Analyze_the_Military,_Political,_and_Social_Factors_for_the_Rise_of_Absolutism_in_Austria,_Prussia_and_Russia_in_the_17th_and_18th_Centuries.

Emerged from the decline of the Ottoman, Polish, and Holy Roman Empires and in response to the threat of war with European and Asian invaders, absolutism in Eastern Europe differed much the classical French and Spanish versions. Built on a powerful monarchy controlling of taxation, military, and foreign affairs, Eastern European absolutism was epitomized in Austria, Prussia, and Russia. The rise of absolutism in these three empires developed from numerous military, political, and social factors that would shape these monarchies into powerful entities. Stretching to include Austria, Bohemia, and Hungary, the Austrian, or Hapsburg, Empire remained the strongest offshoot of the Holy Roman Empire. Following the ineffective rule by Hapsburg monarchs to control the roman empire and the loss of power in Spain after the Treaty of Utrecht, the Austrian emperors turned their attention inward to consolidate the empire into a strong, unified, absolutist state. A crucial step in this transformation, the reorganization of Bohemia removed the nobility from this Czech province, redistributed lands to aristocratic soldiers, and was marked by a decline in the conditions of serfs. Following these measures by Ferdinand II, Ferdinand III further centralized the provinces of Austria proper – the Italian and German portions of the empire – by concentrating the government here and created an unprecedented permanent standing army. Leopold’s I maintaining of the empire by repelling the Turks from the gates of Vienna in 1683 marked the last attempt of Eastern empires to invade central Europe and led the Austrian Empire to a position of military and political power. Emerged after the Great Elector Frederick William assumed control in 1640, absolutism in Prussia was the development of a series of social, political, and military reforms that brought Prussia to a prominent position in Europe. During his governance Frederick William’s heavy military spending countered by high taxes was essential in the unification of Prussian territories. The close relationship between military power and the nobility – epitomized in the Junkers who formed the backbone of Prussian military officers – highlights the elevation of the noble and landowning classes in Eastern European absolutism. Although never challenging of royal authority, the nobility gained power at the expense of the lower classes, as seen by the hereditary subjugation of serfs established in 1653. Following the reforms of the Great Elector, Frederick William I furthered Prussian absolutism through significant military and political reforms. Leading Prussia to become the “Sparta of the North,” Frederick William I spent 80% of government revenues in the military, developing one of the largest standing armies on the continent. Removing parliamentary estates and local self-governments, the Soldier’s King constructed an efficient bureaucracy centered on the authority of the monarch by civil servants. Together, the emergence of a powerful standing army capable of unifying Prussian territories, the subjugation of the lower classes, and the creation of an authoritative monarchy all led to Prussian absolutism. Often kept in check by the power of nobles, or boyars, and the free peasantry, Russian absolutism began following the fall of the Mongol empire and the reforms of Ivan III in the 1450’s and was epitomized during the Romanov dynasty. Begun with the rule of Michael Romanov, Russian absolutist reforms were first seen in the increased subjugation of the peasantry. The brutal treatment of serfs following the Cossack revolts would continue through Russian absolutism. Pursuing a vision of a westernized Russia, Peter the Great supported the creation of a large Russian army to increase the empire and that would become a symbol of the empire’s absolutism. The Great Northern War that would grant Russia a “Window on the West” through the treaty of Nystad in 1721 was a central factor in the development of a large standing army in the state. However, contrasting the western style reforms adopted by Peter, the Russian political system remained a unique political identity perfectly developed to ensure absolutism. The creation of the Russian Tsar, or Caesar, who ruled by decree enabled rulers to complete absolute power. The Tsar owned all land in the state and controlled the service of the nobility and the peasantry, who in return owned a lifetime of service to the state. This balance between government and people furthered the nobilities control over the serfs and eliminated all representative bodies. Collectively, the creation of the Tsar under Ivan III and the strengthening of this political figure in response to Peter the Great’s call for westernization created the Russian absolutist state. Emerged from strong militaries, centralized political power, and the widening of social strata, absolutism in Austria, Prussia, and Russia marked the elevation of these empires to prominent roles in European power. Facing the threats of outside invaders these states developed into strong entities that would fill the power vacuum left by warfare in Eastern Europe.