“Enlightened”

• What does it mean to be “enlightened”?• What qualities does a person exhibit which

would entitle them to the label of “enlightened”?

Enlightened Rule

• Based on the views of the philosophes who most advocated a monarchy, what qualities and reforms of gov’t would allow a ruler to be “enlightened”?

Enlightened Despotism

• What is a despot?– A person who rules with absolute power

• An Enlightened Despot was a ruler who aimed for the advancement of society by:– Fostering education– Aiding the economy– Promoting social justice– Promoting the good of their people

Enlightened Absolutism

• During the 17th century, Russia and Prussia rose as powerful states

• Catherine the Great of Russia (r. 1762-1796) and Frederick the Great of Prussia (r. 1740-1786) became examples of “enlightened despots”

• During the 18th century, Austria under Maria Theresa and her son, Joseph II qualify as genuine Enlightened Despots

Frederick the Great of Prussia (1740-1786)

• “the first servant of the state” belief of Frederick

Enlightened Actions

• Patronized Voltaire• Abolished serfdom• Religious Toleration – for

every Christian, Muslim or Jew

• Improved agriculture• Fostered industry• Eliminated torture• Improved education• Promotion through merit –

work and education rather than birth would decide ruled Prussia

Unenlightened Actions

• Prussia was a militaristic state under absolutist regime

• Invasion Silesia in 1740 which was a part of Poland

• The Polish Partition of 1772—Prussia annexed parts of Poland through military expansion

• Kept the social system intact with Junkers (nobles) on top and peasants on bottom

Joseph II of Austria (1780-1790)

• Epitome of “Enlightened Despotism” -upheld Enlightenment principles the most

Enlightened Actions• Made German the official

language of HRE to promote unity• Checked the power of the Roman

Catholic Church• Guaranteed freedom of the press

and of religion• Abolished serfdom• introduced legal equality and

taxation through law reform• Elimination of capital punishment• Gov’t sponsored schools required

child attendance• improved transportation and

trade

Unenlightened Actions

• Imposed censorship when needed during internal peasant rebellions

• aimed to extend the empire at the expense of Poland, Bavaria (part of Germany), and the Ottoman Empire

Catherine the Great of Russia (1762-1796)

Enlightened Actions

• Read the philosophes• Befriended Voltaire and

Diderot• Called for a legislative

commission to study reform of Russia

• Allowed private printing presses

• established schools for girls• abolished torture and

capital punishment• opened up trade and

favored the expansion of the urban middle class

Unenlightened Actions

• Dismissed the legislative commission before it reported on the problems of Russia

• Crushed the Pugachev Rebellion by Russian peasants unhappy with the social structure of Russia

• Retained absolutism• Gained more land than any

previous ruler, in Russian history, by defeating the Ottoman Empire and by partitioning of Poland

The Partition of Poland

• Due to internal instability due to lack of centralized government, the three great eastern powers (Russia, Austria, and Prussia) sought to eliminate it

• proved that without a strong bureaucracy, monarchy and army, a nation could not survive

• The Three Partitions of Poland (1772, 1793, 1795) removed Poland from the face of Europe and proved power politics prevail over enlightened ideals

Map 17–2 PARTITIONS OF POLAND, 1772, 1793, AND 1795. The callous eradication of Poland from the map displayed 18th-century power politics at its most extreme. Poland, without a strong central government, fell victim to the strong absolute monarchies of central and eastern Europe.

The End of Enlightened Rule in Central and Eastern Europe

• nations became more conservative and politically more repressive towards the end of 18th century

• Many enlightened leaders viewed the ideals of the Enlightenment as a tool to exercise power

• fading monarchs– Frederick the Great of Prussia – grew remote with age

and left the aristocracy to fill government posts– Joseph II of Austria – in response to criticism turns to

censorship and the secret police– Catherine the Great of Russia – peasant uprisings lead to

fears of social and political upheaval

• Most rulers chose the path of power and compromised on ideals

• Rulers provided a groundwork for future revolutions