Enlightened Despots: Examples and Achievements

Enlightened Despots

• Monarchs who embraced Enlightenment ideas while maintaining their absolute power.
• Aimed to implement reforms that improved society, but prioritized their own authority.

Frederick the Great

• Implemented significant reforms including:
  • Religious freedoms, reduced censorship, and improved education.
  • Enhanced the justice system and abolished torture.
• Held contradictory views on serfdom, believing it was wrong but maintaining it to secure support from wealthy landowners.

Joseph II

• Known as the most radical reformer among enlightened despots.
• Key reforms included:
  • Legal reforms that promoted justice and equality.
  • Freedom of the press and worship.
  • Abolished serfdom and mandated compensation for peasant labor.
• His agrarian reforms were reversed after his death, showing the challenges of sustaining such changes.

Catherine the Great

• Highly regarded by Enlightenment thinkers (philosophes).
• Focused on reforms influenced by Montesquieu and Beccaria, advocating for:
  • Religious tolerance, abolition of torture, and elimination of capital punishment.
• Her reign exemplified the blend of Enlightenment ideals with monarchical authority.

This quiz focuses on enlightened despots, who were monarchs that embraced Enlightenment ideals while maintaining their power. Explore key figures, including Frederick the Great, and learn about their contributions and significance in history. Test your knowledge on the balance of authority and progressive reforms during this transformative period.