The Rise Of Absolute Monarchies In Prussia, Austria, And Russia

Absolutism in Prussia, Austria and Russia was characterised by absolute monarchs who ruled with limited interference from nobles and the Church. In Prussia, absolutism emerged as a new Protestant German-speaking power in the north, while Austria was moulding a strong Catholic state. Both Peter the Great and Catherine the Great modernised and westernised Russia, while Maria Theresa preserved her empire and won the support of her people.

The expansion of power and territory

Absolutism in Prussia, Austria and Russia was characterised by the expansion of power and territory. Each country was ruled by an absolute monarch who expanded their armies and formed alliances.

Prussia began as the union of Brandenburg and the Duchy of Prussia, eventually growing to become one of the most powerful German states. It was a new Protestant German-speaking power in the north. Frederick the Great was a skilled Prussian king who introduced numerous successful internal reforms and successfully defeated the Austrians in the war of Austrian Succession. He was also instrumental in initiating the first of the Partitions of Poland between Russia, Prussia and Austria in 1772 to maintain a balance of power. Prussia annexed most of the Polish province of Royal Prussia, including Warmia, allowing Frederick to adopt the title King of Prussia. With these gains in territory, the kingdom was reorganised into 10 provinces. Prussia was the only great power with a predominantly German-speaking population.

Austria was a strong Catholic state. Maria Theresa was an absolute monarch who strengthened Habsburg power by reorganising the bureaucracy and improving tax collection. She forced nobles and clergy to pay taxes and tried to ease the burden of taxes and labour services on peasants.

Russia was ruled by Peter the Great, who modernised and westernised the country. He introduced sweeping domestic reform and territorial expansion. He sought to turn Russia into a country socially and militarily akin to those in Western Europe.

Absolute monarchs

In Prussia, the state was formed by the union of Brandenburg and the Duchy of Prussia. It emerged as a new Protestant German-speaking power in the north.

In Austria, the absolute monarch Maria Theresa reorganised the bureaucracy and improved tax collection, forcing nobles and clergy to pay taxes. She also tried to ease the burden of taxes and labour services on peasants.

In Russia, Peter the Great and Catherine the Great modernised and westernised their country. They kept serfdom, made military conquests, and controlled the nobles.

Strengthening of royal authority

In Prussia, Austria and Russia, absolutism came about through the strengthening of royal authority. In Prussia, this was achieved through the expansion of the military and the strengthening of bureaucracy. In Russia, absolutism was achieved through military conquests, control of the nobles, and the preservation of serfdom. In Austria, the bureaucracy was reorganised and tax collection was improved. In all three countries, the power of the nobles and the Church was limited. Prussia and Austria also differed in their religious leanings, with Austria moulding a strong Catholic state, and Prussia emerging as a new Protestant German-speaking power.

The rise of Prussia

Prussia began as the union of Brandenburg and the Duchy of Prussia, eventually growing to become one of the most powerful German states. With its capital in Berlin, Prussia grew from being a small, poor, disregarded medieval state into one of the most powerful nations in Europe. It developed, changed and grew throughout the Middle Ages with the official Kingdom of Prussia beginning in 1701 under the rule of the German Hohenzollern family.

Prussia was a significant kingdom of Europe from the 18th to the 20th centuries and played a major role in uniting Germany under their leadership during the late 19th century. As a result, Germany rose in power, nationalism, militarism, and imperialism, which would drastically affect their role in Europe in subsequent years.

Prussia was a new Protestant German-speaking power in the north. Its rulers strengthened royal authority by limiting the power of nobles and the Church. They also expanded their military and strengthened their bureaucracy.

Like other absolute monarchs of the time, Maria Theresa of Austria, Peter the Great and Catherine the Great, the rulers of Prussia believed that their decisions were for the good of their subjects.

The Thirty Years' War

The war began as a continuation of the religious conflict initiated by the 16th-century Reformation within the Holy Roman Empire. The 1555 Peace of Augsburg attempted to resolve this by dividing the Empire into Catholic and Lutheran states, but over the next 50 years the expansion of Protestantism destabilised the settlement. The war began as a local conflict in Bohemia, but it eventually involved all of Europe, influencing the development of the modern era.

Absolutism came about in Prussia, Austria and Russia as their leaders ruled as absolute monarchs, expanded their armies, and in some cases, formed alliances. In addition, both Peter the Great and Catherine the Great modernised and westernised their countries. For example, Maria Theresa strengthened Habsburg power by reorganising the bureaucracy and improving tax collection. She forced nobles and clergy to pay taxes and tried to ease the burden of taxes and labour services on peasants.

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