Political Changes

Beginning in the 1600s, one of the first changes that was made politically was the attempt to weaken the noblility. With absolutism becoming popular, monarchs began to impose taxes without consent, meaning no parliamentary approval; they could maintain "standing" armies, who also worked as police to the villagers; third, they communicated with other states at leaders at their own will.

Religion played a part in political change as well. In the early 1600s, many lords had been Protestant, especially in the Bohemian Estates, but after the Protestant uprising was crushed in the Thirty Years War, Ferdinand II eliminated Protestantism, and replaced many Protestant nobles with Catholic ones, even though some were foreign. However, strong, direct rule was now established over Bohemia, as well as stronger and centralized governments in other lands.

While not much of a change politically, in 1713 the Pragmatic Sanction was proclaimed, which stated that Habsburg possesions were never to be divided and were always to be passed intact to a single heir. While this would not fully unify the Holy Roman Empire, it was a step towards it. Somewhat of a reverse-step was often made by Hungarian nobles, who tried very hard to avoid absolute rule. While never completely triumphing, they were successful in that a true, absolute monarch was never established in the region.