Absolute Monarchy and Mercantilism in 17th-Century Europe

Absolute Monarchy in 17th-Century Europe

During the 17th century, the system of government known as absolute monarchy was imposed throughout Europe, with the exception of Great Britain and a few small states. This system recognized the divine origin of the monarchy, meaning the king received power directly from God. For this reason, there were no restrictions on the king's power; he held absolute authority over the nation.

European monarchs gained total control over the state throughout the 16th and 17th centuries by weakening the power of the nobility. They achieved this by abolishing the nobles' political privileges while maintaining their economic feudal privileges. The submission of the nobility to the king led to the political and administrative centralization of the state. Consequently, all decision-making was concentrated in the court, where the king's will was imposed.

Essential Elements of Absolute Rule

This absolute rule required three essential elements:

• A bureaucracy: A centralized administration to apply the law and the royal will in all areas and throughout the state.
• A permanent national army: To maintain internal unity and to challenge other countries for continental hegemony.
• Financial resources: An economic organization that sought to develop and strengthen productive activities from which public finance could derive its income.

The Principles of Mercantilism

Mercantilism was the dominant economic theory of the time. It attached great importance to precious metals like gold and silver, which were considered the only means of international payment. It was believed that the abundance of these metals would lead to a country's enrichment.

Key principles included:

• Attracting precious metals: It was necessary to seek a favorable trade balance where exports exceeded imports. To achieve this, national economic activities were protected from foreign competition by prohibiting the import of certain goods or subjecting them to high tariffs.
• Fostering domestic industries: Mercantilism encouraged the creation and growth of industry and commerce within the nation.
• Exploiting colonies: The system advocated for the exploitation of colonies for the economic benefit of the mother country (the metropolis).

The ultimate expression of absolute monarchy was reached in France during the reign of Louis XIV.