<p> A New Age in Europe The Age of Powerful Kings 6.3</p><p>I. The Age of Absolute Rule</p><p>A. The Divine Right of Kings</p><p>Time – 1600’s</p><p>King Ruled by divine right – the idea that the king was chosen by God and was God’s representative</p><p>B. The Growth of Absolute Monarchy</p><p>King Louis XIV</p><p>Absolute monarch – He had complete power over every part of life in his Kingdom</p><p>•Power not shared with nobles, parliaments, or the people</p><p>II. Absolute Rule in France</p><p>1643 – Louis took the throne</p><p>Only four years old – Cardinal Mazarin ruled for him</p><p>1661 – Mazarin dies and Louis took over (at 22 years or age)</p><p>•Further weakened the nobles of their power</p><p>•Reduced to power of the church</p><p>•“I am the state”</p><p>A. Life at the Sun King’s Court</p><p>Versailles – Louis’ Palace in Paris •It took 30,000 labors 40 years to complete</p><p>•Many nobles lived there = Louis could keep and eye on them</p><p>•Nobles, merchants, and craftspeople avoided taxes </p><p>Therefore, </p><p>Luxury = $ = peasants paid the most for Louis lifestyle</p><p>B. France at War</p><p>1667-1713 – Louis wants France to be the greatest nation</p><p>•Constantly at war with other European countries</p><p>•War = costly = large sums of debt at Louis death (1715) </p><p>III. European Monarchs Gain Power</p><p>King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella - Spain</p><p>•Combined their kingdoms at marriage</p><p>•Limited nobles power (like Louis) </p><p>•Took over Spain and supported exploration</p><p>•Voyages resulted in a huge empire in the Americas</p><p>Peter the Great – Russia, 1682</p><p>•Ruled at the age of seventeen</p><p>•Modernized Russia army and navy</p><p>•Improved farming and industry</p><p>•Expanded Russia territory to include sea ports Henry VII and Elizabeth I - England</p><p>•Nobles had power through parliament (through the Magna Carta) </p><p>Charles I – England</p><p>•Claimed “divine right” and ignored Parliament = war = Charles I was executed</p>