Enlightened Absolutism (Frederick the Great, Catherine the Great, Joseph II)

Summary

Enlightened absolutism refers to 18th-century monarchs who attempted to integrate Enlightenment ideals like religious toleration and institutional reform while maintaining absolute power. The video explores the reigns of Frederick the Great of Prussia, Catherine the Great of Russia, and Joseph II of Austria. Each monarch applied these ideals in varying degrees, with Frederick being the most successful in reforms, Catherine focusing on patronage of philosophes, and Joseph introducing radical changes, albeit with limited effectiveness. The video provides insights into how these rulers balanced Enlightenment principles with their desire to maintain control over their states.

Takeaways

• 😀 Enlightened Absolutism refers to monarchs who tried to implement Enlightenment ideas while maintaining absolute power.
• 😀 The key principles of Enlightened Absolutism include religious tolerance, institutional reform, absolutism, and patronage of Enlightenment thinkers.
• 😀 Frederick the Great of Prussia is often considered the most successful Enlightened Absolutist, promoting religious tolerance and reform while maintaining a strong military state.
• 😀 Frederick the Great implemented a merit-based civil service system, similar to the United States' civil service exam, over a century before it became standard in America.
• 😀 Catherine the Great of Russia was less ambitious in her reforms, focusing more on patronizing Enlightenment thinkers like Voltaire and Denis Diderot rather than significant institutional changes.
• 😀 Catherine’s reign was marked by her dependence on the nobility and her heavy-handed response to the Pugachev rebellion, revealing her absolutist tendencies.
• 😀 Joseph II of Austria was the most radical of the Enlightened Absolutists, pushing for reforms like the abolition of serfdom and religious tolerance, but struggled with effectiveness.
• 😀 Joseph II's attempts to centralize power and challenge the nobility led to resistance, making his reforms largely ineffective and later reversed after his death.
• 😀 The acronym T.R.A.P. (Toleration, Reform, Absolutism, Patronage) helps to remember the key features of Enlightened Absolutism.
• 😀 While Enlightened Absolutism promoted Enlightenment ideals, it was often an elitist approach, relying on monarchs to impose these changes rather than a grassroots movement.
• 😀 The idea of the 'philosopher king' was central to Enlightened Absolutism, as Enlightenment thinkers believed that change could best come from strong, enlightened rulers.

Q & A

What is enlightened absolutism?

Enlightened absolutism refers to the practice of 18th-century monarchs who tried to apply Enlightenment ideals such as religious toleration, freedom of expression, and reform to their governance while maintaining absolute power.

Why did Enlightenment thinkers support enlightened absolutism?

Enlightenment thinkers, such as Voltaire and Kant, supported enlightened absolutism because they believed that monarchy was the most effective way to challenge the power of the church and nobility, and to promote Enlightenment ideals in society.

What does the acronym 'TRAP' stand for in the context of enlightened absolutism?

'TRAP' stands for Toleration of religious minorities, Reform of institutions, Absolutism, and Patronage of the philosophes, which are the key features of enlightened absolutism.

How did Frederick the Great view his role as king?

Frederick the Great saw himself as the 'first servant of the state,' believing that his role was to prioritize the well-being of his subjects, rather than simply consolidating his power. He supported Enlightenment reforms but still maintained a strong, militaristic state.

What was Frederick the Great's stance on religious toleration?

Frederick the Great was a strong proponent of religious toleration, implementing one of the most generous religious toleration policies in Europe at the time, although Protestants were still favored for key governmental positions.

What was Frederick the Great's contribution to civil service reform?

Frederick the Great introduced a merit-based civil service system in which people were promoted based on their abilities rather than their noble status, implementing a system similar to the modern civil service exams long before they became widespread in other countries.

Why was Catherine the Great's reign less focused on reform compared to other enlightened absolutists?

Catherine the Great's reign was less focused on reform because she relied heavily on the nobility for support, which made it difficult for her to challenge the established system. Despite her patronage of philosophes, significant social and political reforms were limited.

What role did Catherine the Great play in supporting Enlightenment thinkers?

Catherine the Great was a major patron of Enlightenment thinkers. She corresponded with philosophers like Voltaire and purchased Denis Diderot's library, offering him a salary to act as her librarian.

What was the significance of Pugachev's Rebellion during Catherine the Great's reign?

Pugachev's Rebellion was a significant event during Catherine's reign as it highlighted the limits of her reforms. The rebellion was a response to Catherine's absolute rule and reliance on the nobility, and her harsh response to it underscored her commitment to maintaining control rather than pursuing further reform.

What made Joseph II of Austria the most radical but least effective enlightened absolutist?

Joseph II was the most radical because he sought major reforms such as abolishing serfdom and granting religious toleration. However, his reforms were ineffective due to resistance from local nobility and a lack of widespread support, and many were reversed after his death.

How did Joseph II's policies impact peasants in Austria?

Joseph II's policies aimed to improve the lives of peasants by granting them more rights and abolishing serfdom as a legal institution, although the social hierarchy of the old regime remained largely intact.

What were the key differences between Frederick the Great and Joseph II in terms of their approach to enlightened absolutism?

Frederick the Great focused on religious toleration, meritocracy in civil service, and military strength, but remained militaristic and more conservative in his reforms. In contrast, Joseph II was more radical, pushing for major social reforms like the abolition of serfdom and religious tolerance, but faced significant resistance and lacked long-term effectiveness.