Enlightened Despotism

Absolute power to relatively benevolent monarch intent on rationally reforming society Fading use of “divine right” to justify power: instead, stressed usefulness of ruler Common programs included –End formal, useless “feudalism” of old regimes –Building roads and bridges –Creating trained, salaried officialdom –Codifying laws into intelligible systems –Draining marshes and improving countryside for agriculture –Limiting provincial autonomy –Religious toleration Royal decree from Joseph II to Poland

France: Failed Absolutism Louis XV (ruled ) was indifferent to most serious issues Bureaucrats realized truth: although France was wealthy, gov’t was chronically poor Taille tax taxed only peasants; nobles and church exempt Paying taxes seen as sign of inferiority, so new taxes were opposed or evaded

France: Failed Absolutism Repeated war costs (Seven Years War, American Independence, etc.) increased debt Louis XV tried to change tax system and abolish old parlements, but failed Louis XVI (ruled 1774 – 1792) placated aristocrats by restoring parlements, ending possibility of reform

Austria: Maria Theresa Wars of 1740s led to internal consolidation of Austria Maintain the monarchy by increasing taxes and enlarging the military Created largest tariff union in Europe: Bohemia, Moravia, and Austria Attacked institution of serfdom –Laws passed against abuse of peasants by lords –Regularized serf’s’ labor obligations to lords: limited, and must be publicly stated

Austria: Joseph II Son of Maria Theresa: pure representative of Enlightenment Joseph II: “state meant the greatest good to the greatest number” Joseph II’s decrees –Abolished serfdom –Equality of taxation –Equal punishment for crimes, regardless of class –Complete freedom of the press –Religious toleration –Equal rights to Jews, and elevated some to noble status –German: official language, to streamline bureaucracy –Training courses and bureaucrat employment benefits Died 1790 at 49: many reforms undone by his successor, Leopold

Prussia: Frederick II “The Great” To Voltaire “My chief occupation is to fight ignorance and prejudices in this country… I must enlighten my people, cultivate their manners and morals, and make them as happy as human beings can be…” Simplified and codified laws Ensured religious freedom Attempted to provide elementary education for all children Strictly separated classes had with own taxes, land classifications, and duties Serfdom existed, but in gentler form than in Russia or in American south

Russia: Catherine the Great Ruled Wife of eccentric, disliked, Peter III; took power in coup against him days after he became tsar Great patron of the Philosophes, and correspondent with Voltaire Created limited support for religious toleration Codified the laws, to a certain degree Restricted the use of torture Enlightened? She wrote to Diderot: “You write only on paper; I have to write on human skin, which is incomparably more irritable and ticklish.”

Russia: Catherine the Great Pugachev’s Rebellion –Pugachev, a Cossack, declared himself the true tsar, supposedly Peter III returned from abroad –Led pillaging band of serfs, mine workers, fishermen through eastern Russia –Captured, and executed in Moscow –Most violent uprising in history of Russia up to that time –Catherine responded with repression