Compare And Contrast Monarch

"Compare and Contrast the centralizing policies of at least 2 pre-19th century European monarchs.” An absolute monarch is a ruler who governs alone and is not restrained by laws, a constitution, or custom. Two absolute monarchs were Louis XIV of France and Henry VIII. Louis XIV ruled from May 14, 1643 to September 1, 1715. He was a cultural icon and was called the Sun King. Henry VIII ruled from April 21, 1509 to January 28, 1547. Both Louis and Henry built up the military, regulated or controlled the religion, however only Louis XIV changed the power of the nobility. First, both built up their military. Louis XIV built his army up to 400,000 men in times of war. Also, at the start of his reign, there were three serviceable ships to 25 ships in 1661 to 144 ships in 1677. He raised his army with the help of taxes. Taxes like the aides and douanes, the gabelle, and the taille. Henry VII also built up the English navy. The navy increased from five ships in the beginning of his reign to 50 ships by the time he died. Both Louis and Henry built up their military to protect themselves and their kingdom. Next, both of the monarchs regulated or controlled the religion. Louis XIV took away the Edict of Nantes. The Edict of Nantes granted the Calvinist Protestants of France substantial rights in a nation still considered essentially Catholic. He revoked it in October, 1685 with the Edict of Fontainebleau. Louis did this to make France one centralized religion. Henry VII also changed up religious things. He signed the Act of Supremacy. The Act of Supremacy granted King Henry Royal Supremacy and declared him as head of the English Church. He made it protestant. He did this to divorce one of his six wives because the pope did not divorce them. He did this because he was mad at the Pope but still ended up controlling the religion. Both of the monarchs regulated or controlled the religion. Louis XIV changed the power of the monarchs whereas Henry VIII just stayed