What does the term "absolutism" refer to in European history?

The term "absolutism" in European history specifically refers to a political system characterized by the concentration of power in a single ruler or monarch, who possesses supreme authority and is not bound by laws or constitutions. This concentration of power allows the monarch to make decisions unilaterally without the need for consent from nobility or any legislative body.

Historically, absolutist rulers such as Louis XIV of France embodied the principles of this system, asserting their power through divine right, where they claimed their authority to rule came directly from God. Absolutism was influential in the early modern period, particularly in the 17th and 18th centuries, as it enabled monarchs to centralize control over national affairs, suppress dissent, and implement significant social and economic reforms.

A form of democracy, shared power, or federal governance represent concepts that are contrary to the principles of absolutism because they emphasize the distribution of power among various branches of government or representatives of the populace, which directly contrasts with the idea of singular, absolute rule.