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Absolutism Timeline

  • Feb 7, 1572

    St. Batholomew's Day Massacre

    Violence erupted during a royal wedding, and 3,000 Huguenots were massacred (by Catholics).
  • Henry IV

    As a Protestant Henry IV would have faced severe problems ruling a Catholic land, so he decided to become a Catholic.
  • Edict of Nantes

    Henry IV issued this document in order to protect Protestants, protect the religion, and allow Protestants to fortify the land.
  • Defenestration of Prague

    Bohemian-Protestant nobles threw Catholics out of a window.
  • Cardinal Richelieu Strengthens Monarchy

    He wanted to destroy the power of the nobles and Huguenots. He defeated the private armies of the nobles and destroyed their fortified castles.
  • Charles signs Petition of Right

    This document prohibited Charles I from raising taxes. But Charlels I dissolves Parliament for 11 years.
  • English Civil War

    The English Civil War (1642-1649) challenged the rise of monarchs. The war was fought between Cavaliers (supporters of Charles I) and Parliament (Oliver Cromwell and the Roundheads).
  • Louis XIV becomes King

    He believed in divine right, "I am the state." Louis XIV was responsible only to God. He used the Sun as a symbol of power.
  • Peace of Westphalia

    Each ruler could choose between Lutheranism, Catholism, and Calvinism as the religion for their territory.
  • Charles I Executed

    Parliament put Charles I on trial and then condemned him to death. This was the first time a ruling monarch had been executed by his own people.
  • Creation of The Commonwealth

    After the execution of Charles I, Parliament abolished monarchy and declared England a republic, "The Commonwealth."
  • Creation of Versailles

    The palace of Versailles went on the symbolize Louis XIV's great power and wealth.
  • The Glorious Revolution

    This refers to a bloodless overthrow of a King. James II fled to France in 1688.
  • War of Spanish Succession

    Different forces combined to attack France, and an exhausted France was forced to sign the Treaty of Utrecht.
  • Creation of St. Petersburg

    After capturing Swedish territory along the Baltic, St. Petersburg was created by laborers in horrible conditions. Peter made it the new capital of Russia.
  • Revocation of Edict of Nantes

    He revoked the Edict of Nantes, 100,000 Huguenots fled France talking economic production with them.