Bishop Jacques Bossuet's Justification For Absolutism In France

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Absolutism is when the sovereign power or ultimate authority rests in the hands of a monarch. There were several justifications for absolutism that existed in Europe, and especially in France. The main justification for absolutism was based on religion. In Europe, Louis XIV was the best example of an absolute monarch. In contrast, in England the monarchy was more limited and absolutism was not permitted to continue. In France, the main justification for absolutism was divine right. Bishop Jacques Bossuet who was a French theologian and court preacher, talked about absolutism in his book Politics Drawn from the Very Words of Holy Scripture. The theory was that God gave kings the right to rule over the people. Under absolutism, it was claimed that kings did not answer to anyone except for God, and since God gave them their power, it was absolute. The monarch did not even have to answer to the parliament. Bossuet also believed that because the king had to answer …show more content…

He was also able to exercise control over the parliaments, where he exercised political and economic controls. He was also able to control religion in France by revoking laws that allowed Protestants to practice their religion. Furthermore, he was able to use his power to build a new palace at Versailles, and used his court there to extend his influence. In England, the king and parliament struggled for power. James I, claimed that kings received their power from God, and he also claimed absolutism. Parliament did not like this since they were used to “balanced polity.” These struggles led to Civil war in England. At the end of the war, King Charles, who was the son of James I, was executed. The parliament said, “ he, the said Charles Stuart, as a tyrant, traitor, murderer, and public enemy to the good people of this nation shall be put to death by the severing of his head from his

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