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Oct 12, 1492
Charles I Colonizes the New World
October 12, 1492 was the first day that Columbus saw the Americas and was the beginning of Spain colonizing them, even though Charles I wasn't born yet. Spain first conquered the Mayas of Mexico and the Incas in Peru. Then after Magellan circumnavigated the globe, they began taking control of the Philippines and more of South and Central America. All the new territory gave Charles I more land to control as the King of Spain and allowed him to make Spain's governement more absolute. -
Feb 24, 1500
Charles I Birth
Charles I of Spain had many titles throughout his lifetime including Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor and the King of Germany and Italy. During his reign, he contributed to the Counter Reformation and helped fight against Protestantism along side Pope Leo X during the Council of Trent. Also he oversaw the Spanish conquer the Mayas and Incas and colonize the Americas. Charles patroned Ferdinand Magellan and provided him with the ships that he used to famously circumnavigate the globe in 1519. -
Aug 25, 1530
Ivan IV Birth
Ivan IV, grandson of Ivan the Great, was also known as Ivan the Terrible because he was mentally unstable and was known for his frequent violent outbreaks. He acquired lots of land throughout his reign, making Russia one of the biggest countries. Ivan created a centralized government in Russia and became the first Tsar of Russia in 1547. -
Sep 21, 1558
Charles I Death
Overall, Charles I was an absolute monarch because he ruled over multiple European countries including Spain, Italy, Netherlands, and Germany. He increased monarchy power in Spain and helped colonize the Americas with the help of Christopher Columbus and Ferdinand Magellan. Also, Charles became the Holy Roman Emperor of the Roman Catholic Church and helped fight against the Protestant Reformation. All of Charles' titles gave him an abundance of power throughout Europe as an absolute monarch. -
Dec 3, 1564
Ivan IV establishes the Oprichnina
On December 3, 1564, Ivan departed to Moscow and from there he sent two letters complaining about the treason of the court. Ivan agreed to come back if and only if he was given absolute power and the ability of execution; the Boyar court allowed it. With this newfound power, Ivan created the Oprichnina which was a separate territory in Russia that included his secret police force, the Oprichnika, who executed all people who opposed Ivan including members of Boyar court. Fear rose in Russia. -
Ivan IV Death
Ivan IV died from a stroke, leaving the throne to his son Feodor who was menatlly disbaled and formed Russia into an age of chaos and troubles. Overall, Ivan the Terrible is considered an absolute monarch of Russia because he gained absolute power of Russia by threatening to kill people who didn't follow him or who were accused of conspiracy against the Tsar. He ruled with an iron fist and forcefully conquered the majority of Russia's empire from the conquests of Khanates, Kazan, and Astrakhan. -
Louis XIV Birth
Louis XIV of France or the "Sun King" had an overall reign of 72 years, the longest European reign in history. Louis was born in France and inherited the crown at age 4 due to the death of his father, Louis XIII. Throughout this time, Louis glorified the arts and was very invested with the Catholic Church. Also, Louis declared that he wouldn't have a chief minister, allowing him to seize power over the government becuase he believed he was directly given the divine right from God himself. -
Peter I Birth
Peter I was best known for restoring Russia and making it one of the greatest nations in that time. He was also known as Peter the Great and was the Csar of Russia for 39 years then became the Emperor of all Russia until the end of his life. During his reign he transformed Russia from being an oldfashioned broken country to a more modern and strong country by creating a stronger army, greater control over the Orthodox Church. and furthered their technological advancements. -
Louis XIV moves to the Château of Versaille
Commonly known as the Palace of Versaille, Louis XIV transformed his father's old hunting lodge into one of the largest palaces in the world. This palace symbolizes his act of abandoning the city of Paris and absolute monarchy because for the first time the king, courts, and government all lived in the same residence, creating an isolated center of absolute power driven by Louis XIV. -
Peter I - Great Northern War
Peter the Great led Russia in the Great Northern War against Sweden for the Baltic Sea and role of the supreme power in Europe. Peter the Great led a coalition against the Swedish Empire headed by a young Charles XII. After 21 years, the coalition reigned victorious and catapulted the Tsardom of Russia as the new power of Europe, making Peter the most influencial leades of that time. Without Peter's cultural revolution Russia wouldn't have become such a high power of Europe in that time. -
Louis XIV Death
Overall, Louis XIV is considered an absolute monarch because he controlled both political power and the government during his reign. Also he established the ideal of absolute monarchy in France by eliminating what remained of fuedalism and controlling the aristocracy of France. He was a huge patron of the arts and belived that he himself was a god, therefore having himself portrayed as Apollo the sun god in many paintings displayad in Versaille as well as referring to himself as the "Sun God." -
Peter I Death
Peter I is considered an absolute monarch because during his great reign in Russia he strengthened the power of the Tsar and weakened the power of nobility. He established a bureaucratic state and changed Russia's capital to St. Petersburg. His military advancements launched Russia and helped them defeat the Swedish in the Great Northern war allowing Russia and Peter I to become the super power of Europe.
