Louis XIV – The Sun King and the Great Enlightened Monarch

Louis XIV – The Sun King and the Great Enlightened Monarch

Question: III-1- 4: Briefly discuss the main achievements of Louis XIV of France. Why is he called the ‘Sun King’?

Answer: In 1643, Louis XIV took over the emperor of France. He was hardly five years old at that time. Upto 1661, Cardinal Mazarin ruled France for the young king.

Mazarin Period:

1. Peace with Neighbours: Mazarin secured the borders of France from the Habsburg dynasty ruling over Austria and Spain. He signed the pace of Westphalia with Austria in 1648 and the treaty of Pyrenees with Spain in 1659. It helped Louis later to raise the prestige of France and his Bourbon family.
2. Popular Revolt - Fronde: Mazarin was able to suppress the popular revolt, which is popular in French history as Fronde. It was the revolt of the people of Paris Parliament against Mazarin. There were following results: (1). The nobles became weak before the authority of the Emperor. (2). The Parliament of Paris was weakened and the Emperor was able to establish his authority. (3) The Parliament lost the power over the financial and political matters before the rulings given by the Emperor. (4) The royal authority was placed on firmer grounds. It later helped Louis to establish the authority of his rule in France.

The Age of Louis XIV

3. Establishment of Absolute Rule: It was Louis XIV who was able to make the Europe believe in the principle of divine right of monarchical absolutism. He brought the rule of the empire in direct control of his hand in 1661 after the death of his mentor Mazarin. He achieved it by his deeds and personality as the Emperor of France. It made the French people loyal to the French Emperor till the days of the French Revolution. His ideology was framed by the guidance of his tutor Bossuet. The Emperor learned and was fixed the belief that he was having divine blessings. That, his main aim was the welfare of the nation and he is answerable to god for that. That what so ever he thought and deemed it right to do, all that was guided by the God himself. With such a mental grooming, he achieved the honour for France not only in internal matters but also in the European politics. He became the role model of rest of the kings of Europe who were getting freedom from dependence upon their feudal lords.

FREDRICK II – A GREAT ENLIGHTENED DESPOT

FREDRICK II – A GREAT ENLIGHTENED DESPOT

Question: III-2-5: Frederick the Great of Prussia was an enlightened monarch. Do you agree with this?
Or
Describe the achievements of Frederick the Great of Prussia.

Answer: Fredrick II ruled over Prussia from 1740 to 1786. He is known as the Fredrick the Great in history. His name shines with the names of Henry IV of France and Louis XIV of France among the enlightened monarchs of Europe. He was a complete despot who had taken over the reigns of every department in the state but still he was a king who worked for the welfare of the people.

Domestic Policy

1). An Enlightened Monarch: Frederick thought of kingship as a duty. In his Anti-Machiavel discussion of the principles of good government published in 1740, Frederick wrote that there were two types of princes, those who ruled in person and those who worked through subordinates. The formers were "like the soul of a state" and "the weight of their government falls on themselves alone, like the world on the back of Atlas," whereas the second group were mere phantoms. Under him the Prussian administration was the most honest and hardworking in Europe. Its achievements, however, stemmed from the impetus supplied from above by the king rather than from any creative force inherent in the system itself.

Glorious Revolution

Glorious Revolution

Causes and Results of Glorious Revolution

Question IV-1-6: Trace the events which led to the Glorious Revolution of 1688.
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What were the main causes of Glorious Revolution? Discuss its events?
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Why is the Glorious Revolution is called glorious?
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Describe the circumstance leading to the Glorious Revolution. Why is called glorious?
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What were effects of Glorious Revolution on the history of Great Britain?

Answer: In 1685, Duke of York took over the throne of England as King James II. However, with in three years, all the political parties of England and people of England became so annoyed with James II because of his policies that they requested the daughter of James II, Mary and her husband William of Orange to take over throne. When James II found that the whole nation was against him, he abandoned the throne in 1688. King William took over the throne of England on the request of her Parliament. This event is known as the Bloodless Revolution or Glorious Revolution.

The American Revolution

The American Revolution

Question V-1-7: Discuss the main causes of American Revolution? What were its effects?
Or
Describe in brief the main causes of American Revolution.

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Answer: Causes of the American Revolution:The American Revolution was the most important event of the eighteenth century in the history of world. The American colonies shook off the slavery of Britain by this revolution. The Britain had thirteen colonies in America. The British Emperor was the ruler of those colonies. In 1772, the settlers of the colonies revolted against Britain. In history, this revolt is famous as the American Revolution for Independence.

(A). CHANGE IN AMERICAN ATTITUDE

The change in the attitude of the Americans was the main cause of the American Revolution.
Lack of Love for England in Colonies: - The settlers in America never developed confidence in Britain from where they had come. They hated and doubted the British .
Divergent Objectives: - There were divergence and conflict between objectives of the Americans and the British Government on many grounds liked economic, religious and political.

Effects of French Revolution.

Question VI-1-8: Describe the main effects of French Revolution.
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"The Revolution of 1789 was the outcome of realities, but it cannot be denied that without the help of enlightenment, it could not have arisen." Discuss.
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"The Revolution of 1789 was the outcome of Realities, it can not be denied that without the help of enlightenment it could have not risen." Discuss.
Or
Discuss the main causes responsible for the outbreak of French Revolution of 1789.
Or
What was the main causes of the French Revolution of 1789.

Answer: - In May 1789, Louis XVI had called a session of Estate General to get approval for the reforms to restore the financial order and check the anger which was rising due to hunger. Within three months, a new setup replaced the earlier one and in next three years a totally new setup replaced the monarchical form of governance. Louis XVI was removed. The hunger, new ideas and Estate General were the causes which were seen on the surface of the upheaval. The main reasons lay deep below in the history of France and numerous circumstances, which are discussed as per the followings.

Political Causes
1. Shortcomings of Old Regime: - The contemporary regime had lost it relevance.

It had following shortcomings: -

Arbitrariness of the Kings: - The rulers of France of Bourbon family form Louis XIV to Louis XVI were despots. The main machinery of their operation was ‘Letter de Cachet’. There was no freedom of life and provision for legal remedy.
Weakness of the Local Administration and Total Confusion: - The local administration was full of defects. Originally, France was divided into 40 divisions headed by governors. Since the days of Henry IV, whole of France was divided among the Intendants who were 36 in numbers. There was 12 judicial court of high court level covering the main forty divisions. The jurisdictions of all such administrative division overlapped. In short, there was total confusion in the government.

Different stages in the unification of Italy.

Question. What obstacles stood in the way of the unification of Italy and how were they removed?
Or
Discuss the different stages in the unification of Italy.
Or
Briefly, describe the stages by which the unification of Italy was brought about with special reference to the role of King Victor Emmanuel II and his minister Cavour.

Answer: - HURDLES ON THE PATH OF UNIFICATION
THE AUSTRIAN EMPIRE: - Austria had stationed a strong army in Lombardy and Venetia. As long as Austria was there, unification of Italy was not possible.
REACTIONARY RULERS: - The various monarchies, supported by Matternich, were another main hurdle for the unification.
THE VARIOUS PLANS FOR UNIFICATION: - a. Mazzini wanted to establish a Republic of Italy.
b. Geoberti wanted to establish a Federation of Italy under Pope.
c. The House of Savoy wanted to establish a constitutional monarchy under the king of Piedmont – Sardinia.
LACK OF NATIONAL AWAKENING: - " In Italy, provinces are against provinces, towns against towns, families against families and men against men." (Matternich)
PAPAL STATES: - Pope was comfortably entrenched in the middle of Italy. Hence, any revolt by the Italians against the Pope was bound to earn the wrath of Roman Catholic world.
A NEW BACKGROUND FOR UNIFICATION: - Napoleon had joined Italy into a political unit. Lipson had commented, " The lesson that Italy was a nation once learnt, was never forgotten."

Ala-ud-din Khalji: 1296-1316

Ala-ud-din Khalji: 1296-1316

He was supported by Malik Chajju, supporters and Khaljis.
He had a pleader in his brother Ulugh Khan.
He was amir-i-tuzak and Governor of Kara Manikpur.
In 1292, he lead an expedition to Malwas and destroyed Bhilsa. He was rewarded with governorship of Avadh.

Devagiri Dream: (I Turkish attack on South 1292)
Devagiri was in the west and Telagna in the east.
Devagiri was ruled by Rama Chandra Deva – Yadav King
Ala-ud-din attacked Devagiri with 8000 horses in 1294.
It was the first Turkish attack on the South.
Jalaludin was murdered near Kara Manikpur on July 19, 1296.


His Early Difficulties:
He was considered usurper.
He faced Jalani nobles who were supporters of Jalal-ud-din Firoz Shah.
Ahmad Chap and Malika-i-Jahan and Rukun-ud-din Ibrahim were stronger oppossers.
Mongols were on Northwest frontier.


Occupation of Delhi:
There appeared difference between Arkali and Qadir. It prompted Ala-ud-din to reach Delhi and defeated Qadir Ibrahim. Malka-i-Jahan and Qadir escaped to Multan where Arkali lived estranged. Ala-ud-din was appointed Sultan on October 3, 1296.