From Louis XIV to Napoleon

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Absolute monarchy

(Secondary 2 / 3)

Towards the end of the Middle Ages, feudalism broke down. One result of this was the rise of king's power. Strong central governments led by kings appeared in parts of Europe. These kings believed in the Divine Right of Kings. They believed that they represented God on earth and everyone should obey them. They were known as absolute monarchs. The period that they ruled is known as the Age of Absolutism (17th and 18th centuries).

One example was Louis XIV of France. He ruled according to his own wish without asking advice from his ministers or the Estates General (similar to a parliament). He controlled his people tightly, including the nobles. He also spent much money extravagantly and fought expensive wars.

Absolutism was challenged by the ideas of the Enlightenment in the 18th century (see unit 2). These ideas helped bring down the rule of the absolute monarchs.

French Revolution

After Louis XIV died in 1715, not much was left in the French treasury. The government faced financial problems. Besides, the common people in France had no rights and lived in poverty. The nobles and clergy had special privileges. The people became discontented. With the influence of Enlightenment ideas, the French Revolution finally broke out in 1789.

Louis XVI was overthrown and later executed. A republic was set up (without king) in France. The government wanted to spread revolutionary ideas (liberty and equality) in other countries. The monarchs of other European countries such as Austria, Prussia, Russia and Britain were alarmed by what happened in France. They tried to stop the spread of the revolution. Revolutionary wars broke out in 1793 between France and the European countries. (See unit 3B)

Napoleon Bonaparte

During this period, Napoleon rose to power. He was a military genius. In 1796, at the age of 27, he led the French army to defeat the Austrians. Subsequently he won a number of wars and conquered many territories in Europe (map p.46). At the same time, ideas of the French Revolution were also spread out. He crowned himself Emperor of France in 1804.

After the failure of the Russian Campaign (1812), his power started to decline. He also never defeated Britain on sea. In the War of Liberation (1813), France was defeated by Prussia, Austria, Britain, Russia and Sweden. Napoleon abdicated and was exiled to Island Elbe. He returned to France soon and fought his last Battle of Waterloo at Belgium. He was defeated again and died in Island St Helena (Atlantic Ocean) in 1821.

The major powers met at Vienna (1814-15) to arrange the peace of Europe after the defeat of Napoleon. However, the revolutionary spirit continued to grow in Europe. In the first half of the nineteenth century, a number of revolutions broke out in Europe again. They also helped bring about the unification of Italy and Germany in 1860s.

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