THE ENLIGHTENED DESPOTS OF EUROPE

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THE ENLIGHTENED DESPOTS OF EUROPE
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What is an Enlightened Despot

• Enlightened monarchs embraced the principles of
  the Enlightenment, especially its emphasis upon
  rationality, and applied them to their
  territories. They tended to allow
• religious toleration,
• freedom of speech
• the press
• the right to hold private property.
• Most fostered the arts, sciences, and education

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ENLIGHTENED DESPOTS

• Simplified laws
• Tried to improve education
• Unfortunately their motivation for undertaking
  such changes was to make their countries and
  their power over their countries stronger

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FREDERICK THE GREAT

• - Frederick the Great of Prussia
• 1740-1786
• Tight control
• Admired Voltaire
• Religious tolerance
• Make Govt more efficient
• Servant of the State

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Frederick the Great of Prussia (r. 1740-1786)

• 1712 - 1786.
• Succeeded his father, Frederick William I
  (the Soldier King).
• He saw himself as the First Servant of
  the State.

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Joseph II of Austria (r. 1765-1790)

• 1741 - 1790.
• His mother was Maria Theresa.

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JOSEPH II OF HAPSBURG

• Most radical despot
• Succeeds Maria Theresa
• Student of enlightenment
• Uses middle class instead of nobles
• Political and legal reforms
• Religious toleration
• No censorship
• Abolished serfdom
• Revolutionary monarch

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Habsburg Family Crest
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Catherine the Great (r. 1762-1796)

• German Princess Sophie Friederike
  Auguste of Anhalt-Zerbst.
• 1729 - 1796.

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CATHERINE THE GREAT

• Russia empress 1762
• Exchanged letters with Voltaire and Diderot
• Praised Voltaire
• Experimented with enlightened ideas
• Reformed laws
• Nobles Charter of Rights
• Gave up no power
• Expanded empire

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Reformer? OR Despot?
1767 Catherine summons the Legislative
Commission. 1768-1774
Russo-Turkish War. 1771-1775 Pugachev
Rebellion is suppressed. 1772 First
partition of Poland. 1785 Charter of
Nobility. 1793 Second partition of
Poland. 1795 Third partition of Poland.

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Reformer? OR Despot?
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Rumors of her Death
She died while attempting an unusual practice
with a horse Not true probably started by the
French elite soon after she died as a way to mar
her reputation.
She died on the toilet and her body was so
bloated that she shattered the toilet this more
recent rumor that emerged also as an attempt to
humiliate, and mar her reputation.
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Partition of Poland
Allows for territorial expansion, as well
increase in power of the leaders Poland split
between Russia, Prussia and Austria
1st partition takes place in 1772 All three take
a piece By 1795 all of Poland is absorbed by Big
3 and Poland is no more
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The Partitions of Poland
- 1772 - 1793 - 1795
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Russian Expansionism in the Late 18c
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ARTS AND LITERATURE

• Baroque- large colorful and exciting
• Rembrandt van Rijn - Dutch painter
• No frills classical painter, greatest ever
• Bach wrote beautiful religious works- Lutheran
• Handel Messiah
• Mozart- Marriage of Figaro, The Magic Flute (
  written about the enlightenment)
• Daniel Defoe Robinson Crusoe

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ARTIST OF THE ENLIGHTENMENT
Mozart
Rembrandt
Daniel Defoe
Handel
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Effects of the Enlightenment
Used enlightened ideas to increase power More
humane laws and practice helped populations
become more productive Each wanted greater state
power but went about getting it in different ways