1. Prussia
1.1. Hohenzollerns
1.1.1. Frederick William I
1.1.1.1. Gained loyalty of the nobility by offering important government positions
1.1.1.2. Tactic reduced noble independence and increased his control
1.1.1.3. Raised strong army
2. Stuart England
2.1. James I (king 1603-1625)
2.1.1. Ruled as absolute monarch
2.1.2. Despised and frequently dissolved parliament
2.1.3. Claimed divine right to rule as God's emissary
2.2. Charles I (king 1625-1649)
2.2.1. Needed funding to fight the Scottish
2.2.2. Defied Parliamentary law of taxation with approval
2.2.3. Civil war breaks after Parliament repeals taxes
2.2.4. Captured and executed publically
2.3. James II (1685-1688)
2.3.1. Overtly practiced Catholicism
2.3.2. Suspended laws and rights of the people on a whim; appointed Catholic patronages to high offices.
2.3.3. Caused alarm at possible revival of Roman Cathlicism
2.3.4. William II of Orange invited to become monarch under condition to acknowledge the English Bill of Rights
3. France
3.1. Troubled by religious wars
3.2. Bourbon Dynasty (1589-1715)
3.2.1. Henry IV (king 1589-1610)
3.2.1.1. Popular, friendly, manipulative
3.2.1.2. Surrendered Huguenot faith to win Catholics
3.2.1.3. Edict of Nantes (1598): gave Huguenots right to worship privately and representation.
3.2.1.4. 1610: assassinated
3.2.2. Louis XIII (king 1610-1643)
3.2.2.1. Weak monarch
3.2.2.2. Left administration to Cardinal Richelieu
3.2.2.2.1. Catholic; believed state>church
3.2.2.2.2. Made monarchy absolute in France
3.2.2.2.3. Made France strongest power in Europe
3.2.3. Louis XIV (king 1643-1715)
3.2.3.1. Believed in divine right to rule
3.2.3.2. Quoted saying "I am the State." Ruled with absolute power
3.2.3.3. Expanded bureaucracy and appointed intendants to collect taxes in order t strengthen state
3.2.3.4. Revoked the Edict of Nantes. Drove away talented Huguenot workforce and much economic potential with them
3.2.3.5. Involved France in costly wars; drained the nation and ultimately damaged the state
3.2.3.6. France was the most powerful nation in Europe at the end of his reign, but much of his decisions eventually would pave way for the nation's demise