France and Spain, in particular, were tyrannical states in the early 17th century. Cardinal Richeliue of France was viewed by many as a tyrant because of his suppression of newspapers, strong suppression of free trade, and tendency to view his position as one of absolute monarchy. He also developed a huge network of spies, forbade discussion of politics in public places, and had those who were suspected of conspiring against him executed. Cardinal Richelieu’s primary aims were to centralize power in France and destroy the Habsburg dynasty.
The decline of Spain was caused by peasants revolting because foreigners were running the country.
They all battled for a long time, and by the end everyone was exhausted, only to discover the crushing taxes that they had to pay. This made Spain rapidly decline.
In response to all of this overbearing statism across Europe, it was Juan De Mariana's view that if you kill an unjust king, that is fair. However, this view could quickly spin out of proportion because the peasants would take advantage.
Unlike Juan De Mariana, English philosopher Thomas Hobbes thought the absolutist state was a good thing. Thomas Hobbes was an interesting person- "His political philosophy is chiefly concerned with the way in which government must be organized in order to avoid civil war."¹ He believed that starting conflicts is stupid because there is a chance you will die. Why start a fight if you might die?
European history is interesting and very lengthy, with lots of important people who all left their mark on history.
Notes
1. Sorell, Tom. "Thomas Hobbes." Encyclopedia Britannica. Last modified September 12, 2024. Accessed October 20, 2024. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Thomas-Hobbes/Political-philosophy.
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