Introduction
The seventeenth century was a critical period in European history. It was characterized by the rise of various nations and the emergence of the patterns that further established modern states. France, England, Russia, and other countries entered the profound transformation and growth phase following specific criteria and local peculiarities.
As a result, unique approaches to resolving problems within nations and controlling the most influential actors emerged. The differences in employed models are explained by the problems the governments and rulers faced and the solutions they invented to avoid weakening their power and the state’s collapse.
France
Thus, France of the seventeenth century was an absolutist monarchy ruled by Louis XIV. At that period, the state piqued its power and impacted international affairs. It was also linked to the king’s ability to control all spheres. For instance, control over novel freedoms was attained due to the expanded and trained army with ranks based on merit (Wiesner-Hanks, 2022). It helped to concentrate power and avoid rebellions or noble people’s attempts to disobey. The finance was controlled through the effective bureaucracy devoted to Louis and trained to perform their functions at a high level (Wiesner-Hanks, 2022). Finally, the Versailles and balls organized by Louis became the embodiment of his power to impress others and make them loyal (Wiesner-Hanks, 2022). These measures helped to achieve absolute power and hold it.
Germany and Russia
At the same time, German and Russian absolutism differed from the model used in France. German nobility had too much power to be controlled by the sovereign, as around 360 separate states were headed by their leaders (Wiesner-Hanks, 2022). As a result, the king’s authority was weaker, and he had to consider the interests of all representatives of the nobility. The Russian absolutist state was created mainly by Peter the Great’s efforts. He established a meritocratic system with the service nobility (Wiesner-Hanks, 2022). Using Western examples, he adapted the approach to controlling the land to the local peculiarities by using the idea of the ruler’s choosiness and appealing to religion (Wiesner-Hanks, 2022). As a result, an autocratic state with an influential leader emerged.
Great Britain and the Dutch Republic
However, the English and Dutch approaches to ruling the land differed from the abovementioned absolutist models. For instance, opposition to absolutism in Britain led to the civil war. Charles I’s decision to dissolve the Parliament was confronted by the nobility. As a result, the monarch’s power became limited by the Parliament, resulting in the constitutional monarchy’s emergence. In the Dutch Republic, the power was concentrated in the hands of deputies from Provincial Assemblies (Wiesner-Hanks, 2022). It helped to avoid the abuse of power and make decisions necessary for further state development.
Conclusion
In such a way, in the seventeenth century, European states selected their development models. It impacted their future and their ability to play leading roles at the international level. The absolutist states of France and Russia evolved under the rule of a king who concentrated all power in his hands. The king’s authority was limited in Germany because of the numerous states with their leaders. Finally, Britain and the Dutch Republic established their models with the power distributed between the monarch, the parliament, and the representatives of various provinces.
Reference
Wiesner-Hanks, M. (2022). Early modern Europe, 1450-1789 (3rd ed.). Cambridge University Press.
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