Ap_Euro_New_Monarchs

Nitin Garg AP Euro Block 2 Odd 9/21/11 Using examples from at least three (3) different states, analyze the key features of the “new monarchies” and the factors responsible for their rise in the period 1450 to 1550. During the middle of the 15th century, Europe was in a time of war and fuedalism. Many European states had a weak central government and needed strong rulers to reestablish order. Several leaders emerged during this time period and helped form the type of government that is now known as a monarchy, thus they earned the name “new monarchies.” There were several factors that helped these leaders rise. Most of the “new monarchies” that arose during 1450 to 1550 used Europe’s weak political state to rise to power. In England, civil war made the government vulnerable to change, allowing Henry VII to rise to power. While England used war, Spain’s monarchy came to power through the marriage of Ferdinand and Isabella. France’s Louis XI gained power through both marriage and war. After these three states came to power, they had many features that helped them maintain there rule. Before addressing each separate monarchy, it is helpful to know the similarities between them and why are all able to be referred to as a “new monarchy”. These monarchies provided order during an unstable time in Europe. Also, they helped end feudal law, uniting the state and giving the people a sense of nationalism, or patriotism. Their law was influenced by the Roman law. They increased there power too, by establishing national militaries and expanding their government bureaucracies. The “new monarchy” in England, led by Henry VII, began after the end of civil war. The civil war was callled the Wars of the Roses and it was the main factor the allowed the monarchy in England to rise. It was fought between the House of Lancaster and the House of York. The civil war was won by the House of Lancaster led by Henry Tudor, and was then crowned King Henry VII. Because the war caused tension between two of the most powerful families, Henry later married Elizabeth of York to ease the tensions. Once Henry gained the crown, he altered several of England’s political features, to increase his monarchy’s power and stability. Because England was just changing from feudalism to a monarchy, many of the nobles still had power to compete with the king. To gain an advantage over the nobles, Henry prohibited “livery and maintenance”. This meant that nobles were no longer able to maintain private armies, substantially weakening there power. In order to enforce this, and his other laws, King Henry used Justices of the Peace. Also, Henry utilized the Star Chamber, which acted as a royal council and helped bring peace to his kingdom. One of his best decisions was to keep England out of costly, foreign wars. This helped England loss less money and helping it become fiscally stable. Furthermore, this decision made it so Henry did not have to ask Parliament for money, decreasing the nobles’ say and power in the government. These key features of King Henry VII’s monarchy helped him maintain his rule over England. In France, the “new monarchy” was led by Louis XI. When Louis came to power, he was able to expand French boundaries. He gained land in northern France and was able to force the English out of Normandy. Also at the time of his rule there was an alliance of nobles called The League of the Public Weal. They were angry with Louis for centralizing the France government and taking away their power. Louis responded to this by appeasing some of the nobles by granting them some land rights in exchange for disbanding their alliance. Louis was also known as “The Spider”. It was said that he led France by weaving a multitude of plots and conspiracies to achieve his goals. For example, Charles the Bold, the leader of The League of the Public Weal feared Louis’s success and allied with the king of England. To prevent any serious opposition from England and Charles, Louis bought off Edward IV in the Merchant's Peace of Picquigny. These plots that Louis devised helped avoid major problems for France and increased the monarch’s power. The new monarchy in Spain was a unique monarchy at the time. It was maintained by two leaders, a queen and a king. Before the monarchy, Spain was divided into two kingdoms, Aragon and Castile which were ruled by Ferdinand and Isabella, respectively. The two decided to marry, uniting both parts of Spain. While Spain was still not completely united politically, it was now united by religion, with Ferdinand and Isabella as “the Catholic Monarchs”. Together, they led Spain through the Reconquista and the Spanish Inquisition. During these two events, Spain tried to rid of all non-Catholic people in Spain In conclusion, many of the new monarchies, such as England, France, and Spain, had many unique characteristics that allowed them to maintain there rule over their country. Each monarchy rose during 1450 to 1550, which was when Europe was politically weak. Kings Henry, King Louis, and Ferdinand and Isabella each rose in their respective countries due to their countries past state of war and feudalism.