How and Why Did Attitudes to Monarchies Change in Europe over the Course of the Early Modern Period?
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How and Why Did Attitudes to Monarchies Change in Europe over the Course of the Early Modern Period?
Introduction
The late Middle Ages and Early Modern period marked a state of transition in Europe. It is during this period that many countries in Europe were consolidating as most of the countries did not exist as we know them today. Back then, countries such as Spain, Germany, France, and Italy were not political entities. All these, among other things, changed during this transition period to mark adrift from the social and political set ups that existed back then. With that said, therefore, this undertaking will examine the reasons behind the attitude change towards monarchies in Europe. The specific tenets of change that will be considered in this undertaking include intellectual, religious, political, and social changes. As a result of the changes brought forth by the specific elements afore-listed, this study will discuss the how and the extent to which they changed the attitudes of Europeans towards monarchs of the Early Modern Period.
At the beginning of the early modern period, the Catholic church was very powerful. In fact, the people that were living in Europe considered themselves as living within “Christendom,” which is a combination of religious and political concepts. This “Christendom” looked to the Pope and the Holy Roman Empire for leadership. However, there was growing criticism of Catholic theology and practices, and this led to the emergence of new Protestant churches. These new churches meant that the Pope was no longer an embodiment of sovereign power hence smashing the concept of unity that existed, leading to the redrawing of the European map.[1] In terms of religion, the emergence of Protestant churches meant that early Europe was no longer looking to the Pope for leadership, which characterized the change in attitudes. Secularism was the other factor that changed people’s attitudes towards monarchies in Early Modern Europe. In the middle ages, religion played a central role in aligning an individual’s focus on Go and the afterlife. As such, religious people despised human affairs as they would only meditate on God. Secularism, during the Renaissance, resulted in one being viewed as an anti-Christian and antireligious. However, this was a development that saw people becoming increasingly interested in human cultural achievements. With the rise of secularism, there was also the rise of theologians that advocated for secular Christianity. Consequently, all these developments resulted in attitude changes towards religious monarchies. Catholic church, being the most powerful church in Europe back then, saw its influence reduce because of the new ideologies challenging staunch Christian ideologies. The Roman Empire kingdom was associated with high rate of Christianity in the 17th century. Tradition awareness on the aspect of Christianity was spreading faster in the Roman Empire. Like any other transformation, Christendom represented Europe as envisaged by those who were believed to be the original authors of the scripture. The Holy Roman Empire is among the regions that were affected by the culture of religion. The rise of power by the Catholic church was accompanied by an increase in the numbers of people trusting churches as the only organ that would deliver justice to the people. Religion experiences in Europe played an important role in changing the attitude of people regarding monarchies. The existence of Jewish communities that were being persecuted in different parts of Europe such as Poland created revolution and resistance from Christianity across Europe against monarchies governship.[2] Catholic church authority was strengthening in Rome than the sovereignty of monarchies. To save the monarchy from being surpassed by religion which had become popular, the king was forced to bring in new changes that were directed to help strengthen and survive the monarchy. One of the most notable being increase of taxes. The transformation was not accepted well by the people. The increase in the taxes and selling of the taxes was not well received by many kings in Europe as this created a bad image in people’s eyes. People started seeing them as opportunists and selfish leaders who only cared for their self-interests rather than the greater community. Hence religious reforms changed the attitude of people against monarchies in Europe.
Socially speaking, there were hierarchies in Europe that distinguished the nobility from the rest of the population. Back then, people could be termed as ignorant of their natural rights and thus pledged allegiance to the monarchs. A social aspect that saw Europeans change their attitudes towards the monarchs was the concept of divine right. With this concept, the society’s perception of cohesion and leadership shifted from being in the custody of the monarchs. Social unrests thus ensued in several modern-day European countries such as France and Germany. However, the British monarchy was able to weather the storm of religious and social unrests but saw its influence diminish. The resulting setting up new social structures changed the attitudes of Europeans towards the monarchs as members of the society were empowered to be independent.
The emergence of constitutional monarchies is one of the political changes that changed Europeans’ attitudes towards the monarchy. In the early days, absolute monarchies had rulers that exercised full authority as heads of states would. Often, they would be accused of being ruthless as they did not condone any challenge to their authority. However, the emergence of constitutional monarchies such as the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Belgium changed Europeans’ attitudes towards monarchies. This is because in the constitutional monarchies, there was an introduction of a concept referred to as political bargaining whereby the monarchs gradually transferred authority to various groups in the society. Monarchs were thus left to occupy a formal position while the power was in the hands of the people. Consequently, the strong beliefs about the monarchs reduced.
As was pointed out earlier in this undertaking, Early Europe was not made of the countries that we see today. On the contrary, it was made of territories that shared common beliefs that ranged from social to religious. These territories were acquired through conquests. However, during the 12th century, the monarchs evolved into rulers of people. This meant that their territories had to have defined borders hence the different European nations as we know them today. These new developments resulted in the institution of bureaucratic structures that laid the foundation for the modern-day states. The shift in the jurisdiction of monarchies from ruling conquered territories to ruling territories with defined borders changed the attitudes of Europeans towards monarchs. They assumed a more defined role that set the foundation for modern political structures.
The early modern period in Europe was characterized by the aspect of political fragmentations across Europe. The early modern period in Europe involves incorporating new political systems and rules in monarchical leadership that was being practiced. The period was associated with economic, social, and political system integration in the government. Markedly, many separate rulers were governing small areas in Europe. France was among the nation experienced political fragmentation. In the early modern period, the era of absolutism arose under king Louis XIV. The period was marked by strong leaders who had absolute control and power over their nation.[3] The era installed a negative attitude on people regarding monarchies as they viewed it be colonization. The state of governing gave churches the opportunity and nobility to rise in terms of their authority. The church took over Europe as the authority they were having due to political fragmentation was growing fast. The holy roman empire is among the regions that were affected by the aspect of religion. The rise of power by the catholic church was accompanied by an increase in believers’ numbers trusting in the church for justice. Catholic church authority was strengthening in Rome thanking sovereignty. To save the monarchy from being surpassed by religion, the king was forced to transform that will help strengthen and survive the monarchy; among the changes that the king made involved increasing taxes. The transformation was not accepted well by the people. They were increasing the taxes and selling of the taxes, which many kings in Europe created a bad image in people’s eyes. People started seeing them as opportunists and selfish people who only cared for themselves. The changes triggered a negative attitude of the people against monarchies.
Implementation of the “Peace of Westphalia” settlement in 1648 in Europe also helped in changing the attitude against monarchies. Peace of Westphalia movement was focused on meeting the rights and frontiers in charge of taking into accounts the verdict of resources and battle states. The policy helped in ending war between Spain and Dutch.[4] The settlement also focused on the aspect of larger question of justice and religion across Europe. The rise of the movement drove a new idea amongst Christian on the aspect of monarchies. The rise of concern on the interest of European as a way of defending against the ambitions of particular nation such as Christianity in the Roman Empire elicited the differences in attitude. The spiritual inheritance dynamic in Europe gained more energy than the sum of policies which were composed by different monarchies in Europe. The growth of evangelism elicited a different attitude towards monarchies by the people. As a result of the Peace of Westphalia treaty, Netherlands gained her independency. Furthermore, France was acknowledged as the western prominent power thanks to the implementation of the treaty of Westphalia. The treaty also led to breaking of the Holy Roman Empire in Europe which helped in granting freedom other countries such as Germans to determine religions of their choices. With the breakage of the Roman Empire, people started developing new different attitudes towards monarchies
Intellectual changes in Europe entails the rise of the age of enlightenment. The age of enlightenment was also referred to as the period of reasoning. This age was spreading faster in Europe during the early modern period. Evidently, in the rise of political turmoil in England, Locke implemented the right of people to change governments. Locke advocated for changes in governments that was not protecting the natural right of people lives, liberty and democracy. The new ideas prompted by the age of enlightenment in Europe gave people new ideas that helped in shaping their political systems thus changing their attitude on the idea of monarchies. The Renaissance period in Europe forms an example of the intellectual changes in Europe that led to change in attitude on monarchies. Renaissance period promoted the discovery of classical philosophy, art, and literature in Europe. Spain forms the country mostly known for Renaissance period. exploration and discoveries in growth of commerce was experienced in Spain and other parts in Europe during the early modern period. One of the cultural values that resulted in changes in the people’s attitude to monarchies in Spain is the invention of gunpowder and the rise in human philosophy.[5] The Renaissance period in Spain was focused on the factor of modernization and postmodernism. The culture had diffused in Europe as the population was increasing. Furthermore, Renaissance and reformation culture focused on educating people on ways people should carry themselves and the perspectives in which they should view themselves. Renaissance culture has taken the interest of many people by the beginning of the early modern period. Most people started to demand a transformation, due to the Renaissance push on changing peoples’ welfare. Their attitude towards monarchies changed after learning the benefits they will be prone to upon accepting the monarchies dynasty. People in Spain started retaliating against monarchy rule as the Renaissance advocated for justice and consideration, which was not provided in the monarchy leadership.
During the Renaissance period in Spain, the human philosophy that helped in change of people attitude involves the focus on the aspect of individualism, humanism, and scepticism. Monarchical leadership in Spain was mainly focused on caring and protecting humanism and dignity of the noble people. The poor were left unattended and cared for by the kings. The new idea on human philosophy regarding their rights and aspect of humanism drove intellectual knowledge that made them to oppose monarchies. Their attitudes started changing thanks to knowledge gained from the new beliefs. Moreover, Renaissance period in Spain brought the aspect of individualism among the people. People started to fight for their rights and position in the society regardless of their social status. The monarchies on the other hand was not providing the aspect of individualism. The kings and noble men in Spain practiced autoreactive form of leadership while the poor and other social classes were left ignored. Individualism elicited the culture of people wanting to think for themselves. Members of groups, churches, and families in Spain were given the aspect of who they were by the knowledge of philosophies. Creativity and desire to be independent and rule themselves made them have a change in attitudes on monarchies. Scepticism during Renaissance period gave rise to the idea and knowledge that rose the people interest to try and experiment new thing such as leadership.
In the modern period, therefore, social, political, intellectual, and religious transformations led to a change of attitude towards monarchies in Europe. European leaders were focused on unifying the continent, thus creating a centralized type of government, and ensuring their region’s stability. A centralized government promoted political stability of the continent. Markedly, other factors such as economic growth, people becoming wealthier, increasing information of partnership, and political fragmentations formed the reasons for the change in attitudes over the transformation view.[6] France and England form the two main countries that successfully strengthened each other, thus bringing the culture of unification during the early modern period in Europe. It is worthwhile noting that the improved cooperation between these two countries strengthened them economically and politically hence become heavy weights in the continent. Enjoying political stability made the two countries grow exponentially in terms of their economic growth.
[1] Blanc, Guillaume. “Demographic Change and Development from Crowdsourced Genealogies in Early Modern Europe.” (2020).
[2] Malcolm, Alistair. “Monarchy Transformed: Princes and Their Elites in Early Modern Western Europe. Robert von Friedeburg and John Morrill, eds. Cambridge:
[3] Malcolm, Alistair. “Monarchy Transformed: Princes and Their Elites in Early Modern Western Europe. Robert von Friedeburg and John Morrill, eds. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2017. xii+ 394 pp. $120.” Renaissance Quarterly 73, no. 2 (2020): 643-645.
[4]. Pfister, Christian, Rudolf Brázdil, Jürg Luterbacher, Astrid EJ Ogilvie, and Sam White. “Early Modern Europe.” In The Palgrave Handbook of Climate History, pp. 265-295. Palgrave Macmillan, London, 2018.
[5]. Blanc, Guillaume. “Demographic Change and Development from Crowdsourced Genealogies in Early Modern Europe.” (2020).
[6]. Ibid