Frederick William The Great Peasantry Essay
With the fleeting political success of those in the West, the Eastern European Countries had produced some of the strongest absolutist monarchies that influenced future government styles and policies. The beginning of rule in the East was mainly based off of strong noble landlords in power over the peasantry in serfdom. They held return bounties of runaway peasants, and increased their workload. That was possible because of the political manipulation from the noble in charge: “The local lord was also the local prosecutor, judge, and jailer” (McKay 479). This further churned out more revenue for the nobles in power increased the amount of exported surplus and demand from foreign powers. Thus, due to the malleable peasantry and the increase in
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In the beginning there were imperial electors that ran the estates of East Germany and Prussia. When Frederick William came into power as the “Great Elector”, he was able to heavily tax the germanic lands without the consent from the nobles. Taxation allowed for strong dominance over land-owning classes and more importantly, the peasantry. This brought together the Prussian cities and eliminated noble power, thus making Frederick William the absolute ruler. As soon as his son, Frederick William I, came into power, he made sure that all taxation funds were funneled into military power. He transformed Prussia into a disciplined, skilled, military state that would answer to him only through noble commanders. He forced the peasants to fight in the army, and when retired, to provide for the Prussian army and state the agricultural necessities to keep the country going. John McKay exclaims that “with all mean harnessed to the war machine, Prussian civil society became rigid and highly disciplined,” (482). Ultimately, Frederick William and his son were able to ensure a highly absolutist rule through the use of taxes and military motivation. Compared to the Austrian power, the Prussian Empire had a strong foundation of military skill and poise, and continued to push their peasants to the brinking point of
In the beginning there were imperial electors that ran the estates of East Germany and Prussia. When Frederick William came into power as the “Great Elector”, he was able to heavily tax the germanic lands without the consent from the nobles. Taxation allowed for strong dominance over land-owning classes and more importantly, the peasantry. This brought together the Prussian cities and eliminated noble power, thus making Frederick William the absolute ruler. As soon as his son, Frederick William I, came into power, he made sure that all taxation funds were funneled into military power. He transformed Prussia into a disciplined, skilled, military state that would answer to him only through noble commanders. He forced the peasants to fight in the army, and when retired, to provide for the Prussian army and state the agricultural necessities to keep the country going. John McKay exclaims that “with all mean harnessed to the war machine, Prussian civil society became rigid and highly disciplined,” (482). Ultimately, Frederick William and his son were able to ensure a highly absolutist rule through the use of taxes and military motivation. Compared to the Austrian power, the Prussian Empire had a strong foundation of military skill and poise, and continued to push their peasants to the brinking point of