Enlightened Despots
Why do you think Joseph II of Austria, Catherine II of Russia and Frederick II of Prussia earned the title of Enlightened Despots? Joseph II of Austria, Catherine II of Russia, and Frederic II of Prussia all made reforms and changes that were ideas of the Enlightenment. They all wanted to further their country and increase the people's rights. They were called Enlightened Despots and were rulers who tried to justify their absolute rule by getting the people's interest. They did this through good laws, fair taxes, improving society, and overall promoting human happiness. Philosophers like Voltaire encouraged and even instructed these enlightened despots. Voltaire believed change had to come from above, the monarchs, and not from the people. The enlightened rules of Prussia, Russia, and Austria were able to combine their need for an effective monarch with the need for economic, educational, and social reform. Some of the most noted enlightened despots were Joseph II of Austria, Catherine II of Russia, and Frederick the Great of Prussia. Frederick the Great was King of Prussia and invited Voltaire to his court to find knowledge about how to rule his people in Enlightened ways. Frederick made many social reforms that were
The people were happier with their ruling and even with the enlightened reforms, the country was still under a monarch and developed in economic, social, and educational reforms. Catherine reorganized the local government and split the country into 50 provinces. Frederick promoted industry, agriculture, and commerce. Toleration and freedom of religion were very important. The Charter of the Nobility, issued in 1785, formally reorganized the rights and privileges of the nobility, including exemption form taxes and military service and giving them total control over their estates and serfs. In 1789, he abolished the robot, which obliged peasants to perform services for the landowning nobility. Frederick and Joseph were also very religiously tolerant. Joseph II also established hospitals to help the people. He did away with the torture system of accused criminals. To promote trade, Joseph II eliminated many internal tariffs and encouraged road building and improvement in river transportation. In his religious policy, Frederick allowed Catholics and Jews to settle in Prussia. They all made reforms and further enlightened their reforms with ideas of Voltaire, Montesquieu, and other thinkers of the Enlightenment. Revenues that had gone to the church now went to he state treasury. All classes were represented, except the serfs. He abolished most restrictions of Jews.
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