12.1 Key Terms - Absolutism & Revolution: Absolute Monarchy in Spain & France

levee

a wall of earth built to prevent a river from flooding its banks

Charles V

(1500-1558) Holy Roman emperor during the time of Martin Luther's reformation efforts. His immense empire included large areas of Europe. A staunch Catholic, he rejected Luther's doctrines. The Protestant upheaval, along with political pressures, led Charles to voluntarily give up his throne. He divided the empire between his son and his brother. Charles entered a Catholic monastery where he remained until his death.

Philip II

(1527-1598) King of Spain from 1556 to 1598. Absolute monarch who helped lead the Counter Reformation by persecuting Protestants in his holdings. Also sent the Spanish Armada against England.

Cardinal Richelieu

(1585-1642) Minister to Louis XIII. His three point plan (1. Break the power of the nobility, 2. Humble the House of Austria, 3. Control the Protestants) helped to send France on the road to absolute monarchy.

Henry IV

(1589-1610) - Formerly Henry of Navarre; ascended the French throne as a convert to Catholicism. Surrived St. Bartholomew Day, signed Edict of Nantes, quoted as saying "Paris is worth a mass."

Louis XIV

(1638-1715) Known as the Sun King, he was an absolute monarch that completely controlled France. One of his greatest accomplishments was the building of the palace at Versailles.

Edict of Nantes

1598 - Granted the Huguenots liberty of conscience and worship.

intendant

A French government official appointed by the monarch to collect taxes and administer justice

Versailles

A palace built by Louis XIV outside of Paris; it was home to Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette

absolute monarchy

A system of government in which the head of state is a hereditary position and the king or queen has almost complete power

Jean Baptiste Colbert

An economic advisor to Louis XIV; he supported mercantilism and tried to make France economically self-sufficient. Brought prosperity to France.

divine right

Belief that a ruler's authority comes directly from god.

Hapsburg Empire

Central European empire that lasted from the 1400s to the 1900s and at its height included the lands of the Holy Roman Empire and the Netherlands

Huguenots

French Protestants influenced by John Calvin

El Greco

Spanish painter (born in Greece) remembered for his religious works characterized by elongated human forms and dramatic use of color (1541-1614)

Miguel de Cervantes

Spanish writer best remembered for 'Don Quixote' which satirizes chivalry and influenced the development of the novel form

armada

a fleet of warships

balance of power

distribution of military and economic power that prevents any one nation from becoming too strong