Absolute rulers that willingly abdicated

[Arwon]

Absolute Monarchy did exist in Sweden during the renaissance.

I dunno how you're defining Modern Age but I'm using the 1500ish to 1800ish definition, so it sounds like the development of proper Absolute Monarchy (with state expansion, centralisation, reduced autonomy of regions and nobles, etc) in Sweden was roughly contemporaneous with other countries in Europe?

 

[Lone Wolf]

Ah, silly of me. Still, I would class the Renaissance as early modern.

Who remembers that Chauser, Boccaccio and Petrarca lived before Joan d'Arc?

 

[sydhe]

Thomas Cromwell abdicated willingly, and his father repeatedly attempted to hand power back to Parliament, but had to keep dissolving it when it made foolish decisions.

You mean Richard Cromwell, the son of Oliver, don't you? Thomas had his head chopped off by Henry VIII's executioner.

 

[aronnax]

Plus Richard was an Idiot in handling a country.

He fell from power so fast he was called Tumble-down Dick

Had he not given up power his head would be on the line

 

[Sharwood]

You mean Richard Cromwell, the son of Oliver, don't you? Thomas had his head chopped off by Henry VIII's executioner.

Yep. Don't know how I got Thomas's name in there. Probably from reading about that stupid Henry VIII film out now.

 

[privatehudson]

Diocletian has always held a certain appeal for me. Anyone who gives up running the most powerful empire in Europe to grow cabbages is alright in my book

 

[Louis XXIV]

The Romans probably are the best examples. Diocletan is a good one, Sulla works as well (although he was following the pattern of Roman dictators being temporary. The unorthodox thing with him is how he became dictator and how long he held it, not the fact that he gave it up).