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Enlightened Despots

Enlightened Despots. Were they really influenced by the Enlightenment?. Joseph II.

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Enlightened Despots

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  1. Enlightened Despots Were they really influenced by the Enlightenment?

  2. Joseph II • Joseph II (1741-1790) was an emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, which was a German-based empire in western and central Europe. He was co-ruler with his mother, Maria Theresa, from 1765 to 1780. After his mother died in 1780, Joseph was sole ruler until his death.

  3. Joseph’s Reforms • After he began ruling the Holy Roman Empire alone, Joseph made reforms that he felt would enable his subjects to be more productive citizens. For example, he abolished serfdom and devised a new system of taxation of land. Also, he issued edicts of religious toleration. The Roman Catholic Church was the dominant church of the empire, but Joseph extended rights to Jews, Orthodox Christians, and Protestants.

  4. Joseph’s Failures • Joseph’s reform programs were largely failures • He alienated the nobles by freeing the serfs • He alienated the Catholic Church • He also became unpopular because of costly and unsuccessful attempts to expand his empire. • In 1787, he joined Russia in a war against the Ottoman Empire. Joseph and his army, which he commanded himself, suffered humiliating defeat. His health was broken, and he died before the war ended.

  5. Frederick II • (1712-1786), the third king of Prussia, became known as Frederick the Great. He started his reign in May 1740 and ruled until his death.

  6. Frederick II • has been called an "enlightened despot" because he supported the progressive ideas and reforms of the period of history called the Enlightenment or Age of Reason

  7. Frederick II and Reform • Was a very educated and most cultured monarch during his time • Even invited Voltaire to live at his court • Abolished the use of torture except in treason or murder cases • Granted limited freedom of speech and press • Allowed religious tolerance

  8. Frederick the Great a short video • Watch and listen. • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0s_6_tlasfw

  9. Catherine the Great • (1729-1796) ruled as empress of Russia from 1762 until her death. • Catherine was born in Poland on May 2, 1729. At the age of 16, she went to St. Petersburg, Russia, and married Peter, the weak and incompetent successor to the Russian throne. He became Emperor Peter III in 1762 but was deposed later that year by Catherine and her allies and was assassinated. Catherine succeeded Peter to the throne as Catherine II.

  10. Catherine’s Reforms • Early in her reign, Catherine became interested in the liberal ideas of her time, called the Enlightenment because its great thinkers emphasized the use of reason. She built schools and hospitals, encouraged smallpox vaccination, promoted the education of women, and extended religious tolerance.

  11. What do you think of Catherine?

  12. Was Catherine really Enlightened? • But Catherine did little to grant basic civil rights to the majority of the Russian people. She tightened landowners' control over the serfs, and she forcefully put down a peasant revolt. Except for raising the status of nobles and merchants, she carried out few social reforms.

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