Dbq On Absolutism

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Name Mrs. D'Alessandro History H 2B 12/28/12 Absolutism DBQ Absolutism was widely used by many monarchs in Western Europe, between the 1500s and the 1600s. Many Kings and Queens exercised absolute monarchy, including King James I of England, King Louis XIV of France, Queen Elizabeth of England, and Queen Isabella of Spain. Most monarchs' opinions' as to why they had a divine right to rule was God related and exercised it as such, by demanding being treated like one, or being treated like one because of fear. Absolute monarchs had mostly the same ideas of what absolute monarchy was to be defined as, and excised it according to their beliefs. Many observers wrote their own opinions to both matters, and often commented…show more content…
Most rulers claim that it was God who gave them their divine right to rule, so no one but themselves could do it. King James I of England said, "Kings are not only God's lieutenants on earth, and sit upon God's throne; but even by God Himself they are called gods." To sum it up, King James believes kings are gods, and because of that, " they exercise a divine power upon earth." Bishot Jaques Bousset also agrees with King James on how kings are gods. In Political Treatise, he writes, "Kings should be guarded as holy things, and whosoever neglects to protect them is worthy of…show more content…
That monarch's powers are not limited by a constitution or by the law. King Louis XIV of France once said, "The head alone has the right to deliberate and decide, and the functions of all the other members consist only in carrying out the commands given to them." Even though Thomas Hobbes isn't an absolute monarch, he too has an opinion on absolutism. He wrote in Leviathan, "An invader hath no more to fear then another man's single power," meaning that the absolute monarchs should be feared. Machiavelli agrees with being feared since he says, "Men have less hesitation in offending a man who is loved then one who is

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