Catholic Monarchy (Civ3)/Civilopedia

Rule by monarchy developed as a logical extension of the absolute rule of tribal chieftains. Many of the earliest monarchs, such as those in 
ancient Egypt, claimed that they ruled by divine right. In the spread of European monarchy during the Middle Ages, however, rulership was 
generally conveyed upon a leader who could most effectively raise and command an army. Monarchies are dynastic, with rule of the country 
passing to the eldest son when the king dies or retires. Monarchs had absolute rule over their subjects, severely limiting the personal and 
economic freedom of all citizens except for nobility and the rich upper class. Although monarchies ruled most of Europe for centuries, the 
unhappiness of lower-class citizens eventually grew intolerable, causing several major revolutions. By the mid-18th century, the power of the 
European monarchs had been severely limited, paving the way for participatory systems of government.
Spain and Portugal were consistently ruled by Catholic Monarchies throughout this period. The French kings
were also Catholic, though substantial portions of the French people had converted to the Protestant faith
(Huguenots). This lead to the Wars of Religion that tore apart France for thirty years in the late 16th Century.