Long term causes: number Long term causes: number 22

Political and administrative Political and administrative system system

SovereigntySovereignty

oWhat is it? From what does any What is it? From what does any political regime draw its power and political regime draw its power and authority?authority?

oWith whom does Sovereignty reside With whom does Sovereignty reside in Australia?in Australia?

sov·er·eignsov·er·eign (säv (säv′′rən, -ər in; rən, -ər in; occas.occas. suv suv′′-)-)adjectiveadjective1.1. above or superior to all others; chief; greatest; supreme above or superior to all others; chief; greatest; supreme 2.2. supreme in power, rank, or authority supreme in power, rank, or authority 3.3. of or holding the position of ruler; royal; reigning of or holding the position of ruler; royal; reigning 4.4. independent of all others a sovereign state independent of all others a sovereign state 5.5. excellent; outstanding excellent; outstanding 6.6. very effectual, as a cure or remedyvery effectual, as a cure or remedy• Etymology: ME Etymology: ME soverainesoveraine < OFr < VL * < OFr < VL *superanussuperanus < L < L

supersuper, above, , above, overovernounnoun1.1. a person who possesses sovereign authority or power; a person who possesses sovereign authority or power;

specif., a monarch or rulerspecif., a monarch or ruler

sov·er·eigntysov·er·eignty (-tē) (-tē)

nounnoun pl.pl. sovereigntiessovereignties -·ties -·ties

1.1. the state or quality of being sovereign the state or quality of being sovereign

2.2. the status, dominion, rule, or power of the status, dominion, rule, or power of a sovereign a sovereign

3.3. supreme and independent political supreme and independent political authority authority

4.4. a sovereign state or governmental unita sovereign state or governmental unit

Look carefully at the next Look carefully at the next picture.picture.

• (Also on page 7 of Adcock)(Also on page 7 of Adcock)

• Think about:Think about:– How does the painting convey the How does the painting convey the

immense personal power of the king, immense personal power of the king, Louis XVI?Louis XVI?

– Messages communicated through his Messages communicated through his pose and expression?pose and expression?

– Anything else of note about the painting.Anything else of note about the painting.

Pretty impressive, huh?Pretty impressive, huh?

• Louis XVI was what is known as a Louis XVI was what is known as a Divine Right Absolute Monarch Divine Right Absolute Monarch (DRAM)(DRAM)

Louis XVI’s rule as a DRAM Louis XVI’s rule as a DRAM rested on the following rested on the following elements:elements:• AbsolutismAbsolutism

– Absolute authorityAbsolute authority– Documents and practise supportDocuments and practise support– Power to pass laws, appoint ministers, declare war and peace, Power to pass laws, appoint ministers, declare war and peace,

impose taxes, control currency, etcimpose taxes, control currency, etc• Divine RightDivine Right

– Religious belief (devout country)Religious belief (devout country)– Power from God – think of significance? Modern equivalent?Power from God – think of significance? Modern equivalent?– Can one criticise/challenge God?Can one criticise/challenge God?

• DynastyDynasty– Tradition – long line of rulersTradition – long line of rulers

• Military powerMilitary power– Supreme commanderSupreme commander

Thus, think:Thus, think:

• What needs to occur for a revolution What needs to occur for a revolution to occur??? to occur???

The King is generally well The King is generally well respected…respected…

…but is generally regarded as a weak character, particularly by

those who know him.

Marie-Antoinette, however…Marie-Antoinette, however…

• Austrian royaltyAustrian royalty• Promised to Louis XVI as a child – peace Promised to Louis XVI as a child – peace

process between traditional enemies, Austria process between traditional enemies, Austria and Franceand France

• Marries Louis in 1770, aged 14.Marries Louis in 1770, aged 14.• Bizarre initiation ceremonyBizarre initiation ceremony• Young couple unable to conceive for seven Young couple unable to conceive for seven

years – largely as a result of Louis’ unfortunate years – largely as a result of Louis’ unfortunate “problem” – inability to produce a male heir “problem” – inability to produce a male heir does not endear her to the French public.does not endear her to the French public.

Actually, the fault lay with Actually, the fault lay with Louis’Louis’• In the words of Simon Schama, sexual relations were In the words of Simon Schama, sexual relations were

“complicated”“complicated”• Letter from Joseph II, emperor of Austria and Marie-Letter from Joseph II, emperor of Austria and Marie-

Antoinette’s brother, 1777:Antoinette’s brother, 1777:[Louis] has strong, well-conditioned erections, introduces the [Louis] has strong, well-conditioned erections, introduces the

member, stays there without moving for perhaps two member, stays there without moving for perhaps two minutes and withdraws without ejaculating but still erect minutes and withdraws without ejaculating but still erect and says good night; this is incomprehensible because he and says good night; this is incomprehensible because he sometimes has nightly emissions but once in place and sometimes has nightly emissions but once in place and going at it, never – he says plainly that he does it from a going at it, never – he says plainly that he does it from a sense of duty.sense of duty.

• Poor Marie-Antoinette!Poor Marie-Antoinette!• Louis’ “Problem” finally corrected through minor surgery. Louis’ “Problem” finally corrected through minor surgery.

Able to conceive a child (a daughter, mind you…)Able to conceive a child (a daughter, mind you…)

Marie-AntoinetteMarie-Antoinette

• But her reputation slides for But her reputation slides for a number of reasons:a number of reasons:– Apparent financial Apparent financial

recklessness – she regularly recklessness – she regularly runs up large debts – and runs up large debts – and indifference to the suffering of indifference to the suffering of othersothers

– ‘‘Let them eat cake’Let them eat cake’– 1785 - Diamond Necklace 1785 - Diamond Necklace

AffairAffair– Labelled “Madame Deficit”Labelled “Madame Deficit”

Also…Also…

• Subject to vicious rumour and innuendo. For Subject to vicious rumour and innuendo. For example...example...– Scandal sheetsScandal sheets– Political pornographyPolitical pornography– Accuse her of sexual misadventure (eg. affairs Accuse her of sexual misadventure (eg. affairs

with Artois and Lafayette), infidelity, lesbianism, with Artois and Lafayette), infidelity, lesbianism, even incest.even incest.

• She becomes known as the ‘Austrian Whore’She becomes known as the ‘Austrian Whore’• Louis is ridiculed as a cuckold (cheated-upon Louis is ridiculed as a cuckold (cheated-upon

husband). husband).

Marie-Antoinette as a harpy Marie-Antoinette as a harpy (1793)(1793)

Remember: Louis XVI’s rule as a DRAM Remember: Louis XVI’s rule as a DRAM rested on the following elements:rested on the following elements:

• AbsolutismAbsolutism– Absolute authorityAbsolute authority– Documents and practise supportDocuments and practise support– Power to pass laws, appoint ministers, declare war and peace, Power to pass laws, appoint ministers, declare war and peace,

impose taxes, control currency, etcimpose taxes, control currency, etc• Divine RightDivine Right

– Religious belief (devout country)Religious belief (devout country)– Power from God – think of significance? Modern equivalent?Power from God – think of significance? Modern equivalent?– Can one criticise/challenge God?Can one criticise/challenge God?

• DynastyDynasty– Tradition – long line of rulersTradition – long line of rulers

• Military powerMilitary power– Supreme commanderSupreme commander

Again, think:Again, think:

• What needed to happen for a What needed to happen for a revolution to occur?revolution to occur?

View the following clipView the following clip

• What is the film maker trying to say What is the film maker trying to say about life in the court of Louis XVI?about life in the court of Louis XVI?

• If accurate, how might this lifestyle If accurate, how might this lifestyle weakenweaken the elements that make up the elements that make up the king’s authority?the king’s authority?

• Is this accurate? Is this fair??? [Go Is this accurate? Is this fair??? [Go find out!]find out!]