European Absolutism and the Rise of Liberalism

European Absolutism and Liberalism's Emergence

Absolutism, a form of absolute rule often associated with Spain and the Habsburg monarchy, concentrated power entirely in the hands of the monarch, disregarding popular participation. It was prevalent across several European nations:

• Spain
• France
• The Austrian Empire (including parts of the former Holy Roman Empire)
• Sweden (which gained prominence in the 17th century)
• Prussia (in northern Germany)

Absolutism featured absolute monarchs, typically hereditary heirs from the aristocracy. In contrast, liberalism saw power shift away from the high aristocracy (descendants of medieval nobles) towards the middle class (those enriched by trade and industry). While liberalism could still feature kings, they were not absolute rulers like Pedro I of Castile or the Spanish Catholic Monarchs.

England and Holland, for instance, developed systems leaning towards liberalism. Liberalism emerged as a significant political concept over recent centuries, often evolving into what is now known as constitutional monarchy.

The English Civil War: A Turning Point

Disputes over governance, religion, and economic control led to events like the English Civil War (1642–1649). The Parliament, representing English bourgeois interests influential in maritime commerce, rose against King Charles I in 1642. This conflict between the middle class and the monarchy/aristocracy ended with Parliament's victory. In 1649, Charles I of the Stuart dynasty was captured and executed, marking a significant step towards parliamentary power in England and influencing concepts of European democracy.

Absolutism Elsewhere: France, Spain, Prussia, Sweden

While Habsburg Spain declined (partly due to challenges in managing its colonial trade), France rose to prominence in 17th-century Europe under absolutist monarchs. The most significant French absolutist monarch was Louis XIV de Bourbon, known as the Sun King. His reign (1643–1715) is one of the longest in European history, and he is famously associated with the phrase "L'état, c'est moi" ("I am the state").

Absolutist governments also existed in:

• Prussia: Under Frederick William I and Frederick II.
• Spain: Under Philip III, Philip IV, and Charles II ("the Bewitched").
• Sweden: Under Gustavus Adolphus and Charles XII.

The War of the Spanish Succession

The death of Spain's Charles II without an heir in 1700 triggered a major European conflict: the War of the Spanish Succession (1701–1714). This war involved factions supporting either a Bourbon (French) or a Habsburg (Austrian) claimant to the Spanish throne. The Bourbon faction ultimately succeeded. As a result of the war and the subsequent treaties (like the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713), Louis XIV's grandson, Philip V, was recognized as King of Spain in 1714, establishing the Bourbon dynasty there. A significant outcome of the conflict was Great Britain gaining control of Gibraltar.