtailing traditional customs, and by building the modern city of St!. Petersburg, which he called his “window to the West!.”

Louis XVI was seen as weak and indecisive!. His absolutism rule led to widespread discontent culminating in the French Revolution!. Peter the Great on the other hand was seen as strong and visionary!. The reforms he introduced helped improve and lead Russia to become an economic and military power!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

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