>Absolute monarchies in the way you talk about them are only post 1600 developments. We never really had that.
It isn't whether absolute monarchy is post 1600 development or not, what absolute monarchy did in particular is advocate a unitary idea of monarchy as opposed to the mixed constitutionalist (i.e. Aristotelian) idea that Medievalists celebrate.
This Alfredo Rocco quote explains.
That fear or terror is involved is not something I deny -- like I said, to attain such a degree of unity, there is a need for force since Aristotle's concord of hosts or friendship of clans is inadequate for that end... think of it like trying to paint a canvas with many artists, it cannot be done -- one vision has to override the others.