In comparing the policies and activities of many of the great absolutist monarchs, you begin to notice several tendencies. For example, Louis XIV, Peter the Great, and the "Great Elector" all had many similarities that reflected each others actions. .
Louis XIV was an absolute monarch to define absolutism. He honestly believed that he was God's chosen representative. Louis took his power to extremes, dissolving France's only assembly, the Estates General, and even acting as his own prime minister. Louis had a passion for fame (he wanted to make himself supreme in Europe) and a desire to increase French territory in Europe. During this attempt, he involved France in wars that ruined the country financially and paved the way for the outbreak of the French Revolution.
Peter the Great, while being an absolutist, was also an enlightened absolutist. Peter justified his authority by proclaiming himself a servant of the state and the people. Peter's main goal was to advance Russia along rational west European lines; to modernize economic, social, political, and cultural life; and to increase power and prestige abroad. Peter brought about a new model of an absolute monarch: a hardworking, reforming ruler capable of creating through force. When Peter died in 1725, the Russian empire was six times larger than during the reign of Ivan the Terrible.
Frederick William (nicknamed "the Great Elector") followed the trends set by absolutists before him. William weakened the power of the Estates and therefore assumed absolute control. Parliamentary government vanished during Frederick's rule. He reduced the power of the landed aristocracy and established the civil service and the army as the focus of the states" power. He also used the military and civil service to control the state. During the Great Elector's reign, Prussia was 12th in population and had the largest army in Europe.
There are some major similarities between these three monarchs.
