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Absolute monarchy is an idealized form of government, a monarchy where the ruler has the power to rule his or her country and citizens freely with no laws or legally-organized direct opposition telling him or her what to do, although some religious authority may be able to discourage the monarch from some acts and the sovereign is expected to act according to custom. As a theory of civics, absolute monarchy puts total trust in well-bred and well-trained monarchs raised for the role from birth.In theory, an absolute monarch has total power over his or her people and land, including the aristocracy, but in practice, absolute monarchs have often found their power limited.
1 Theory
The political theory which underlies absolute monarchy was that the monarch held their position by the grace of God and was therefore not answerable to mortals. Much of the attraction of the theory of absolute monarchy in the Middle Ages was that it promised an end to devastating civil wars and could put an end to corruption by the aristocracy, and restore attention to the Church's moral codes. Having nothing to gain but a soul to lose, the theory goes, the King was a far better figure to enforce an ethical code than social climbers or newly rich nobles.
2 History
The theory of absolute monarchy developed in the late Middle Ages from feudalismThis page relates to medieval Europe. Compare feudal Japan at the entry Tokugawa shogunate''. Feudalism comes from the Late Latin word feudum itself borrowed from a Germanic root fehu a commonly used term in the Middle Ages which means fief, or land held during which monarchs were still very much first among equals among the nobilityThe nobility represents, or has represented, the higher stratum of a society in which social classes can be distinguished. The most distinctive feature of nobilty is that once acquired, it is passed to descendants, possibly according to some rules. Initia. With the creation of centralized administrations and armies backed by expensive artillery, the power of the monarch gradually increased relative to the nobles, and from this was created the theory of absolute monarchy.
In the 16th century15th century 16th century 17th century more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 16th century was that century which lasted from 1501 to 1600. Events Beginning of the " Little Ice Age" a cooling period that resulted in lower crop yi, efforts by the EnglishEngland is the largest, the most populous, and the most densely populated of the four " Home Nations" which make up the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UK). Occupying the south-eastern portion of the island of Great Britain, England monarch to create an absolute monarchy led to persistent struggles with Parliament which the monarch eventually lost. In FranceThe French Republic or France ( French: Republique francaise or France is a country whose metropolitan territory is located in western Europe, and which is further made up of a collection of overseas islands and territories located in other continents., the monarchy was able to eventually centralise its powers and sideline ParliamentAlternative meanings: Parliamentary system, Parliament (band), Parliament (cigarette). A parliament is a legislative body, especially in those countries whose system of government is based on the Westminster system derived from that of the United Kingdom. and nobles. A classic example of an absolute monarchy is that of Louis XIV of FranceHyacinthe Rigaud (1701 Louis XIV (Louis-Dieudonne) ( 5 September 1638 1 September 1715) reigned as King of France and King of Navarre from 14 May 1643 until his death. He was a minor when he inherited the Crown; he did not actually assume personal control. During the Enlightenment, the theory of absolute monarchy was supported by some intellectuals as a form of enlightened despotism.
The notion of absolute monarchy declined substantially after the French Revolution and American Revolution which popularised theories of government based on popular sovereignty.
