1. Enlightened Absolutism

2. Enlightened Absolutism Overview
Philosophes believed in natural rights
Equality before the law
Freedom of religious worship
Freedom of speech and press
Right to assemble
Right to hold property
In order for these natural rights to be established, philosophes believed people needed to be ruled by an enlightened ruler

3. Enlightened Absolutism Overview
An enlightened ruler must:
Foster the arts, sciences, and education
Obey the laws and enforce them fairly
Overcome personal interests
Enact reforms
Use their power for the good of the people
In response to these ideas, a new type of monarch emerged in the late 18th century…

4. Enlightened Absolutism Overview
…Enlightened Absolutism (or Despotism)
Term used to describe:
Absolute monarchs (rulers) who were influenced by the Age of Enlightenment
“Enlightened despots”
18th century monarchs who, without renouncing their own absolute authority, adopted Enlightenment ideals of rationalism, progress, and tolerance

5. Frederick II, the Great Prussia
King of Prussia (r )
Well-versed in Enlightenment thought
Invited Voltaire to live at his court for several years
Believed the king was the “first servant of the state”

6. Frederick II, the Great Prussia
Through the Pragmatic Sanction, Charles VI secured the Habsburg domains for his daughter, Maria Theresa, upon his death
Frederick immediately invaded her rich province of Silesia and acquired more territory for Prussia
War of Austrian Succession and the Seven Years’ War

7. Frederick II, the Great Prussia
For a time, he seemed willing to make enlightened reforms
Granted religious toleration
Improved the legal system
Abolished the use of torture
Promoted the reconstruction of agriculture and industry
Promoted education and improved schools

8. Frederick II, the Great Prussia
However, he kept Prussia’s rigid social and political structure intact
Extended the privileges of the nobility
High taxes fell on peasants and townspeople
Serfdom remained
Promoted cameralism → view that the monarchy was the best form of government and that all elements of society should serve the monarch

9. Catherine the Great Russia
Empress of Russia (r )
Wife of Peter III → had him murdered
Considered herself a child of the Enlightenment
Mostly treated philosophes kindly in order to gain a positive reputation
Voltaire and Diderot

10. Catherine the Great Russia
Attempts at reform:
Imported western culture into Russia
Tried to improve education
Restricted the practice of torture
Allowed limited religious toleration
Acquired more territory for Russia

11. Catherine the Great Russia
After Pugachev’s rebellion, she stopped making reforms → she knew her success depended on the support of the nobility
Guaranteed the rights and privileges of the nobility
Exempted the nobility from taxes and state service
Favored the landed nobility → full control over serfs

12. Joseph II Austria Emperor of Austria (r. 1780-1790)
Son of Maria Theresa
Believed in the need to sweep away anything standing in the path of reason
Sincerely wished to improve the lives of people
Perhaps the greatest of the enlightened monarchs in terms of reforms, but among the least effective

13. Joseph II Austria Far-reaching reform program:
Abolished serfdom, feudal dues, and forced labor (robot)
Granted peasants personal freedoms
Revoked the death penalty and torture
Established the principle of equality of all before the law
Abolished many tariffs
Taxed everyone, regardless of social status
Freedom of religion and press (to a degree)
Reduced the influence of the church
Expanded state schools
Established hospitals, poorhouses, and orphanages
Integrated Jews into society

14. Joseph II Austria
Altogether, issued 6,000 decrees and 11,000 laws in his effort to transform the nation
Proved to be too overwhelming for Austria
Alienated the nobility by taxing them and freeing the serfs
Alienated the church by placing it under royal control and enforcing religious toleration
Made the serfs unhappy (could not handle all of the drastic change)
His brother, Leopold II, was forced to reverse many of the reforms

15. Enlightened Absolutists Conclusion
Of these rulers, only Joseph II sought truly radical changes based on Enlightenment ideas
Both Frederick II and Catherine liked to talk about Enlightenment reforms, and even attempted some
Neither seemed seriously affected by Enlightenment thought
Necessities of maintaining the existing system took precedence over reform
All used the ideas of the Enlightenment to strengthen their grasp on power