Absolutist Monarchy

520 Words3 Pages

How do you think you would feel if you were someone living in an Absolutist Monarchy? Absolutism is the rule of a monarchy that holds complete political power over their kingdom or state. Absolutism began to rise up in popularity at the time of Louis XIV Bourbon of France (r. 1643-1715), as he started the era of Absolutist rule in Western Europe. During the late 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries, kings previously used Absolutism in their rule, and all of them had a slightly different approach to their rule. The question remains of how those within the monarchy viewed the absolutist rule. Certain groups believed the monarch should work together with people and state, others thought of their country running only off taxes and payment. Then there are those …show more content…

During the Absolutist Era, there were some monarchs that ruled with their kingdom in mind, meaning they worked with their people. From the first document, an exempt from a book written by Frederick II of Prussia, mentions how a “sovereign is a representative of his state.” (Frederick II). In this document, while it is short, it gives a well of information in the form of Frederick’s views; a state and a monarch were to work together. The source itself mentions Frederick wrote it, as a clear statement of the era as Frederick II ruled between 1740 and 1786. As it is entitled Essay on the Forms of Government, it could be a clue that this exempt as document one is not the only feeling Frederick II expresses inside. The small exempt itself quite simply explains the elements a king is to his kingdom, calling them one. It is a key example for the idea that ruler and ruled work together in their Absolute kingdom. The next piece of information is the second document, written by the Holy Roman Emperor Joseph II, an exempt from a letter stating “every action being related to the overall view, which only the monarch and his closest associates should share and pursue” (Joseph II). The