What did Benedetto Croce mean by absolute historicism?

Benedetto Croce identified absolute historicism as the definitive form of his mature thought, representing a shift away from the rigid, systematic structure of his earlier "philosophy of the spirit".1

In his earlier work, Croce utilized a rationalist, idealistic system where the "moments" of the spirit—aesthetic, logical, economic, and ethical—were organized into a circular, predetermined structure. However, as he refined his methodology, he moved toward a more fluid approach. In absolute historicism, these moments are no longer treated as abstract, fixed categories; instead, they are "concretized" into the ongoing flow of historical action and thought.1

Under this framework, history serves as the unique mediational principle for all aspects of the spirit. The spirit is viewed as completely spontaneous, operating without a predetermined structure. This evolution in his philosophy is most notably reflected in his later work, such as History As the Story of Liberty (La storia come pensiero e come azione), where history is understood as a living, continuous process rather than a static system.1