EN - Enlightened Despots: Where Absolutism meets the Enlightenment. (Lesson)

Enlightened Despots: Where Absolutism meets the Enlightenment.

The Enlightenment movement was so widespread and influential that many of the most powerful monarchs of the day implemented enlightened reforms during their reigns. Some of these monarchs were truly enlightened while others fell short of the mark as concerns over stability of state overrode their desire to reform. Considered the most enlightened of all of these monarchs was Prussia's Frederick II (The Great). Frederick, while a talented military tactician, was also well educated in the disciplines of philosophy, history, music, and poetry. He corresponded frequently with French philosophers such as Voltaire. He claimed to be anti-Machiavellian (this point could be argued) promoting peaceful and enlightened rule. As you have seen in an earlier module, Frederick was involved in a series of 18th century wars, however, his domestic policies reflected a man of benevolence and education. Frederick was an absolute ruler (despot) who was personally involved, in great detail, in the administration of his government. He studied and implemented new methods of agriculture and manufacturing that were introduced during the period. While he did not entirely abolish serfdom, he did liberalize the system making life better for the peasants. As a believer in enlightened principles, he was sympathetic to the cause of the American Revolution and a great admirer of George Washington. Once the American colonists gained their independence, Frederick was one of the first sovereigns to conclude a commercial treaty with the United States. In true Prussian style, he increased the size and the efficiency of the military, writing books on the science of warfare. Frederick instituted a new codification of Prussian Law, the Code Fridericianus, which established a more equitable distribution of justice to all classes. His social reforms included patronizing the arts and sciences (opened the Academy of Science), improved the elementary education system, preferred French to German, as a musician he played the flute, and was a prolific writer (produced 30 volumes of works which were published in 1846 and 1857.)

Catherine the Great of Russia was well read on Enlightenment ideals as she was a frequent correspondent with Voltaire and Diderot. While during her reign there were substantial reforms in the areas of civil administration, education, and social issues, she did fall short on some enlightened reforms due to political considerations. In 1767, Catherine appointed a commission to reform Russia's legal code although the results were basically unsuccessful. Other reforms included creating a foundation for the first Russian school for women, founding a medical college to provide health care for her subjects, and commissioning surveys for the identification of Russia's mines and resources. While all of these reforms were substantial, Catherine did fall short in her efforts of social reform. In an effort to court her gentry and boyars, she transferred state owned serfs to private landowners. In fact, she expanded the institution of serfdom. Under Catherine's leadership, Russian territory greatly expanded due to wars with the Ottoman Empire ( 1768-74 and 1787-91), annexation of the Crimea (1783), and three partitions of Poland with Prussia and Austria (1772, 1793, and 1795) the final one wiping Poland off the map of Europe until the end of World War I. In the end, Catherine played a key role in the development of Russia as a modern state.

Maria Theresa, the Austrian ruler, while extremely capable and effective, is not considered an enlightened despot due to her conservative nature. She did set sweeping reforms in motion that strengthened her central administration and military effectiveness. She did, however, resist her son's efforts to engage more radical reforms such as the abolishment of serfdom. Maria Theresa's son, Joseph, followed her to the throne implementing a series of reforms to earn him the title of enlightened.

 

Find out more. Click here to download a copy of Washington State University Professor Richard Hooker's lecture notes on the Enlightened Absolutists. Links to an external site.

 

View the presentation below to review quick facts of each of these monarchs. The presentation is not narrated, click through the slides at your own pace.

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