What is Absolutism?

Absolutism is used to describe the government of Ancien Regime states, especially France, Russia, Spain and Prussia.  Absolutism indicates that the only legitimate source of power in such states was the monarch. In particular the rules of such states tried to deprive the aristocracy and the church of the ability to compete with the monarch (Brooklyn College 1999).

“The person of the King is sacred, and to attack him in any way is an attack on religion itself. Kings represent the divine majesty and have been appointed by Him to carry out His purposes. Serving God and respecting kings are bound together.”

-Bishop Jacques Bossuet

Divine right was a theory championed by absolute monarchs in Europe, such as Louis XVI of France, who felt that because he had been born into royalty, his power and authority to rule was derived from God. Absolutism in France focused on the aristocracy. The bourgeoisie and the masses did not have much freedom as those in the aristocracy. Freedom of speech was also curtailed. There was a marked inequality in the society depending on the status of the person. The aristocrats were adamant to adopt reforms to enhance the lives of those in the middle and lower classes.

Peter the Great also practiced absolutism like Louis XVI of France. In 1721, he abolished the church hierarchy through the Ecclesiastical Reservation placing the church under the Holy Synod and was fully linked to the state. The 1721 Regulation specifically delineated what the clergy could do; it was intended to control their daily life so that they became an instrument of the state. The task of the clergy was seen as two-fold: to work for the state and to make their congregations totally submissive to the state by convincing them that Peter was all but God-like to guarantee the population of Russia's total subordination to the crown.

Both monarchy practiced absolutism. Unlike Louis XVI though, Peter the Great was a visionary who introduced his homeland Russia to western ideas and customs. Peter the Great was known for his policies of Westernization. .

Throughout the 1700's, Peter the Great did much to modernize Russia by adopting ideas from the European Renaissance from which Russia had been isolated. Peter the Great helped to westernize Russia by creating new laws aimed at curtailing traditional customs, and by building the modern city of St. Petersburg, which he called his “window to the West.”

Louis XVI was seen as weak and indecisive. His absolutism rule led to widespread discontent culminating in the French Revolution. Peter the Great on the other hand was seen as strong and visionary. The reforms he introduced helped improve and lead Russia to become an economic and military power.