HABSBURGS IN SIXTEENTH CENTURY- - PDF document

HABSBURGS IN SIXTEENTH CENTURY- HANDOUT The Main Habsbur~ line Chides V (15 1656) first Habsbwg ruIer of Spain and Emperor from 151 9 hm Chdm VIIl 1483-98 LouisXXI 1498-1515 Francis 11515-1547 Henry U 1547-59 Frmtis IX 1559-60 Charlm TX T 560-74 Henry III 1574-89 Henry at Muhlkg 1552-3 Siege of Metz 1555 Peace of Augsburg - ends religious war in Q.ermmy 1 559 Treaty of Weau-Camhrbis-ah H&&urgVdais mdid 1562-98 French Wars of Religion 1565 'European World' Case Study: Republics Term: hm Latin res pubiicu (public aff*); used for political regimes governed by (a more or las extensive proportion of) the people. Buildmg on classical models, @ale) members am viewed aa equal 'ci-' rather than 'subjects'. They enjoy political rights in return for (kclaV military) obIigatiorms and ideally serve the eommon god with a etrong sense of civic he. 1. Historical nmnifestatiofls GdcpoIh, high medieval Italian comune, late medieval Jqrial Free Cities, early m&m urban (and ml) federaiione and 'special cases' of Pnixed (aristocraiic power in Poland-Lithuania, Venice) and tempormy republics (Enghsh Commonwealth) 2. Strands of @ti-1 thought Classical division into 3 (monarchy, aristocracy, democracy; Aristotle); Renaissance distinction between 2 (principdities and republics; Machiavelli) forms of government Early modern ascendancy of 'absolutist' thinkers, according to wbom human self- interest and need for order quires strong ruler (Be Hobk), but resistance heorits emerge in context of rcligi~us wars and calk for a separation of powers and adherence to the 'general will' grow h the Enlightenment (Mmtesquieu, Rausseau) 3. The Dutch Republic Highly urbanized and distinguished by (overseas) We, (shipping) industry and commercialized apidture; rdudant coexistence of Calvinist majority and Catholics Authoritarian Spanish rule triggered military resistam and ultimately declaration of dependence. 158 1 ; resulting government de-centdised, based on repmentative assemblies (States Gmeml) with princely frgdxad (~kolder~~ouse of Orange) Relatively tolerant and 'middling' culture, with urban patrons, large print industry, extensive art market catering to mass demand for 'moralistic' everyday scene5 I Meteoric rise in I 7thC linked to colonial expansion, trading wealth, entrepdi senices and military innovatiodnrtval power In comparison, the Swiss Confederation had a stronger rural cmq~nent and more agricultural character. It was officially bi-confessional and staycd neud in military conflicts (often fought with Swiss mercenaries). There wa 40 princely court. 4. Historiographical perspectives Some historians shs intellectual traditions from Antiquity via Renaissance to Atlantic Revolutions (P) others m-dtutional -ties between w~munal self-govefnment and modem democratic regha (Blidcle), link growing republican seIf-cmsciousness and representation with need for &dudlegitimacy in system of sovereign stst- aRer Peace of WestpW 1648 (Mahen) Conc~usion Early modern Ewe was dominated by strong mdes and Empires, but republican forms af govcrnmmt built m a long tradition and provided a viable alternative (in differ& forms). Indk~tly~ at least, elemats like regular elections, decentPalis& govment and civic virtues formed precedents of madm demorracy, Holwein, &I&; P* M- Maken, Thofaas (eds), The ReporbicQlt Altematiw: fie Netherlands and SwbwW Compared (Amstdam, 2008) Pocock, J.O.A., fie Machiadib~ Moment: Fiomnifne Political Thought md ;he A tiant ic MbIican Wioa &hmtm, 1973)