Jean Bodin’s doctrine of absolute sovereignty provides that one sovereign body has legitimate power over the entire community and monarchs derived their power from God. Consequently, one “cannot contravene them without treason and rebellion against God.” This is particularly because, as Bodin argues, “His yoke is upon them, and they must bow their heads in fear and reverence before His divine majesty” . This doctrine of absolutism was embedded in the European monarchy, and brought loyalty and obedience from their subjects. This essentially saw the nature of monarchies change; as monarchs were extending their geographical territories and acquiring full control over court systems and ensuring that future hereditary monarchies were educated well…show more content… Territorial expansion acquired by monarchies, in most cases by marriage or dynastic inheritance, is an essential factor that needs to be taken into account due to its contribution in bringing about the change in the nature of monarchies. J.H. Elliot describes these states as “composite monarchies” as it included more than one country under the sovereignty of one ruler, an example is the monarchia of Charles V, which included the Holy Roman Empire, Spain, the Netherlands, Spanish territories in Italy and Spain’s colonies in the New world. The creation of composite states, as Elliot asserts, “meant enhanced prestige and potentially valuable new sources of wealth” . In addition, composite states saw the establishment of political units that sought to govern on behalf of the reigning monarch. This suggests that although composite monarchies…show more content… This is supported by Feros as he writes “the prince’s education was paramount in transforming him into a worthy ruler.” Philip IV, for example, was the heir to the great tradition of Hispanic kingship and the Count-Duke Olivares conducted his education, which involved an understanding of the constitutional and ideological foundations of the Spanish monarchy. However, as Feros asserts, “The training and education of the royal heir was no mere academic affair, much was at stake in transforming the prince into the head of the most powerful European monarchy.” Olivares, for instance, taught Philip the craft and mysteries of kingship. Therefore, careful training was carried out to ensure the reigning king deserved the high office to which God called him. In addition, royal education promoted the intellectual growth and maturity to become the genuine lord of his kingdoms and illuminated Kings were becoming more powerful, more aware of their power and more able to exert their dominance. Although, Michael A. R. Graves argues, “Whoever governed in the young ruler’s name, be he noble or a member of the royal family, lacked the automatic allegiance which an anointed and crowned adult monarch could command”, one can argue that the reigning monarch become dependant on their advisors. An example is Philip IV as
