- looked upon themselves as the head ofgovernment
- Louis XIV came to embody absolutism
- understood there were limits to his authoritydespite of his power
- Very religious, and believed strongly in divineright
- William used the end of the 30 years war togain more territories
- increased his power over subjects
- had power to raise taxes without consent
- Phillip used Spain's wealth to built an armada
- Armada was used to defend Catholicism againstProtestanism
- Peter wanted to westernize/modernize Russia
- learned new ideas on shipbuilding,govt.organization,music,etc
- Elizabeth refused to share her power with aman/ never married
- Beheaded her cousin: Mary Queen of Scots