During the 16th and 17th centuries monarchs in western Europe sought to?

During the 16th and 17th centuries, monarchs in Western Europe sought to consolidate their power and establish absolute rule, often diminishing the influence of the nobility and other traditional power structures. This period saw the rise of strong centralized states, with leaders like Louis XIV of France epitomizing the concept of absolute monarchy. Additionally, monarchs pursued territorial expansion, economic control through mercantilism, and religious uniformity, particularly in the context of the Protestant Reformation and the Catholic Counter-Reformation. These efforts aimed to enhance national strength and stability while asserting the monarch's divine right to govern.