17th century Europe, in the words of Euan Cameron (Early modern Europe an Oxford

history) was dominated by war and it was through war that major political changes
occurred. Bourbon France emerged under Louis XIV to become the leading power in Europe.
Sweden that rose during the Thirty Years’ War lost much of its empire to Peter the Great's
Russia. The Thirty Years war was indeed a landmark event in the history of Europe. The
Peace of Westphalia (1648) that brought about the end of the war, brought with it an end to
the predominance of religion in politics and gave birth to a new political system in europe
based on dynastic principles. The new order that emerged was marked by one king one faith
and one law. Dynastic wars such as English Civil War (1640-60), Fronde Movement (1648-53)
ravaged Europe. The fear of the return of despot necessitated adherence to the principal of
centralised territorial state with a strong army led by a strong king.
Thus, by the 16th century monarchical absolutism prevailed in much of western
Europe becoming widespread in the 17th and 18th centuries. The Age of Absolutism is said
to have begun with the reign of Louis XIV who epitomised French absolutism, making
fFrance the seat of absolutism in Europe. Other monarchs include Phillip II of Span, James I
and Charles I of England etc. Absolute Monarchies were marked by a centralisation of all
power in the hands of the monarch who strengthened his position by raising standing
armies, creating royal bureaucracies directly under their own control, collecting taxes
independently and formulating independent policies. What provided moral basis and
justification for their unrestricted, absolute power was the theory of Divine Right of kings
which was supported and legitimised by political theorists such as Jean Bodin, Bossuet and
Hobbes. Military reform and more importantly fiscal reform were core aspects of
absolutism.
As brought out by writers like Perry Anderson, the rise of French absolutism was the product
of the feudal crisis that had resulted in the reformation of the state based on the support of feudal
nobility. A process that started as early as the 15 th century strengthened in the 17 th under King Louis
XIV, the Sun King of Bourbon France. A number of individual ministers contributed to the
development of royal power such as Cardinal Richelieu, Mazarin and Colbert. In fact, The zenith of
French absolutism was reached during the rule of Louis XIV and was the completion of the works of
Henry IV, Richelieu and Mazarin. Louis XIV’s authority was completely enshrined in the concept of
the divine right of kingship that placed unlimited power in the hands of the monarch. Moreover, the
political dislocation caused by the Fronde revolt resulted in greater concentration of authority in the
hands of the French ruler.

the first half-century after 1660 was dominated by Louis XIV who waged wars in all
directions and ensured that no single minister was able to dominate state matters except for
Colbert, who Louis himself authorized, continued to work as his principal minister and contributed to
the creation of a strong absolutist state in France. Essential features of French Absolutism were a
standing army, developed fiscal apparatus and a bureaucracy of venal officers. The restoration of the
authority of the intendants with vast powers, who were the main rivals to the traditional governors,
marked the beginning of absolutism under Louis XIV. Marc Bloch considers this as a key event. Many
traditional offices, including the financial posts, were offered for sale. The policy of mercantilism
promoted by Colbert also contributed to the trend of centralization of authority, as etatism (statism)
was one of the important aspects of French mercantilism. the parlements, was not allowed to
intervene in state affairs. Louis adopted the practice of keeping the governors at court and in their
place the intendants performed their functions. Many of them were selected from the bourgeoisie
to counteract the influence of traditional nobility.