Top 10 People from the Development of Monarchies and Religious Wars
1. Louis XIII
2. Cardinal Richelieu
3. Louis XIV
4. Cardinal Mazarin
5. Jean-Baptiste Colbert
6. Frederick William the Great Elector
7. Frederick William I
8. Peter the Great
9. Charles I
10. Oliver Cromwell
- Louis XIII of France was from the Bourbon dynasty and ruled as King of France and Navarre; he became king when he was only nine years old and his mother Marie de Medici was his regent until he was older.
- 1601-1643
- Louis XIII emphasized the importance of education in France and established the French academy as well as making French a primary language in politics, but for most of his reign he let Cardinal Richelieu make most of the decisions and almost run the country.
2. Cardinal Richelieu
- Cardinal Richelieu was Louis XIII of France’s chief minister and wanted to make France the most powerful European country.
- 1585-1642
- Richelieu took power away from the nobles, strengthened France’s army, supervised tax collection, regulated the economy in France, and generally helped centralize France’s power.
3. Louis XIV
- Louis XIV was from the Bourbon dynasty, was known as the “sun king,” that resided at Versailles, and is known for being a founder of absolutism in France; “l’etat c’est moi” (I am the state).
- 1638-1715
- Louis XIV attempted to convert Huguenots back into Catholicism, put France in financial trouble with overspending on lavish material items, and spread the era of absolutism in France with his ideas of divine right in ruling.
4. Cardinal Mazarin
- Cardinal Mazarin took over Cardinal Richelieu’s position after he died and was Chief Minister under Louis XIV during the Fronde.
- 1602-1661
- Cardinal Mazarin was responsible for being on the throne in place of Louis XIV until he was ready to rule; Mazarin attempted to carry out the policies Richelieu put in place and he was known for watching over the Fronde.
5. Jean-Baptiste Colbert
- Jean-Baptiste Colbert was appointed the financial minister under Louis XIV, and is known as the “father of French mercantilism”.
- 1619-1683
- Colbert enforced mercantilism in France, created guilds and new production regulations, decreased purchases of goods outside of France and made France self-sufficient, and also sent out colonists and explorers to claim more land for France in the new world.
6. Frederick William the Great Elector
- Frederick William the Great Elector ruled three provinces in Europe: Prussia, Brandenburg, and holdings along the Rhine.
- 1640-1688
- Frederick William the Great Elector unified his provinces, established a permanent standing army, laid the foundation for the Prussian state, and was an figure of absolutism.
7. Frederick William I
- Frederick William, also known as “the Soldiers’ King,” was the grandson of Frederick William the Great Elector, and was the King of Prussia.
- 1688-1740
- Frederick William I established a strong militaristic country, was the first to truly establish absolutism in Prussia, and is responsible for training the best army in Europe.
8. Peter the Great
- Peter the Great was a Russian czar and an absolutist leader, also known as Peter I.
- 1672-1725
- Peter the Great was responsible for bringing western cultures to Russia and making Russia more modern as well as creating a navy for Russia and building the new capital St. Petersburg.
9. Charles I
- Charles I was the king of England from the Stuart line and was the son of James I.
- 1600-1649
- Charles I brought conflict in England because he attempted to rule and make reforms without Parliament, he was a believer of divine right, and he created an army to attack Oliver Cromwell; which led to his execution.
10. Oliver Cromwell
- Oliver Cromwell was a major leader in the English Parliament and devoutly Puritan.
- 1599-1658
- Oliver Cromwell was responsible for putting Charles I on trial and his execution, for temporarily turning England into a commonwealth, and ruled England until the old government was restored.