Enlightened Despots Worksheets
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Table of Contents
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Summary
- Definition
- Historical Context
- Key Characteristics
- Major Enlightened Despots
- Contradictions and Limitations
- Modern Use of the Term
Key Facts And Information
Let’s know more about the Enlightened Despots!
Enlightened despots were powerful rulers who tried to bring Enlightenment ideas into their rule while still keeping full control over their countries. They aimed to use their power to improve society, encourage education, and make life better for their people, but they never shared political power.
This form of rule appeared in the 17th and 18th centuries, with leaders believing they could create progress without giving up their authority. Well-known enlightened despots include Frederick the Great of Prussia, Catherine the Great of Russia, Joseph II of Austria-Hungary and Charles III of Spain, who all made efforts to bring reforms, though their actions often had contradictions and limitations.
Frederick the Great, an enlightened despot
Definition
- Enlightened despotism was a way of ruling where kings and queens had all the power but used Enlightenment ideas to improve their countries. They supported reason, education and fairness, so they made new laws, improved schools, and gave people more religious freedom. However, they still kept all the power for themselves and did not allow people to vote or have a say in the government.
- Unlike older absolute monarchs, who ruled strictly by claiming their power came from God, enlightened despots tried to make changes that would help their people while also keeping their own control strong. Their rule was a mix of old and new ideas – supporting progress but not giving up their own authority. This way of ruling helped lead to bigger changes, like democracy, in government later on.
Historical Context
- Enlightened despotism began during the Age of Enlightenment (17th–18th centuries), a period when philosophers talked about reason, science and human rights. Thinkers like Voltaire, Montesquieu and Rousseau pushed for freedom, better education and fairer laws. They challenged the old way of ruling where monarchs claimed their power came directly from God (known as divine right). As these ideas spread, some kings and queens began to adopt Enlightenment ideas but still kept full control of their countries.
- Unlike traditional absolute monarchs, enlightened despots did not claim their power came from God. Instead, they said their power came from a social contract, meaning the ruler had power because the people trusted them to govern wisely and improve society. However, even though these rulers made reforms, ordinary people still had no real say in government. The monarchs kept all political power but used reforms to make their rule stronger, not weaker.
- During this time, enlightened rulers also began collecting data to improve their countries. They started gathering information on trade, harvests, population and the economy. This helped them make plans for future growth.
- The idea of enlightened despotism was first described by German historian Wilhelm Roscher in 1847. Scholars still debate whether it was a step towards democracy or just a way for rulers to hold onto power while looking more modern.
Key Characteristics of Enlightened Despots
- Absolute Power: They kept full control, rejecting democracy and sharing power.
- Support for Enlightenment Ideas: These rulers liked the ideas of the Enlightenment, like reason, science and progress. They tried to use these ideas to make their countries better.
- Less Church Control: Enlightened despots often reduced the Church’s power in political matters. They believed that the government should not be controlled by religion.
- Law and Government: They worked to make laws and government more efficient and fair.
- Support for Education: These rulers believed that learning and culture were important for improving society.
- Improving the Economy: Enlightened despots often worked to improve the economy by encouraging trade, industry and new ideas for making the country richer and stronger.
- Helping Ordinary People: Although they were still in charge, many enlightened despots introduced reforms to help regular people. This included improving education, health and justice for the common people.
- Centralising Power: These rulers believed that strong central control was necessary to make decisions quickly and improve the country.
Major Enlightened Despots
Frederick the Great (Prussia)
- Frederick the Great, who ruled Prussia from 1740 to 1786, was a well-known enlightened despot. He followed French Enlightenment ideas and even criticised German culture, believing it was old-fashioned.
- Frederick invited many philosophers to his court, including Voltaire, who had been treated badly by the French government. Voltaire gladly accepted the invitation and came to live in Frederick’s court. Frederick once said that his main goal as ruler was:“to combat ignorance and prejudice… to enlighten minds, cultivate morality, and make people as happy as it suits human nature, and as the means at my disposal permit.”
- During his rule, Frederick focused on improving education, promoting religious tolerance and modernising the economy. He made reforms in the legal system, promoted better farming techniques, and worked on improving the welfare of his people.
- However, even though he accepted Enlightenment ideas, Frederick did not share power with the people. He used reforms mainly to strengthen his own control rather than giving people more freedom. He defended his system of government in an essay called ‘Benevolent Despotism’, in which he argued that an enlightened monarch could improve society without sharing power.
Catherine the Great
Catherine the Great (Russia)
- Catherine the Great, Empress of Russia from 1762 until her death in 1796, is another well-known enlightened despot. Catherine was influenced by Enlightenment thinkers such as Montesquieu, Voltaire and Rousseau, and she tried to bring many of their ideas to Russia.
- One of her most important reforms was the Nakaz, a document that aimed to improve Russian law according to Enlightenment principles of fairness and justice.
- Catherine also supported the arts, education and science in Russia. However, her reign showed the tension between Enlightenment ideals and absolute monarchy. While she made some reforms, many of them benefited the nobility more than ordinary people.
- Catherine invited the French philosopher Denis Diderot to her court, but their relationship didn’t work out well. Diderot wanted more radical changes than Catherine was willing to make, and their relationship became strained.
Joseph II (Austria-Hungary)
- Joseph II ruled Austria from 1780 to 1790 and is known for his very ambitious attempts to reform his empire. Joseph was greatly influenced by Enlightenment ideas and introduced many reforms, such as the Toleration Patent of 1781, which allowed religious freedom for Protestants and Jewish people. He also tried to simplify the legal system, reduce the power of the Catholic Church, and promote education.
- However, Joseph’s reforms were not well received. Many of his ideas were too radical, and they met strong resistance from the nobility and the Church. His attempts to centralise power led to revolts and his reign became chaotic. His efforts to bring about change are often seen as a failure and many of his reforms were undone after his death.
Charles III (Spain)
- Charles III, King of Spain from 1759 to 1788, also tried to use Enlightenment ideas to reform his empire. He focused on modernising Spain’s economy, promoting science and improving agriculture. He also tried to reduce the power of the Catholic Church by weakening its influence and promoting university research.
- However, Charles faced resistance from the local nobility and from cities that lost their traditional powers because of his centralisation of authority in Madrid. After his death, many of his reforms were undone, and Spain struggled to maintain the progress he had tried to achieve.
Contradictions and Limitations
- A major contradiction was that enlightened despots kept all the power, even though the Enlightenment supported freedom and people’s participation in government.
- Another contradiction was their efforts to reform while still depending on old power structures. They wanted to weaken the nobility and the church but still depended on them for support. For example, Frederick the Great introduced some legal reforms and allowed religious freedom, but he still relied on the nobility.
- Enlightened despots also faced difficulties when trying to carry out their reforms. They were often stopped by powerful groups like the Church, the nobility and the military. For instance, Catherine the Great had to abandon her plans to free the serfs after a large peasant revolt in 1773.
- In addition, many of the reforms made by these monarchs didn’t have much support from the people. Most of these changes were imposed with little involvement from the public. As a result, they didn’t always make life better for ordinary citizens. For example, although Joseph II made some reforms to improve education and the legal system, his tax increases to pay for these changes upset the lower classes.
- Religion also restricted enlightened despots. Many tried to reduce the Church’s power and make their countries less religious but had to respect strong beliefs. For example, Joseph II tried to weaken the Catholic Church in Austria but faced resistance, and his changes were reversed.
- Military needs also limited reforms. Rulers like Frederick the Great focused on wars, which used up resources and made lasting changes harder.
Modern Use of the Term
- Even though enlightened despotism was mostly an 18th-century idea, it can still be seen in some modern leaders. Today, some rulers try to bring progress and reform while keeping strong control over their countries.
- One example is Reza Shah Pahlavi of Iran. In the early 20th century, he tried to modernise Iran by mixing absolute monarchy with some liberal ideas. He made big changes, such as improving government offices, allowing more religious tolerance and boosting the economy.
- However, he also kept strict control over the country and brought back the monarchy. His son, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, continued these policies until the monarchy was overthrown in 1979.
- A more recent example is Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman (MBS) of Saudi Arabia. Since taking power in 2017, he has made major changes, such as reducing the power of religious police, giving women more rights, and trying to grow the economy beyond oil.
- However, Saudi Arabia is still an authoritarian state, where political opponents are often jailed and people have limited freedoms.
- In some cases, strong government control is seen as necessary for stability and growth. Countries like China have been compared to enlightened despotism because they mix strict political control with modernisation and economic development. Some leaders argue that democracy would slow down progress and that a strong government is the best way to achieve national goals.
- However, just like in the past, modern enlightened despotism has its limits. Without public involvement, reforms may not always meet the needs of the people. Over time, strict control can lead to resistance.
Image Sources
- https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5d/Friedrich_der_Gro%C3%9Fe_-_Johann_Georg_Ziesenis_-_Google_Cultural_Institute_%28cropped_2%29.jpg/800px-Friedrich_der_Gro%C3%9Fe_-_Johann_Georg_Ziesenis_-_Google_Cultural_Institute_%28cropped_2%29.jpg
- https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/72/Catherine_II_after_Roslin%2C_Rokotov_%281780s%2C_Kunsthistorisches_Museum%29.jpg/800px-Catherine_II_after_Roslin%2C_Rokotov_%281780s%2C_Kunsthistorisches_Museum%29.jpg
Frequently Asked Questions About The Enlightened Despots
- What is an Enlightened Despot?
An Enlightened Despot was an absolute monarch who embraced some of the ideas of the Enlightenment, such as reason, education, and justice while maintaining complete control over their country. These rulers aimed to reform their states from the top down, rather than by sharing power or introducing democracy.
- What were the main goals of Enlightened Despots?
The main goals of Enlightened Despots were to modernise their countries, strengthen their rule, and improve society using Enlightenment principles. They wanted to create more efficient governments, fairer legal systems, and more educated populations, all while keeping their own authority intact.
- Who were the most famous Enlightened Despots?
The most well-known Enlightened Despots were Frederick the Great of Prussia, Catherine the Great of Russia, and Joseph II of Austria. These rulers introduced reforms influenced by Enlightenment ideas while ruling with absolute power.