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compare contrast euro monarchs
Ally Rosencrans
Mr. Anderson
AP Euro
20 November 2014
Compare and contrast the methods of leadership of two pre 19th century European Monarchs European monarchy was in full force between 1400 and 1800, in a variety of nations and ways. Phillip II of Spain and Fredrick William the 1st of Prussia were monarchs with similar approaches in terms of absolutist reign accompanied by a strong military, yet they differed on foreign policy, economics, and religion. To begin, Phillip and Fredrick both felt entitlement to have divine right of their countries through absolutist and military rule. Philip II made Spain the largest navy fleet of its time, intimidating other nations. Fredrick William rebuilt and retrained his military into professional soldiers, giving Prussia one of Europe’s largest land armies. This aided them to fight in the Great Northern War in 1715 solely to rid Swedish armies from their German strongholds. Phillip’s most prominent military victory was the conquest of Portugal in 1580 when King Henry of Portugal died. By enlisting their citizens in their militaries through conscription, both monarchs gained control over their population. Citizens knew if they were to act up they could lose their jobs, harming their families. Overall, these Kings established leadership through fear tactics in a subtle manner. Oppositely, Phillip and Fredrick William disagreed on foreign policies. During Phillip’s reign, Spain was known as “the Empire on which the sun never sets,” for it became so large through his expansionist mindset. Philip II created military campaigns to defend Catholic Europe, for example his 1588 failed invasion of Protestant England. In contrast, Fredrick held a large European army, yet had little to no military campaigns throughout his ruling. Domestic matters concerned him more than foreign, such as agriculture and primary schools to benefit his nation in the long run. He looked upon the manual of Regulations for State Officials with great

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