An absolute monarchy is a form of government in which the monarch (a king or queen) holds total, uncontrolled power over the state and its people. The monarch has complete sovereignty and can create laws, levy taxes, and make decisions without any legal restraints or input from the people.
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In an absolute monarchy, the monarch has complete control over the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government.
Absolute monarchs often justify their rule through the belief in the divine right of kings, which claims their authority is granted by God.
Absolute monarchies typically have a hereditary system of succession, where the monarch's title and power are passed down within the same royal family.
Absolute monarchies are often criticized for their lack of political freedoms and the concentration of power in the hands of a single individual or family.
The rise of absolute monarchies in Europe during the 16th and 17th centuries was partly a reaction to the instability and conflicts of the feudal system.
Review Questions
Describe the key features of an absolute monarchy and how it differs from other forms of government.
An absolute monarchy is a form of government where the monarch (king or queen) holds complete, unchecked power over the state and its people. The monarch has the sole authority to create laws, levy taxes, and make decisions without any legal restraints or input from the citizens. This is in contrast to other forms of government, such as constitutional monarchies, where the monarch's power is limited by a constitution, or democracies, where the people have a direct say in the political process through elections and representation.
Explain the concept of the divine right of kings and how it was used to justify absolute monarchical rule.
The divine right of kings is the belief that the monarch's authority to rule is granted directly by God, making the monarch's power absolute and unquestionable. Absolute monarchs often invoked the divine right of kings to legitimize their unchecked control over the state and its people. This belief system suggested that the monarch was accountable only to God, not the people, and that challenging the monarch's authority was tantamount to defying the will of God. The divine right of kings was a key ideological foundation for the rise of absolute monarchies in Europe during the 16th and 17th centuries.
Analyze the historical context and factors that contributed to the emergence of absolute monarchies in Europe.
The rise of absolute monarchies in Europe during the 16th and 17th centuries was partly a reaction to the instability and conflicts of the feudal system that had previously dominated the continent. Absolute monarchs sought to centralize power and authority within the state, reducing the influence of the nobility and the Church. This consolidation of power was often justified through the belief in the divine right of kings, which suggested the monarch's authority was granted by God. Additionally, the decline of the feudal system and the growth of mercantile capitalism created a need for stronger, more centralized states to regulate trade and economic activity. Absolute monarchies emerged as a means for rulers to assert their control over these changing social, economic, and political conditions.
The belief that the monarch's authority to rule is granted by God, making the monarch's power absolute and unquestionable.
Hereditary Succession: The passing of the monarch's title and power from one generation to the next within the same royal family, typically through primogeniture.
Despotism: A form of government in which a single entity (an individual or tight-knit group) holds absolute power and authority over the state and its people.