Monarchie - 01 La monarchie absolue

Yannick Rub

14 Nov 202007:08

Summary

TLDRThis script explores the rise of absolute monarchy in 17th-century Europe, where states became more distinct and independent. It discusses the shift from empires like the Roman and Charlemagne to individual states asserting their power, particularly through absolute monarchies. The script highlights the French monarchy under Louis XIII, Richelieu, Louis XIV, and Mazarin, where the king's power was absolute but still bound by fundamental laws and privileges. It also touches on the state's growing authority over society, including social welfare and justice, and the concept of the king as a divine representative, expected to uphold certain beliefs and laws.

Takeaways

🏰 The concept of monarchy, where power is held by a single person such as a king or queen, became more defined and absolute around the 17th century in Europe.
🌐 Europe saw a shift from a unified empire to independent states, each with its own form of government, during the 1600s.
👑 Absolutism emerged as a political regime where the state leader, typically a king, held all powers, notably in France under Louis XIII, Richelieu, and Louis XIV with Mazarin.
🔗 The rise of the state as an independent entity with centralized power began to take shape in the 16th and 17th centuries, distinct from external powers like the Pope or the Holy Roman Emperor.
💼 The state's authority grew as it took over societal responsibilities such as welfare, previously managed by the church, and introduced state-controlled assistance for the poor.
🏛️ The state's sovereignty was asserted through control over fundamental rights like minting currency, taxation, and justice, replacing private vengeance practices like dueling.
🏆 The power and prosperity of states varied; France and Britain saw the rise of strong monarchies, while Spain declined and Venice lost its commercial dominance.
🤴 In the era of absolute monarchy, the king was seen as God's representative on earth, a belief that justified his absolute authority and the obedience of his subjects.
📜 Despite their absolute power, monarchs were bound by fundamental laws and had to respect privileges held by certain regions, cities, or professional groups.
⚖️ The French Revolution in 1789 challenged the absolute monarchy model, leading to a reevaluation of state and monarchical power across Europe.

Q & A

What was the political landscape of Europe around 1600?
-Around 1600, Europe was increasingly divided into independent states, each adopting different forms of government, moving away from the model of a single empire dominating vast territories.
What is the definition of monarchy as described in the script?
-Monarchy is defined as a political regime where power is generally exercised by a single person, either a king or sometimes a queen.
How did the power of kings in the Middle Ages compare to that of the absolute monarchs of the 17th century?
-In the Middle Ages, the power of kings was often limited, sometimes even overshadowed by more powerful vassals, and they were subject to the authority of the Pope or the Holy Roman Emperor. In contrast, by the 17th century, absolute monarchs like those in France had much more consolidated power.
What is absolutism and how did it manifest in 17th century France?
-Absolutism is a political regime where the head of state has all the powers. In 17th century France, it manifested as the king's power becoming total, especially under the reigns of Louis XIII and his first minister Richelieu, and later Louis XIV and Mazarin, where the absolute monarchy was firmly established.
Why did the concept of the state become more prominent in the 16th and 17th centuries?
-The concept of the state became more prominent as it represented a new way of thinking about political organization. It became an independent authority that functioned without external intervention, such as from the Pope or the Emperor, and its power over society increased, becoming more centralized.
How did the state assert its authority in the 17th century?
-In the 17th century, the state asserted its authority by controlling fundamental rights such as minting money, levying taxes, and administering justice. It also became a source of unity in the face of religious divisions.
What were some of the social responsibilities that states began to take on during the 16th and 17th centuries?
-States began to take on social responsibilities such as providing assistance to the poor, which was previously the role of the church. However, this aid could come with conditions like imprisonment or forced labor.
Why were people expected to obey the king in an absolute monarchy?
-People were expected to obey the king in an absolute monarchy because the king was seen as the representative of God on earth. Challenging the king's authority was akin to challenging the authority of God, which was inconceivable in a deeply religious society.
What were the fundamental laws that even an absolute monarch had to respect in France?
-Even an absolute monarch in France had to respect certain fundamental laws, such as not being able to choose their heir (the heir was always the eldest son), a queen could only govern if her son was too young to rule, the king had to be Catholic, and the king could not sell parts of the country.
How did the privileges of certain provinces, cities, or guilds affect the absolute monarchy?
-The privileges of certain provinces, cities, or guilds were specific rights they held, and any challenge to these could provoke revolts. The absolute monarch had to take these privileges into account when governing.
What event in 1789 challenged the model of absolute monarchy in France and Europe?
-The ideas of the French Revolution in 1789 challenged the model of absolute monarchy in France and subsequently across Europe, leading to significant political changes.

Outlines

00:00

🏰 The Rise of Absolutism in 17th Century Europe

The script discusses the shift in European political landscape around 1600, where the continent saw a rise in independent states with different forms of government, particularly the emergence of absolute monarchy. It explains that absolute monarchy is a political regime where power is exercised by a single person, either a king or a queen. The script highlights the transformation of monarchy from a system where the king's power was often limited by vassals or the authority of the Pope or the Holy Roman Emperor, to one where the king's power became absolute. This change is exemplified by the cases of France under Louis XIII and Louis XIV, where the monarch's power was consolidated to maintain national unity and address religious conflicts. The concept of the state as an independent authority, managing society without external interference, is also introduced, with states taking over roles previously held by the church, such as assistance to the poor. The script also touches on the limitations of the absolute monarch's power, such as adherence to fundamental laws and respect for certain privileges held by provinces or professional guilds.

05:01

👑 The Role and Limitations of Absolute Monarchs

This paragraph delves deeper into the role and constraints of an absolute monarch. Despite having absolute power, the monarch was not without limits. The king had to respect fundamental laws, such as the succession rules that dictated the crown would pass to the eldest son, and the requirement for the monarch to be Catholic. The script also mentions the king's inability to sell parts of the country and the need to consider the privileges of various provinces, cities, or professional bodies. The paragraph concludes by linking the absolute monarchy to the divine right of kings, where the monarch was seen as God's representative on Earth, capable of performing miracles, which further reinforced their authority. However, it also sets the stage for the eventual challenge to this system with the French Revolution in 1789, which questioned the legitimacy of absolute monarchy and the divine right of kings.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Monarchie

Monarchie refers to a form of government in which a single individual, typically a king or queen, holds supreme authority. In the context of the video, it is discussed as a political regime where power is centralized in the hands of a monarch, often with limited checks and balances. The script mentions the evolution of monarchies from the Middle Ages to the establishment of absolute monarchies in the 16th and 17th centuries.

💡Absolutisme

Absolutisme, or absolutism, is a political system where the monarch has absolute power and is not bound by laws or a constitution. The video describes how absolutism emerged in 17th-century Europe, particularly in France, where the king's power was total and used to maintain unity in the face of religious conflicts, reaching its peak under Louis XIV.

💡États indépendants

États indépendants translates to 'independent states,' which in the video refers to the division of Europe into separate political entities with distinct forms of government. The script discusses how Europe moved from a few large empires to many smaller states asserting their sovereignty and power.

💡Pouvoir

Pouvoir, meaning 'power,' is central to the video's discussion of how monarchies functioned. It is used to describe the authority that monarchs held, especially in the context of absolute monarchies where the king's power was unchecked and supreme.

💡Royaume

Royaume, or 'kingdom,' is used in the script to describe the territories ruled by a monarch. The video discusses how the power of the monarch was used to maintain unity within these kingdoms, especially during times of religious conflict.

💡Richelieu

Cardinal Richelieu was the chief minister of King Louis XIII and is mentioned in the video as a key figure in the establishment of absolutism in France. His role in consolidating royal power and centralizing governance is highlighted as a precursor to the absolute monarchy under Louis XIV.

💡Louis XIV

Louis XIV, known as the Sun King, is a central figure in the video's discussion of absolute monarchy. His reign is presented as the epitome of absolutism, where the king's power was absolute and centralized, setting a precedent for other European monarchies.

💡État

État, or 'state,' is discussed in the video as a new concept emerging in the 16th century to describe a politically organized entity with centralized authority. The script explains how states began to assert their independence and control over various aspects of society, such as currency, taxation, and justice.

💡Royaume de France

The term 'Royaume de France,' or 'Kingdom of France,' is used in the script to illustrate the development of the state's power and the establishment of absolutism. It is noted for its control over currency minting, taxation, and justice, as well as its role in unifying the country during religious conflicts.

💡Révolution française

The French Revolution is mentioned as a pivotal event that challenged the model of absolute monarchy in France and across Europe. The video suggests that the ideas of the revolution led to the questioning and eventual dismantling of the absolute power of monarchs.

💡Droit de frapper la monnaie

The 'right to coin money' is an example of the state's assertion of its authority, as discussed in the video. It highlights how the state controlled the minting of currency, a fundamental aspect of its sovereignty and power, and how counterfeiting became a capital offense.

Highlights

In 1600, Europe saw the rise of independent states with various forms of government, moving away from the empire model.

Monarchy, where power is held by a single person, emerged as a significant form of government during this period.

The Middle Ages saw kings with limited power, often overshadowed by the Pope or the Holy Roman Emperor.

The 17th century marked a shift to absolute monarchy, where the king's power was total, notably in France.

Absolute monarchy was used to maintain unity in France, especially after religious conflicts between Protestants and Catholics.

Louis XIII and his minister Richelieu, followed by Louis XIV and Mazarin, solidified absolute monarchy in France.

Many European countries adopted absolute monarchy as their form of government in the 17th and 18th centuries.

The term 'state' emerged in the 16th century to describe a new way of thinking about political organization.

The state became an independent authority, centralizing power and managing society without external interference.

The state took over social responsibilities, such as assisting the poor, which was previously the church's role.

The state controlled fundamental rights like minting money, imposing taxes, and administering justice.

The state acted as a unifying force amidst religious divisions caused by the Reformation.

The power and prosperity of states varied; France and Britain rose, while Spain declined, and Venice lost its commercial dominance.

In absolute monarchy, the king was seen as God's representative on earth, a belief that justified his authority.

The concept of 'royal thaumaturgy', where kings were believed to perform miracles, reinforced their divine right.

Despite absolute power, kings had to respect fundamental laws and consider privileges held by cities or guilds.

The French Revolution in 1789 challenged the absolute monarchy model, leading to changes across Europe.

Absolute monarchy was characterized by a king or queen with total power but still bound by certain laws and privileges.