Features of absolutism in Russia. Eastern despotism as a form of state power. How absolutism differs from despotism
Such unlimited power, which does not take into account the rights of people, but comes from a one-sided idea of \u200b\u200bthe duties of subjects, is called despotism. In contrast to the legal monarchy of the West, a type of despotic state has developed in the East.
A clear example of this was Ottoman Empire, which at the beginning of the 16th century, during the reign of Sultan Suleiman I, thanks to successful campaigns of conquest, became a huge Mediterranean power. The powers of the Turkish Sultan were unlimited. He was both the spiritual head of Muslims and a secular ruler. He united in his hands the legislative, executive and judicial powers. The Sultan disposed of the lives and property of his subjects, while his person was considered sacred and inviolable. He was officially recognized as "the shadow of God on earth." The despotic power of the Sultan was based on the bureaucratic apparatus of government. The highest official of the Ottoman Empire was the Grand Vizier. The most important policy issues were discussed in the state council - the divan. The members of the divan were the largest dignitaries and the highest cleric - the mufti. All land was considered state property. The sultans distributed it in the form of grants of conditional possession to the sipahis, who were obliged to equip a certain number of soldiers in return for the taxes collected from the peasants. The striking force of the Ottoman Empire was the Janissary corps.
The Manchus, who conquered China in the mid-17th century, also established despotic power. The Manchu emperors of the Qing dynasty were unlimited overlords. The basis of their power was an extensive bureaucratic apparatus and the army. The highest government institutions were the State and Military Councils, as well as the State Chancellery. The country was governed by six departments: ranks, taxes, rituals, military, judicial and public works. All candidates for government positions underwent a strict selection process - they passed exams to receive an “academic degree.” The emperors of the Qing dynasty established a comprehensive system of surveillance and espionage. Every resident and his property were registered with the state. The superiors monitored their subordinates, the seniors monitored the juniors. The government sought to control not only every step of the emperor's subjects, but even their thoughts and motives.
Japan's political system was a unique type of despotic rule. The head of state was considered the emperor, but real power belonged to the shogun, the hereditary military ruler. The shogun relied on the class of samurai warriors, who made up a significant proportion of the population. The life of samurai was strictly regulated by laws and customs. The code of honor required them to selflessly serve their overlords. For this they, if necessary, had to give their lives without hesitation. In 1603, as a result of many years of internecine struggle, shogun Ieyasu Tokugawa came to power. His government established a system of four classes - samurai, peasants, artisans and merchants, life and economic activity which were strictly regulated by laws. The peasants were attached to the land and were deprived of the right to leave it.
Question No. 24 – the concept of Russian absolutism
Response Plan:
The concept of absolutism
Comparison with despotism
The theory of equilibrium N. Machiavelli
Other reasons for the emergence of absolutism
The reasons for the emergence of absolutism in Russia
Absolutism in Russia
The concept of absolutism
Absolutism is a unique form of political government, when all three (legislative/executive/judicial) branches of power are concentrated in the hands of the monarch, who is not limited in the exercise of state powers by any legal bodies or officials. The absolute monarch is the sole legislator, heads the executive branch and the armed forces, as well as the judicial system (administrative bodies and courts act on his behalf), and extends his control to the church.
The traditional legal definition of absolutism is a monarchy with unlimited power.
Absolutism and despotism
Absolutism as a type of political rule is inherent in Western European practice and management. It is worth noting that absolutism and despotism are different things. A despot has power over every person, but he is powerless to change social orders, and an absolute monarch can do this, since his power is absolute and unlimited. The essence of absolutism is the power of one person, unlimited by anything.
The theory of "equilibrium"
The question arises: how is such power born? Absolutism in Western Europe arose in the 15th century, in the 16th it was finally formalized into a system of special government institutions and its definition was given in Florence by Nicola Machiavelli in the book “El pancipe” or “The Prince”. Machiavelli shows how people need to be controlled and gives the concept of an absolutist type of dominion.
Autonomy is established when the aristocrats, remembering their former greatness, try to gain their former power, and the common people (the nascent bourgeoisie), seeing the aristocrats' attempts to gain power, do everything possible to limit the aristocrats' access to power. As a result, a balance develops and in this environment one person is nominated who is given the right to resolve disputes between one and the other.
The result is a balance between opposing socially polar parties, and the sovereign becomes an “arbiter.” The arbitrator is independent of any party and therefore has full power.
It is precisely in the era of absolutism that, by the way, a new type of state arises - “a machine for producing the happiness of nations.” A “modern fiction of state omnipotence” appears: the sovereign must take care of everything: build and maintain public buildings, maintain street police, drain swamps, look after the fields, distribute taxes, help the poor and sick, etc.
Other reasons for the emergence of absolutism
The general social basis of absolutism is not so simple, since in practice balance is not achieved. This very “equilibrium theory” is effective only as the most abstract one; it cannot be applied on a universal scale.
It turned out that the equilibrium formula is not entirely applicable even for such classical examples of absolutism as France and Italy. The birth of the bourgeoisie gives way there to deep decline.
A strange phenomenon has been noted in the literature that the peak of the heyday of the class and absolutist state falls on two opposite population indicators Western Europe. In the first case, we observe an absolute decrease in numbers as a result of the plague, and the emergence of absolutism, on the contrary, with an increase in numbers. The actual emergence of this or that type of political rule can be explained from the technical conditions for performing such a task as police control over the population.
In practice in many countries, absolutism arose as a result of military necessity. A striking example of this is the reign of Charles XII in Sweden (the heyday of absolutism).
By absolutism we have to understand the same historical and political Forms, but conditioned by completely different circumstances.
The form of absolutist government is a form of political rule in its pure, ideal form. This ideal character of absolute power is capable of uniting in a comparative study the legal facts of different times and civilizations.
Absolutism in Russia
“Despotism limited by a noose” - A.S. Pushkin.
Absolutism in general form is inherent only in Western Europe; nowhere else is there such an equilibrium according to Machiavelli’s theory. Marx and Engels were adherents of the theory of balance, therefore in the USSR they tried to prove that absolutism was born in the confrontation between the boyars and the nobility, but as the practice of Peter shows, he tried to abolish the boyars, forcing everyone to serve “to the point of complete abshid”, introducing the Table of Ranks, showing that even a vile person from the lower classes can receive nobility. A social study was conducted of the highest St. Petersburg elite - 60% came from peasant backgrounds. This was the introduction of social mobility in the Republic of Ingushetia, so there can be no talk of any confrontation.
Some Soviet historians tried to debate. The concept was born among historians that during Peter the Great capitalism appeared and here the merchants (bourgeoisie) opposed the nobility, but it began to develop after 1861. (because there was no equipment and labor.
Absolutism in Russia developed during the Northern War, when the state budget was 90% military, concentration of efforts is necessary to win. In addition, according to P.N. Miliukov, the war reduced the country's population by 25%, so it was possible to keep the country in balance only by emergency, absolutist measures.
As mentioned above, absolutism was formed under Peter, but from what date and where do we find this legal confirmation?
It is enshrined in Art. 20 of the Military Regulations of 1716 : "FOR HIS MAJESTY IS AN AUTHORITICAL MONARCH, WHO SHOULD NOT GIVE AN ANSWER TO ANYONE IN THE WORLD ABOUT HIS AFFAIRS. BUT HAS THE POWER AND POWER OF HIS OWN STATES AND LANDS, LIKE A CHRISTIAN KING, TO RULE ACCORDING TO HIS WILL AND BLESSING"
Until 1906, it served, with some changes, as the source of Article 1 of the Basic State Laws. It is worth noting that in addition to the Military Regulations, absolutist power was emphasized and defined in documents such as, for example, the Spiritual Regulations (1721), ("The power of monarchs is autocratic power, which God himself commands for conscience to obey")), In program documents Russian autocrats ("Order" of Catherine II, "Order" of Pavel Petrovich), the main state laws of the Republic of Ingushetia since 1832. and etc.
The sources of Peter's borrowing of this legal formula for his autocracy in the general sense are Western Europe (“Combined view of Holland and Austria”).
To be more precise, the formula is borrowed from a Swedish source - the Declaration of Sovereignty of the Swedish Estates of 1693, the model for which was a similar one, but the Danish Estates of 1663. However, there is a significant difference between them. While the Danish document made the king irresponsible for his actions, the Swedish document defined the power of its monarch as unlimited.
Absolutism ended in 1906 (1716-1906). The power of the emperor was not recognized as unlimited, as it had been previously. The law stated that “the sovereign emperor exercises legislative power in unity with the State Council and the State Duma” (Article 7, April 23, 1906, Basic State Laws of the Republic of Ingushetia).
History question. How is absolutism different from despotism? and got the best answer
Answer from Naska Filimonenko[newbie]
I read the meaning of these words on Wikipedia and, in my opinion, they are synonymous, the difference is only in one thing: in despotism, an autocratic monarch is not only the sole ruler of his state, but also the master of his subjects. Despotism also often refers to totalitarian rule, accompanied by repression, suppression of civil liberties, control and surveillance of state subjects.
Answer from ЂС[guru]
ABSOLUTEISM (absolute monarchy), a form of feudal state in which the monarch has unlimited supreme power. Under absolutism, the state reaches the highest degree of centralization, an extensive bureaucratic apparatus is created, standing army and police; the activities of class representation bodies, as a rule, cease. The heyday of absolutism in Western European countries occurred in the 17th and 18th centuries. In Russia, absolutism existed in the 18th and early 20th centuries. (see Autocracy).
DESPOTISM,
1) see Despotism. .
2) Arbitrariness; brutal suppression of rights, freedoms, independence.
DESPOTIA (Greek despoteia - unlimited power), a form of autocratic unlimited power. Classical despotism - states Dr. East (Assyria, Babylon, etc.).
Answer from Anyuta[guru]
the concepts of “absolutism” and “autocracy” are identical, and mean a special form of government in which the power of the monarch is legally unlimited. Absolute monarchies in Europe arose in the 16th–17th centuries. at the stage of decomposition of feudal relations and the formation of bourgeois ones. Based on this, Western European absolute monarchs relied on the support of the nobility and the emerging urban bourgeoisie with a tendency towards a certain independence in conducting domestic and foreign policy.
Absolute monarchies had pronounced regional characteristics, expressed in the specifics of social support, different ratios of legal and non-legal methods of governance, the degree of use of direct coercion and personal arbitrariness of the monarch, the degree of development of the bureaucratic apparatus, etc.
Russian absolutism (autocracy) began to take shape in the second half of the 17th century. (although individual elements arose back in the 16th century during the reign of Ivan the Terrible and Boris Godunov) and finally took shape under Peter I. Moreover, it differed significantly from Western European classical absolutism. Firstly, it had a different social support (one serving nobility, and not an alliance of the nobility with the urban bourgeoisie), which is explained by different historical conditions of its formation. In Russia, XVII - first half. XVIII centuries , the bourgeoisie, for a number of reasons, was extremely small and did not form into a separate class of the population with a clearly defined social psychology, worldview, etc. Secondly, the ratio of legal and non-legal methods of management was clearly shifted towards the latter. The personal arbitrariness and despotism of the monarch was more pronounced in Russia than in Western countries. This is largely explained by the general features of the Russian historical process (the predominance of despotic tendencies during the period of the yoke of the Golden Horde; a change in the value orientations of the bulk of the population in connection with this, expressed in the gradual formation of subject relations; the establishment of serfdom, which led to the formation of a slave psychology among the majority of the population ; a state of constant external threat that seriously influenced the choice of management methods and contributed to the militarization of all parties public life, turning emergency wartime methods into permanent ones, etc.). Although one cannot help but note the real possibility of Russia’s development along a different alternative path associated with democratic traditions during the period of the Old Russian state, the Novgorod Republic, etc. However, after the Time of Troubles, when unsuccessful attempts to implement the principle of electing the monarch almost led to the loss of national independence , the civilizational choice was made clearly in favor of the formation of a strong, unlimited power of the monarch with maximum centralization and despotic features in governance.
The East were located in southern Asia and northern Africa. These include Babylon, Assyria, Iran, Phenicia, Ancient China, Urartu, Egypt, Ancient India and the Hittite state.
Eastern despotism is the main feature that characterizes these states. This term means the unlimited power of one head of state.
The reason why eastern despotism arose is that in ancient countries the land community was preserved for quite a long time and the land did not receive development for a long time. Thus, the rural community became the basis of this state structure. In addition, the emergence of this system was facilitated by traditional rules that village communities could not violate. For example, in Egypt, the importance of despotic power was reinforced by the need to create irrigation structures, without which it was impossible to engage in agriculture. If residents abandoned such a political system, government authorities could destroy important elements of the platinums, and the population would be left without water, and, consequently, mass death would begin.
In addition, Eastern despotism relied on the divine dignity of its rulers. For example, in Egypt, the pharaoh completely controlled the legislative, military and No one could oppose his decision, because. it was believed that he was an intermediary between people and gods. In the Ancient Sumerian state, the head was also the highest power. He was recognized as a priest, so his orders were carried out unquestioningly. In India, despotism was characterized as the complete arbitrariness of the ruling monarch. However, here the ruler was not a priest. All his power rested on the teachings of the Brahmins.
IN Ancient China the ruler was not only a priest, but also a “son of heaven.”
Eastern despotism had characteristic features:
1) The predominance of the state over society to an absolute degree. The state is considered the highest power that stands above man. It regulates all areas of activity and relationships of people not only in society, but also in the family. The head of state shapes tastes and social ideals, can appoint and remove officials at any time, is uncontrollable, and exercises command of the army.
2) Coercive policy. The main task facing the state was to instill fear in every resident. The wards must tremble and believe that the ruler of the country is not a tyrant, but a defender of the people, reigning at every level of power, punishing arbitrariness and evil.
3) to the ground. All of it belonged only to the state; not a single one had freedom in economic terms.
4) Social-hierarchical structure. It resembles a pyramid. At its top was the ruler, then the state bureaucracy, communal farmers, and the lowest level belonged to dependent people.
5) Each civilization of the Ancient East had an organized apparatus of power. It consisted of three departments: financial, public, and military. Each one was assigned a specific task. The financial department was looking for funds to maintain the administrative apparatus and the army, the public was engaged in construction work, the creation of roads, the military - the supply of foreign slaves.
It is worth noting that despotism was not only negative in nature. Even under such a system, the state provided some guarantees to the population, although not to the same extent. Laws controlled relations between the population and imposed punishments for actions. Thus, a civilized society of the modern type began to take shape.
Plan:1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Education in Europe is united
centralized states;
Monarchy and nobility;
Absolutism;
"Bureaucratic" monarchy
Bourbons;
Austrian and Spanish Habsburgs;
Hohenzollerns in Prussia;
Enlightened absolutism;
Absolutism and despotism.
Formation of united centralized states in Europe (make a diagram according to the text)
In the 9th century. a single Englishkingdom.
After the victory in the Hundred Years' War (1337 - 1453)
French kings strengthened their
position.
1479 - Castile and Aragon united in
Spanish kingdom.
1397 Denmark, Sweden and Norway concluded
Kalmar Union (as well as Iceland and
Finland).
In the 15th century a single Russian state was formed.
1569 Poland and Lithuania united in Rech
Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
Monarchy and nobility
What rule prevailed infeudal society?
"My vassal's vassal is not my vassal"
New principle: All classes -
direct subjects of the king.
Absolutism
Remember what absolutism is?Absolutism is a form of government in which power
unlimitedly belongs to one person - the monarch.
Characteristic features of absolutism:
1. Creation of a national apparatus
management consisting of officials;
2. Formation of permanent professional
armies;
3. Creation of a state tax system;
4. Introduction of uniform legislation and
administrative structure, uniform weights and measures;
5. Formation of a state church;
6. Carrying out a unified state economic
politicians.
The "bureaucratic" Bourbon monarchy
Let’s draw up a diagram “Governing Bodies inFrance in the 16th – 18th centuries.”
King
Supreme Courts
instances of parliaments
General
states (since 1614
by 1789 not
convened)
Royal
advice
Tips for
separate
industries
management
(then
ministries)
Local government
(governors, then
quartermasters,
royal courts)
The pinnacle of absolutism in France was the reign of Louis XIV – the “Sun King” (1643 – 1715)
“The State is Me!”Versailles - residence of the king
8
Versailles
910. Austrian and Spanish Habsburgs
Habsburgs (German: Habsburger) - one of the most powerful monarchiesdynasties of Europe throughout the Middle Ages and Modern times.
Representatives of the dynasty are known as the rulers of Austria (from 1282),
then Austria-Hungary (until 1918), and also as Emperors of the Holy
The Roman Empire, whose throne the Habsburgs occupied from 1438 to 1806. (With
a short break in 1742-1745).
Besides Austria and the Holy Roman Empire, the Habsburgs were also
rulers of the following states:
Hungary in 1437-1439, 1445-1457, 1526-1918;
Czech Republic in 1306-1307, 1437-1439, 1453-1457, 1526-1618, 1621-1918;
Croatia in 1437-1439, 1445-1457, 1526-1918;
Spain in 1516-1700;
Portugal in 1580-1640;
Kingdom of Naples in 1516-1735;
Mexico in 1864-1867;
Transylvania in 1690-1867;
Tuscany in 1790-1859;
Parma in 1814-1847;
Modena in 1814-1859.
as well as a number of smaller government entities.
11.
12.
Charles V, lastHoly Roman Emperor
empire (1519 -1556),
crowned by the Pope
Philip II, King of Spain
(1556 – 1598)
Ferdinand I, Holy Emperor
Roman Empire (1556 – 1564)
In 1556 Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor and at the same time
The king of Spain abdicated power. He declared his heirs
both son of Philip (Spain) and brother of Ferdinand
(Holy Roman Empire).
13. Austrian and Spanish Habsburgs
Holy Roman Empire (since 1512 - HolyRoman Empire of the German Nation) -
interstate entity that existed
from 962 to 1806 and united many territories
Europe.
It consisted of several dozen large and small
possessions united only by the personality of the monarch. IN
Each of them had their own class assemblies,
governments and laws. National
there were no institutions.
In the 16th century Spain was the most powerful country
Europe. But there was confusion in the management, big
The clan nobility enjoyed influence.
The ruling dynasty did not care about the prosperity of these
countries, but fought for such goals as global
dominance and triumph of the Catholic Church.
14. Hohenzollerns in Prussia
Hohenzollerns in Prussia (former Teutonic Order)began to rule in the 16th century. Despite the fact that they
took possession of the lands of West Germany and became
one of the major monarchs of Europe, power
Electors was weak.
In the II half. XVII century the electors took measures to
strengthening your power:
A centralized management apparatus has been created;
Strong army.
In 1701 the Emperor gave the Hohenzollerns a royal
title.
15. Enlightened absolutism
StateName
ruler
Reforms
16. Enlightened absolutism
StateName
Reforms
ruler
Prussia Frederick II 1. Limited the arbitrariness of the landowners
against peasants (banned
their sale without land);
2. Judicial reform
created independent from the authorities
court,
the defendants received the right to
protection, protection
torture is prohibited;
3. Developed the education system
Universities have become
exemplary centers of science;
Network of primary and secondary schools;
Vocational schools.
17.
StateName prlya
Monarch Maria
and I
Teresia,
Habsburg Joseph II
gov
Reforms
1. Administrative reform
The Supreme State Council was created;
Unified local system
management, subordinate
government;
2. Liberation of peasants from personal
dependencies in the Czech Republic, Moravia,
Hungary;
3. Anti-church reforms
Closed most of it
Catholic monasteries;
Freedom of religious practice
cults (for Catholics,
Protestants and Orthodox);
4. Funds are directed to needs
education.
18.
StateName of pr- Reforms
la
Spain Philippe Centralization in management
I
Council of Ministers (leadership
V and him
descendants
government departments);
Internal customs duties have been cancelled.
boundaries;
All-Spanish Cortes were convened.
Franzi Ludovi 1. Abolished the guild organization
I
crafts and trade;
to XVI,
Jacques
2. Tried to cancel the state
Turgot
control over grain prices.
19. Absolutism and despotism
Find in the textbook what it isdespotism?
Despotism is unlimited power that
does not take into account the rights of people, but proceeds
from a one-sided view of
duties of subjects.
Examples – Ottoman Empire, China,
Japan.
Assignment: on the item “Absolutism and
despotism" make diagrams
administration of each of these countries