Enlightened Absolutism

Overview• Most philosophes did no favor Montesquieu’s or

Rousseau’s gov’t reforms• They looked to existing monarchies• Promoted power toward rationalization of

economic/political strucutres• European rulers who embraced reforms of

philosophes were enlightened absolute monarchs.

• They embraced ideas to increase military and diplomatic power in Europe; become more competitive.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF ENLIGHTENMENT IDEAS

• Centralization of power & uniformity of law• Emphasized military strength• Secular in basis, promotion of religious

toleration• Rationalizing & reforming• Aimed at strengthening state, justified as

beneficial to all, & reducing local authority

Maria Theresa (r. 1740-1780)

Consolidated central power of crown

Limited autonomy of regions

Wanted to make gov’t efficient.

Limited the burden of peasants on the robot.

Wanted an able supply of soldiers

Joseph II (r. 1765-1790)Continued strengthening the crown.

Asserted state control over the RCC

Tried to improve economic conditions

Joseph II Encouraged religious toleration

Frederick II (1740-1786)Admired philosophes

Codified laws made legal system more efficient

Promoted religious freedom and religious toleration

Compulsory education for all

No limits on Junkers

State dominated by military

Catherine the Great (r. 1762-1796)One of greatest rulers in European history· As a reformer, perhaps the least “enlightened” of the Enlightened Despots

She was a lover of French culture and considered herself a child of the Enlightenment

Catherine the GreatConsidered freeing serfs until the Pugachev rebellion (1773).

Gave boyars complete control over serfs, gaining favor from boyars.

Imported western culture into Russiaa. Architects, artists, musicians and writers were invited to Russiab. Culturally, Russia gained the respect of western European countriesEducational reformsa. Supported the first private printing presses.· The number of books published annually in Russia increased to about 400 during her reign from a couple dozen.b. School for noble girls founded Restricted torture

• Shortcomings of Catherine’s reforms– Only the state and the nobility benefited; the rest of the Russian

population benefited little, if at all– Nobles gained more legal and financial security from the

state– Nobles freed from taxes or state service– Serfdom became even more severe– Nobles had complete control over their serfs and could

mete out arbitrary punishments (even death)– Only nobles could own land

Territorial Growth

a. Annexed Polish territory under the 3 partitions with Prussia and Austria in 1772, 1793 & 1795b. Gained Ottoman land in the Crimea that was controlled by the Tartars.c. Began conquest of the Caucasus region.d. Expansion provided Catherine with new lands with which to give the nobility (to earn their loyalty)

End of the Enlightenment in Central and Eastern Europe.

• Innovations in Russia, Prussia, and Austria met with resistance.

• Prussia – Frederick II grew old and distant. Aristocrats regained power & controlled military/society

• Austria – Joseph II’s reforms brought revolt. He turned to censorship and his secret police

• Russia – Rebellion and the Fr. Rev. brought an end to reform.