1.5 New Monarchies: 1450 - 1648

New monarchies were late-15th–16th century rulers (like Ferdinand & Isabella, Henry VIII, Elizabeth I) who built more centralized states. They created monopolies on tax collection, professional bureaucracies and standing armies, royal courts (e.g., Star Chamber), and often controlled religion (Concordat of Bologna, Spanish Inquisition, Book of Common Prayer). They worked with rising commercial and professional groups (merchants, nobles of the robe) and used secular political ideas (Machiavelli, Jean Bodin) to justify stronger state power. Medieval kings were more dependent on feudal bonds and local lords: power was fragmented, military force came from vassals, tax collection was limited, and justice was local. New monarchs reduced noble independence, standardized administration, and claimed rights to determine religion—laying groundwork for the modern centralized state (CED KC-1.5.I.A/C). For AP prep, expect short-answer or LEQ prompts asking about causes/effects of centralization—review the Topic 1.5 study guide (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-european-history/unit-1/new-monarchies-1450-1648/study-guide/GMVwZzUbpNd5q0X4WzsD) and practice questions (https://library.fiveable.me/practice/ap-european-history).

Monarchs like Henry VIII and Elizabeth I wanted control of religion because religious authority gave them political power and social stability. By directing worship and appointing clergy they could enforce moral rules, limit rival centers of loyalty (like the pope), and legitimize their rule—key features of new monarchies that centralized tax, justice, and military authority (CED KC-1.5.I.A; KC-1.2.II.A). Henry’s break with Rome let him authorize the Church of England and secure his marriage/ succession goals; Elizabeth used a moderate Protestant settlement (Book of Common Prayer, via state church) to reduce factional conflict and strengthen national unity. Controlling religion also helped suppress dissent and align elite groups (merchants, nobles) behind the crown. For AP prep, questions may ask you to explain these causes/effects in short answers or essays—use examples (Henry VIII, Elizabeth I, Book of Common Prayer) and the CED keywords. Review Topic 1.5 on Fiveable (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-european-history/unit-1/new-monarchies-1450-1648/study-guide/GMVwZzUbpNd5q0X4WzsD) and practice questions (https://library.fiveable.me/practice/ap-european-history).

Ferdinand and Isabella built a more centralized Spanish state by concentrating political, military, fiscal, and religious control. Key moves: their dynastic union (Castile + Aragon) created a stronger monarchy; they completed the Reconquista (Granada, 1492), which expanded royal authority; they created royal councils and a professional bureaucracy to administer justice and taxes; they used hermandades (royal police) and reorganized the military to reduce noble private warfare; and they secured revenues (more reliable tax collection) to fund state power. Critically, they controlled religion—establishing the Spanish Inquisition, enforcing Catholic orthodoxy, and expelling Jews (1492)—which helped unify subjects under one faith and increased crown oversight of clergy. These actions match CED KC-1.5.I.A (monarchs monopolize taxes, military, justice, and religion). For more on New Monarchies, review the Topic 1.5 study guide (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-european-history/unit-1/new-monarchies-1450-1648/study-guide/GMVwZzUbpNd5q0X4WzsD) and practice questions (https://library.fiveable.me/practice/ap-european-history).

The Spanish Inquisition was a royal tribunal established in 1478 by Ferdinand and Isabella to identify and punish heresy—especially among conversos (Jews and Muslims who’d converted to Christianity) suspected of secretly practicing their old faith. It used interrogation, confession, and punishment to enforce Catholic orthodoxy and religious unity. Monarchs created it to strengthen central control: by policing religion from the top down they reduced independent centers of authority, enforced the “right to determine the religion of their subjects,” and promoted national unity—key moves of new monarchies building centralized states (CED KC-1.5.I.A). Practically, it helped consolidate royal power, supported uniform law and morality, and led to expulsions of Jews (1492) and Muslims, reshaping Spain’s society and economy. For AP exam prep, remember the Spanish Inquisition is an illustrative example of state actions to control religion and morality (see Topic 1.5 study guide: https://library.fiveable.me/ap-european-history/unit-1/new-monarchies-1450-1648/study-guide/GMVwZzUbpNd5q0X4WzsD). For more practice, check unit resources (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-european-history/unit-1) and 1000+ practice questions (https://library.fiveable.me/practice/ap-european-history).

Short answer: they’re related but not the same. New monarchies (late 15th–early 16th c.) describe rulers like Ferdinand & Isabella, Henry VII/VIII, and early Tudor/Valois efforts to centralize power—creating royal bureaucracies, monopolizing tax collection, controlling the military, dispensing justice, and asserting control over religion (Spanish Inquisition, Concordat of Bologna, Book of Common Prayer). “Absolute monarchy” is a later, stronger political model (17th c. onward) where rulers claimed near-complete authority over state and society (Louis XIV is the classic example). So: new monarchs laid the institutional foundations for centralized modern states; absolutism intensifies those foundations into near-unchecked royal power. For AP Euro, connect KC-1.5.I.A and later Unit 3 themes on absolutism/constitutionalism—you may be asked to explain causes/effects or compare continuity/change on free-response questions. For a focused study guide, see the Topic 1.5 study guide (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-european-history/unit-1/new-monarchies-1450-1648/study-guide/GMVwZzUbpNd5q0X4WzsD). More unit review and practice problems are at the unit page (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-european-history/unit-1) and practice bank (https://library.fiveable.me/practice/ap-european-history).

The Star Chamber was a royal court in England (expanded under the Tudors) that heard cases involving powerful nobles, royal officials, and breaches of public order. Unlike local courts, it used judges appointed by the king, could try cases without juries, impose fines or imprisonment, and enforce equity when common law fell short. By centralizing justice in a body controlled by the crown, monarchs curtailed private noble violence and local legal independence—key steps in building a monopoly on justice and strengthening central authority (CED KC-1.5.I.A). The Star Chamber let English kings discipline unruly nobles, enforce royal policies, and project state power without relying on feudal networks. For AP review, link this example to new-monarchy actions (tax/justice/army/religion) in your essays or short answers; see the Topic 1.5 study guide for a quick refresher (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-european-history/unit-1/new-monarchies-1450-1648/study-guide/GMVwZzUbpNd5q0X4WzsD). For practice questions, check Fiveable’s AP practice bank (https://library.fiveable.me/practice/ap-european-history).

Start with a clear thesis that answers how and why centralized states developed 1450–1648 (e.g., monarchs built tax/military/justice monopolies and controlled religion to centralize power). In your 15-minute reading, group the 7 documents into 3–4 analytical categories (taxation/army/justice/religion/patronage). Use at least 4 documents to support your argument, describe broader context (Renaissance, decline of feudal order, rise of commerce, Peace of Augsburg), and add 1 specific outside fact (Concordat of Bologna, Star Chamber, Ferdinand & Isabella’s army reforms, or Edict of Nantes). For 2 documents, explain POV/purpose/situation (e.g., a royal decree vs. a merchant petition) to earn sourcing points. Structure paragraphs by claim + 1–2 docs + outside evidence + analysis showing change/causation/continuity. Tie each body paragraph back to your thesis and end with a short conclusion that synthesizes. For topic review and examples, see the New Monarchies study guide (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-european-history/unit-1/new-monarchies-1450-1648/study-guide/GMVwZzUbpNd5q0X4WzsD); for unit overview and extra practice, check (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-european-history/unit-1) and (https://library.fiveable.me/practice/ap-european-history).

Merchants and other commercial groups gained political power because the new monarchies needed them—and money—to build centralized states. Rulers were creating standing armies, bureaucracies, and new systems of taxation (KC-1.5.I.A), and merchants/financiers supplied credit, tax revenue, and expertise in administration and accounting. In return monarchs granted privileges, legal protections, urban offices, or seats on councils, letting commercial elites influence policy (KC-1.5.I.C). Cities also grew from expanding trade and the money economy, so urban elites became indispensable for economic stability and loans. Examples include merchants and bankers in Renaissance Italy and northern Europe and the nobles of the robe in France. For AP prep, use these connections in short answers or LEQs: link economic changes to state formation and give specific examples (study the Topic 1.5 guide on Fiveable for quick examples: https://library.fiveable.me/ap-european-history/unit-1/new-monarchies-1450-1648/study-guide/GMVwZzUbpNd5q0X4WzsD). For extra practice, try problems at https://library.fiveable.me/practice/ap-european-history.

Political centralization in early modern Europe grew from rulers' need for revenue, reliable armies, and control over religion and justice. Causes: recovery from demographic crises and rising commerce that increased tax bases; monarchs wanting to limit aristocratic violence and local legal fragmentation; and confessional conflict that pushed monarchs to control religion from the top (e.g., Henry VIII, Ferdinand & Isabella). States used institutions—standing armies, tax monopolies, royal courts (Star Chamber), concordats (Concordat of Bologna), and inquisitorial or Protestant settlement tools (Spanish Inquisition, Book of Common Prayer, Peace of Augsburg)—to strengthen authority. Effects: stronger centralized states able to collect taxes, dispense justice, and determine religion; growth of professional bureaucracies (nobles of the robe, trained administrators); greater role for merchants and financiers in politics; and new secular political theories (Machiavelli, Bodin, Grotius). These developments set the foundation for modern states and are tested on AP prompts about causes/effects—use specific examples and connect institutions to outcomes (see Fiveable’s Topic 1.5 study guide: https://library.fiveable.me/ap-european-history/unit-1/new-monarchies-1450-1648/study-guide/GMVwZzUbpNd5q0X4WzsD). For practice, try problems at (https://library.fiveable.me/practice/ap-european-history).

Machiavelli argued that politics should be guided by practical goals—keeping order and a strong state—rather than by Christian morality or religious ideals. In The Prince he said rulers need to be realistic: use whatever actions (cruelty, deception, generosity) that secure stability and loyalty, but prefer ones that work and preserve power. Key terms: virtù (skill, decisiveness, adaptability) and fortuna (luck); a good ruler shapes events through virtù and adapts to fortuna. He separated religion from statecraft, promoting a secular view of government where success and stability—not personal virtue—justify a ruler’s choices. This idea fits Topic 1.5 (New Monarchies) because thinkers like Machiavelli helped legitimize stronger centralized, secular states. On the AP exam, Machiavelli is a common example for short-answer or LEQ prompts about secular political theory or state-building. For a quick review, check the Topic 1.5 study guide (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-european-history/unit-1/new-monarchies-1450-1648/study-guide/GMVwZzUbpNd5q0X4WzsD) and practice questions (https://library.fiveable.me/practice/ap-european-history).

Nobles of the sword = the old, hereditary aristocracy whose rank came from military service and lineage. They held feudal privileges, local power, and social prestige—and they often resisted royal centralization because it cut into their traditional rights. Nobles of the robe = newer “nobles” who got status through office (judicial/administrative posts) or by buying venal offices; they were tied to the state bureaucracy and the king’s finances. Because they depended on royal favor, they usually supported centralized institutions (tax collection, justice, administration). Why it matters for Topic 1.5: monarchs used nobles of the robe to build a monopoly on tax and justice and weaken independent aristocratic power—an important example of how new monarchies laid foundations for the modern state. For more on this, see the Topic 1.5 study guide (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-european-history/unit-1/new-monarchies-1450-1648/study-guide/GMVwZzUbpNd5q0X4WzsD). Practice questions on these concepts are in Fiveable’s practice set (https://library.fiveable.me/practice/ap-european-history).

Both settlements gave rulers legal tools to reduce religious violence and strengthen state control. The Peace of Augsburg (1555) established cuius regio, eius religio—princes could choose Lutheranism or Catholicism for their territory—so local religious disputes became decisions of political authority, lowering pan-imperial religious warfare and helping monarchs enforce uniformity and tax/judicial control. The Edict of Nantes (1598) let Henry IV grant limited toleration to Huguenots while keeping Catholicism as the official religion; by recognizing Protestant rights (safe towns, limited worship) it defused rebellion, preserved royal authority, and reinforced central governance. Both show how new monarchies used religion as a tool—either to impose order or to co-opt dissent—to advance state stability and sovereignty (CED: KC-1.5.I.A). For AP use: these are great examples for contextualization and cause-and-effect prompts on state-building. Review Topic 1.5 on Fiveable (study guide: https://library.fiveable.me/ap-european-history/unit-1/new-monarchies-1450-1648/study-guide/GMVwZzUbpNd5q0X4WzsD) and practice questions (https://library.fiveable.me/practice/ap-european-history).

Italy stayed fragmented in the Renaissance because of long-standing political and geographic factors: the Alps and Apennines favored regional centers; the medieval decline of universal monarchies left powerful city-states (Venice, Florence, Milan), the Papal States, and small principalities competing; booming commerce let merchants and bankers (Medici, Fugger-style elites) fund independent governments; and foreign intervention (France, Spain, Holy Roman Empire) kept cities from unifying. That fragmentation mattered for political thought: without a single national monarchy, thinkers responded to real politics, not just divine-right theory. You get Machiavelli’s secular, pragmatic advice about statecraft and maintaining power (The Prince), Bodin’s emphasis on sovereignty and centralized authority, and later Grotius’s work on rules between states. For the AP exam, connect this to KC-1.5.I.D and cite examples like merchants’ influence and Machiavelli (see the Topic 1.5 study guide: https://library.fiveable.me/ap-european-history/unit-1/new-monarchies-1450-1648/study-guide/GMVwZzUbpNd5q0X4WzsD). For practice, check Fiveable’s AP practice questions (https://library.fiveable.me/practice/ap-european-history).

By forcing a monopoly on tax collection and military force, new monarchies built the core of the modern centralized state—with several long-term consequences. States gained steady revenue and standing (professional) armies, which weakened feudal nobles and local courts, expanded royal bureaucracies, and let rulers enforce uniform laws and religion (e.g., Concordat of Bologna, Book of Common Prayer). That fiscal-military capacity also encouraged overseas expansion and commercial growth, raising the power of merchants and financiers who’d play bigger political roles (KC-1.5.I.C). Over time this made large-scale state projects (war, colonization, infrastructure) possible and set the stage for absolutism in some places and for later conflicts over state power and religion (see Peace of Augsburg, Edict of Nantes). On the AP exam, use these cause-and-effect links and specific examples when writing short answers or LEQs tied to Topic 1.5 (CED LO F). For a focused review, check the Topic 1.5 study guide (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-european-history/unit-1/new-monarchies-1450-1648/study-guide/GMVwZzUbpNd5q0X4WzsD) and practice questions (https://library.fiveable.me/practice/ap-european-history).

The Concordat of Bologna (1516) let the French king pick bishops and abbots while the pope kept final confirmation and some revenue rights. That meant the crown controlled senior church appointments, so high clergy became royal allies who owed their positions to the king. Practically, this gave French monarchs greater influence over church policy, local revenues, and social elites—helping centralize authority (a key example of new monarchies gaining control over religion per the CED, KC-1.5.I.A). Use it on the exam as a concrete example of state control of religion and administration—paired nicely with the “nobles of the robe” or other royal institutions in short-answer or LEQ prompts. For a quick review, see the Topic 1.5 study guide (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-european-history/unit-1/new-monarchies-1450-1648/study-guide/GMVwZzUbpNd5q0X4WzsD) and try practice questions (https://library.fiveable.me/practice/ap-european-history).