Enlightened Despotism

1. Enlightened Despotism

2. What is Enlightened Despotism? is a form of absolutism (or despotism) in which rulers were influenced by the Enlightenment.

3. Enlightened Despotism (cont.) Enlightened monarchs embraced the principles of the Enlightenment, especially its emphasis upon rationality, and applied them to their territories

4. Enlightened Despotism (cont.) They tended to allow: religious toleration freedom of speech and the press the right to hold private property Most fostered the arts, sciences, and education

5. What Did the Philosophes Think? Many did not wish to go the political route of Montesquieu’s limited monarchy or Rousseau’s democracy Most were pro-monarchy (Voltaire, Diderot, etc.) and did not wish to limit a monarch’s power

6. Philosophe’s (cont.) Instead, they sought to redirect that power toward the rationalization of economic and political structures & the liberation of thought

7. Enlightened Despots

8. Frederick the Great King of Prussia not the mall…

9. Frederick II of Prussia r. 1740-1786 AKA Frederick the Great Self-described “first servant of the people”

10. Economic Policies Silesia as a manufacturing district State-initiated agricultural improvements: Created more farmland (drained swamps) Successfully introduced new crops: potatoes & turnips Established the Land-Mortgage Credit Association which helped landowners raise money for agricultural improvements

11. However… Peasants still burdened by disproportionate taxes

12. Non-Economic Policies Religious Toleration Catholics & Jews allowed to settle in predominately Lutheran territory Protected Catholics living in Silesia State benefited from the economic contributions of more workers

13. Non-Econ. Policies (cont.) Rationalization of Legal System Efficiency Unified regional law to match state law (more central authority) Decreased nobility’s influence

14. Joseph II King of Austria

15. Joseph II of Austria r. 1780-1790 Co-ruled with his mother, Maria-Theresa from 1765 until her death in 1780

16. Joseph II Not known for his warm personality - was said to be impersonal & humorless However, he wanted to improve life for his people

17. Centralization of Authority Austria was very diverse Maria-Theresa began some Enlightened policies such as: More efficient tax system in which clergy & nobility were taxed Brought educational institutions to the service of the crown

18. Maria-Theresa (cont.) Expanded primary education Limited the amount of labor that landowners could demand from peasants Goal = to create a pool from which to draw military recruits

19. Joseph II’s Reforms Wanted to extend his borders Wanted to exert his authority over areas where his mother had wisely chosen to stay out (irrational to have more than 1 leader)

20. Joe’s Reforms (cont.) Tried to establish German as the sole language of the empire (irrational not to all speak the same language) Didn’t work out, and eventually had to rescind these orders

21. Joseph & the Church Favored toleration October 1781 - Issued a Toleration Decree Lutherans, Calvinists, & Greek Orthodox permitted to: Have own places of worship Sponsor schools Enter skilled trades Hold academic appointments Hold positions in public service

22. Joseph & Church (cont.) Jews: Relieved of certain taxes & signs of personal degradation Granted the right to private worship Still did not have equality with other subjects

23. More Joseph & Church Sought to bring institutions of the Roman Catholic Church under his control (“Josephinism”) Forbade local bishops to communicate with the Pope Dissolved over 600 territories and took their land (unless they were schools or hospitals)

24. Even More Joseph & the Church Dissolved established Roman Catholic Seminaries (too much focus on Pope, not enough on parishners) & replaced with 8 seminaries where parish duties were the focus Funded w/ money from confiscated monasteries Roman Catholic priests = employees of the state

25. Joseph’s Economic Reforms Abolished internal tariffs Encouraged building of new roads Improved river transportation Personally inspected farms & manufacturing districts

26. Economic Reforms (cont.) Created laws to limit authority of landowners over peasants Abolished serfdom as a legally sanctioned state of servitude Granted peasants many personal freedoms such as the right to marry and engage in skilled work w/o landowner’s permission Goal = reduce traditional burdens on peasants

27. The BIG Economic Reform… Land Taxation (GASP!!) All landowners were to pay taxes regardless of social status Peasants no longer had to bear burden of taxes alone Died shortly after this decree and it was never implemented (his brother Leopold was forced to repeal it…)

28. Catherine the Great Empress of Russia

29. Catherine The Great r. 1762-1796 Germanic Princess & wife/widow of Peter III Approved (& possibly aided in) the assassination of her husband Gregory Orlov, her lover, organized the coup that murdered Peter III

30. Catherine the Great Ideas of the Enlightenment convinced her that Russia was backward Brought everything Western to Russia Ex.: Diderot - paid him & offered to publish his Encyclopedia in Russia when it was banned by the French Gov’t.

31. 1767 Legislative Commission 500 Delegates from all walks of life Goal was to suggest reforms (guided by Enlightenment ideals) Result = nothing, but Catherine got a good feel for her country’s problems

32. CTG’s Legislative Reforms Gave strong support/power to nobility They had the power to oust her, so she made friends with them “Charter of Nobility” Gave nobles complete control over serfs Local offices given to local nobles (not royal offices, though)

33. CTG’s Economic Reforms Continued PTG’s mercantile ideas Supported expansion of the small Russian urban middle class (vital for trade) Kept a close tie to philosophes so they would write about her favorably

34. CTG’s Territorial Reforms Continued the drive for warm water ports (fought Ottoman Empire) 1774 Treaty of Kuchuck-Kainardji - gave Russia a direct outlet on the Black Sea Active in the First Partition of Poland (along w/ Austria & Prussia)

35. CTG’s Social Reforms Limited, but did create hospitals & orphanages Limited religious toleration Slight restriction of the use of torture by the government

36. Pugachev Rebellion 1771-1775 Most violent peasant uprising in Russian history 1773-1774 - peasants and Cossacks killed 1500 nobles and clergy This rebellion limited the amount of reforms geared toward them

37. Who Was Most Enlightened? In your journal section, write 1 paragraph that answers: Who best exemplifies an “Enlightened Despot” - Frederick the Great, Joseph II, or Catherine the Great? Why?