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Enlightened Despotism: Impact on Absolute Monarchs

Explore how Absolute Monarchs reacted to the Enlightenment through Enlightened Despotism. Learn about Frederick the Great, Joseph II, Catherine the Great, and the struggle for reform. Discover their policies and legacy.

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Enlightened Despotism: Impact on Absolute Monarchs

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  1. Bellwork Thurs 2/6/14 • If the Enlightenment was about logic and equality… • How do you think the absolute monarchs reacted to it?

  2. EnlightenedDespotism 22.3

  3. What is Enlightened Despotism? a form of absolutism (or despotism) in which rulers were influenced by the Enlightenment & applied (some of) its concepts to their territories

  4. Philosophe’s Influence • Sought to redirect monarch’s power toward: • Logical economic & political structures that helped the whole nation • Freedom of thought (open to new ideas)

  5. Enlightened Despots • Tended to allow: • religious tolerance • freedom of speech and the press • the right to hold private property • Most fostered the arts, sciences, and education • Greater attention to merit & hard work in bureaucracy (instead of the buddy-reward system)

  6. Enlightened Despots

  7. Frederick the Great King of Prussia

  8. Frederick II of Prussia • r. 1740-1786 • AKA Frederick the Great • Self-described “first servant of the people”

  9. New Policies • Silesia = manufacturing district • Initiated agricultural improvements • Religious Toleration • Catholics & Jews allowed to settle in predominately Lutheran territory

  10. New Policies Cont. • Legal System Reform • Efficiency • Unified regional law to match state law (more central authority) • Decreased nobility’s influence • Abolished torture • School Code of 1763 • All kids 5-13 must go to school

  11. However… • Peasants still burdened by disproportionate taxes

  12. Joseph IIKing of Austria

  13. Joseph II of Austria • r. 1780-1790 • Co-ruled w/mom, Maria-Theresa from 1765 until her death in 1780 • In many ways, the most enlightened of all the monarchs…

  14. Centralization of Authority • Austria  very diverse (lots of cultures and ethnicities) • Maria-Theresa began some Enl. policies such as: • More efficient tax system • clergy & nobility taxed • Expanded primary education

  15. Joseph II’s Reforms • Goals: • extend his borders • exert his authority over areas his mother chose to stay out (irrational to have more than 1 leader)

  16. Joe’s Reforms (cont.) • Tried to est. German as sole language of the empire (irrational not to all speak the same language) • Didn’t work out, and eventually had to rescind these orders

  17. Joe’s Reforms (cont.) • Religious toleration • Lutherans, Calvinists, & Greek Orthodox treated equally to Catholics • Jews: • Relieved of certain taxes & exclusion • Granted the right to private worship • Still did not have equality with other subjects

  18. Joe’s Reforms (cont.) • Created laws to limit authority of landowners over peasants • Abolished serfdom • Land Taxation (GASP!!) • All landowners  pay taxes • Peasants no longer had to bear burden of taxes alone • Died shortly after this decree & it was never implemented (his brother Leopold was forced to repeal it…)

  19. Catherine the GreatEmpress of Russia

  20. Catherine The Great • r. 1762-1796 • Germanic Princess & wife/widow of Peter III • Approved (& possibly aided in) the assassination of her husband

  21. CTG’s Reforms • Brought West to Russia • Ex.: Diderot - paid him & offered to publish his Encyclopédia in Russia when it was banned by French Gov’t • “Charter of Nobility” • Gave nobles complete control over serfs • Local offices given to local nobles (not royal offices, though)

  22. CTG’s Reforms Cont. • Expansion of the small Russian urban middle class (vital for trade) • Continued drive for warm water ports (fought Ottoman Empire) • Created hospitals & orphanages • Limited religious toleration • Slight restriction of the use of torture by the government

  23. Not So Enlightened Despot

  24. Louis XV • r. 1715-1774 • Great-grandson of Louis XIV • Relatively ineffective king • Drove France into deeper debt

  25. Attempts at Enlightenment • Parliaments • Replaced w/ courts where judges could not own, sell, or inherit office • Portrayed Louis XV as tyrant • Economics • Gave up price controls on grain (1763) to open France to a free market • Reversed in 1770 (grain shortage  famine)

  26. Louis XVI • r. 1774-1791 • Restored old parliaments

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