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THE ENLIGHTENED DESPOTS

The Leaders of 18th Century Europe. THE ENLIGHTENED DESPOTS. FRANCE. Louis XV (1715 - 1774). FRANCE. Regent (1715 - 1723) was Duke of Orleans – Louis XV was only 5. Nobility made a strong comeback

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THE ENLIGHTENED DESPOTS

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  1. The Leaders of 18th Century Europe THE ENLIGHTENED DESPOTS

  2. FRANCE Louis XV (1715 - 1774)

  3. FRANCE • Regent (1715 - 1723) was Duke of Orleans – Louis XV was only 5. • Nobility made a strong comeback • 1748 - Louis XV - implemented 5% Income tax on everyone - no one was exempt. – What problem could that cause? Louis XV (1715 - 1774)

  4. FRANCE • Parlement of Paris protested the tax and challenged royal authority • Government withdrew tax in 1764 • passed legislation limiting the King from levying any tax without consent of the Parlement Louis XV (1715 - 1774)

  5. FRANCE • Louis XV appointed Rene de Maupeou to crush his opposition • abolished Parlement • Philosophes disagreed with his policies - led to a stream of attacks on his Royal authority. Louis XV (1715 - 1774)

  6. What other king we studied does this sound like? • What happened to him? • What is different now in Europe that might impact Louis XIV in a very negative way?

  7. FRANCE • Philosophes displeasure with him took away the aura of the King • Died before he could prevail • Louis XVI took the throne - eager to please • Weakened and unreformed Monarchy Louis XV (1715 - 1774)

  8. RUSSIA Catherine the Great (1762 - 1796)

  9. RUSSIA • Wife of Peter III • He was overthrown and murdered within months of taking over- with the approval of Catherine • Ruled for 34 years • Corresponded with Voltaire and other thinkers. Catherine the Great (1762 - 1796)

  10. RUSSIA • Did very little to reform or modernize Russia • Introduced Western ideas that only pleased herself. • Led to flourishing scholarship, book publishing, journalism, architecture and theater Catherine the Great (1762 - 1796)

  11. RUSSIA • Catherine herself wrote articles and plays • Sponsored the 1st school for girls in Russia • Established an elementary school system Catherine the Great (1762 - 1796)

  12. RUSSIA • Mostly spent time increasing Russian autocracy and military power • Extended Russia’s boundaries southward and westward • Charter of Nobility of 1785 - landlord’s control over peasants and serfs became stronger then ever before • Died November 17, 1796 Catherine the Great (1762 - 1796)

  13. Rumors of her Death She died while attempting an unusual practice with a horse – Not true – probably started by the French elite soon after she died as a way to mar her reputation. She died on the toilet – and her body was so bloated that she shattered the toilet – this more recent rumor that emerged also as an attempt to humiliate, and mar her reputation.

  14. PRUSSIA Frederick the Great (1740 - 1789)

  15. PRUSSIA • Perfect example of the benevolent or enlightened despot • Friend of Voltaire • Learned - wrote essays, poetry and music - Voltaire taught him to write elegant French. Frederick the Great (1740 - 1789)

  16. PRUSSIA • Implemented a type of Religious Toleration • accepted Catholics and didn’t persecute Jews as much as other rulers of his time. • Militaristic - passion for military victory Frederick the Great (1740 - 1789)

  17. PRUSSIA • Founded Elementary Schools for peasants • Founded High Schools for future government officials • Founded Berlin Academy of the Sciences Frederick the Great (1740 - 1789)

  18. What was so Enlightened about his rule? • What was not so Enlightened about his rule?

  19. AUSTRIA Maria Theresa (1740 - 1780)

  20. AUSTRIA • Proved her abilities by successfully defending Austria from those who believed it was easy to conquer a woman - Frederick the Great of Prussia • Believed in reform: • Increased taxed on nobility, Roman Catholic Church Maria Theresa (1740 - 1780)

  21. AUSTRIA • Confiscated monastic property • Expelled Jesuits • Steps towards abolishing Serfdom. Maria Theresa (1740 - 1780)

  22. What was Enlightened about her rule? • What was not Enlightened about her rule?

  23. AUSTRIA Joseph II (r. 1765 - 1790)

  24. AUSTRIA • A Model Enlightened Despot • Abolished Serfdom • Equality of Taxation • Equal punishment for equal crime (Nobles - Peasants) Joseph II (r. 1765 - 1790)

  25. AUSTRIA • Legal punishments were less cruel • Equal civil rights extended to Jews • Even appointed Jewish nobles • Wanted independence from Rome • Seized Catholic Monasteries - used property to finance hospitals Joseph II (r. 1765 - 1790)

  26. AUSTRIA • Few reforms were long lasting • Resistance from Hungarian Nobility • didn’t like abolition of serfdom • didn’t like equal Taxation • didn’t like Roman Catholic Church Joseph II (r. 1765 - 1790)

  27. AUSTRIA • Died disillusioned • Brother Leopold II reversed most of Joseph’s reforms. Joseph II (r. 1765 - 1790)

  28. What was Enlightened about his rule? • What was not very Enlightened about his rule?

  29. How did Enlightened Despots differ from earlier unelightened monarchs of the past?

  30. Believed political change should come from them; the government. • Encouraged by philosophes to make laws that promoted human happiness • They acted abruptly and wanted quick and immediate results - IMPATIENT

  31. They justified their authority on usefulness not divine right • Rational and Reformist - regarded political change as possible and desirable. “The Monarch is not the absolute master, but only the first servant of the state.” - Frederick the Great

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