Essay on Enlightened Despots

In northern Europe after the Middle Ages, monarchies began to build the foundations of their countries that are still in affect today. During the late fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries these “New Monarchs” made many relevant changes in their nations. During the middle of the fifteenth century Europe was affected by war and rebellion, which weakened central governments. As the monarchies attempted to develop into centralized governments once again, feudalism’s influence was lessened. This “new” idea of centralization was reflected in the monarch’s actions. Rulers tried to implement peace and restore the idea that the monarchy represented law and order in the nation. These New Monarchs were able to build armies due to taxation, and

During the Enlightenment period, Monarchy was one of the most common forms of government. In a Monarchy, the king or queen had complete control of their entire kingdom and its people. Many people including philosophers

Both Enlightened rulers sought to strengthen their state, but had a different approach in order to achieve it. Frederick the Great implemented his reforms unhurriedly and steadily, whereas Joseph II emphasized his reforms more radically and at a more rapid pace. Frederick the Great trusted the nobility and thought of them as the foundation of the social structure. Thus, granting the nobility more power over the serfs. On the other hand, Joseph II believed that allowing serfs to have greater power would, in turn, strengthen the country. By cause of this, Joseph II abolished serfdom. The critical thinking of the Enlightenment greatly influenced the revived changes that were emphasized in Prussia and Austria. However, not all of the policies adhered to the standards of the Enlightenment.

One of the ways that the Enlightenment put an end to oppression was through government reformation and the elimination of absolute monarchy. The idea of discarding absolute monarchs was associated with many of the philosophes of the time, including John Locke and Baron de Montesquieu. Locke said “Society can never lose the native and original right it has to preserve itself, which can only be done by a settled legislative, and a fair and impartial execution of the laws made by it” (Document A). This shows how important it is for the government to be more complex and dependable to ensure equality and success. Rejection of the common form of authority was one of the

Enlightened despots held a crucial role in determining the fate of their countries, as well as the continuation of monarchies as a whole. Their advances towards making their countries better through enlightenment thinking were what labeled them as great monarchs. Their religious, social, political and economic changes were all made to help their people grow as a whole. They used their absolute power to change their policies in order to further their people in religious and economic ways.

After the Renaissance, there were many factors that gave way and led to chaos, and then the choice between an absolutist government, or a constitutional one. These factors included the decline of the previous social order of Feudalism, the Protestant Reformation, new logical and scientific ideas from famed Renaissance thinkers, and riots/revolts from unhappy citizens of numerous classes. Some states like France, Russia, and Prussia, resulted in all the power gathered under the monarch’s personal control, which happened due to comparable actions by the ruler. In the 1600s and 1700s, Absolute monarchs like Louis XIV, Peter the Great, and the Soldier King of Prussia, had similar methods to strengthen bureaucracy and control the nobles, develop

Both Peter the Great and Catherine the Great were the former Emperors of Russia. They were the Russians ruler before the 17th century and also they were followers of Ivan IV. They used mysteries, dishonesty, etc for the foundation of their time, and they never thought that the Russia will have modernization. Mostly, the change came when Peter the Great and Catherine the Great came to power. Also, She expanded the territory of the Russian Empire and had improved as time pass by, and policy was following from the Westernization.

Throughout history totalitarian leaders would violate people’s safety, their peace of mind and their freedom to rise to power. For example, Germany lost the war in 1919 which cause the need for reparations and a new leader, that is when Hitler became the leader of Germany and in that time Germany was going through a lot of hard times which caused the people to look forward to the future. Another example of totalitarian leaders in that time was Stalin who used people’s fear to gain trust from his people and cause paranoia in people of that time. Both of these totalitarian leaders violated democratic ideas by violating the safety and freedom of their people to manipulate them and their minds. And then they would oppress the minority group, for example, those who were Jewish were treated badly and killed.

The Age of Enlightenment saw many great changes in Western Europe. It was an age of reason and philosophes. During this age, changes the likes of which had not been seen since ancient times took place. Such change affected evert pore of Western European society. Many might argue that the Enlightenment really did not bring any real change, however, there exists and overwhelming amount of facts which prove, without question, that the spirit of the Enlightenment was one of change-specifically change which went against the previous teachings of the Catholic Church. Such change is apparent in the ideas, questions, and philosophies of the time, in the study of science, and throughout the monarchial system.

Catherine was one of Russia's greatest Rulers. She built numerous buildings, wrote the “Nakaz”, brought the arts, religious tolerance to Russia; she conquered huge amounts of land, won numerous wars and took a throne she had no right to. She ruled for 34 years, all the time making Russia a better place, she was no power hungry dictator, but an enlightened despot that only worked to help Russia. Many people say and want to believe Catherine the Great was just a power hungry dictator because of things like a lowered a serf status, for taking her husband's throne or for being a woman with a reputation with men. She was a woman who wasn't power hungry; if she was wouldn't she have tried to conquer all of Europe.

Hitler and Stalin will probably go down in history as two of the greatest known evil leaders of the 20th Century. You might ask what could bring two men to become the menaces they were. What kind of upbringing would cause someone to turnout the way they did?

Prior to the Enlightenment, the rules, laws, and social structures were set in stone, relying on the Kings and Queens to make all decisions and declare rights for them, even if they were completely unfair. People of this time argued that, "Royal power is sacred, and nothing is more firmly grounded in the Word of God than the obedience due, as a matter of faith and conscience, to lawful authority...the prince [is] one to whom obedience [is] due without exception."(Bossuet Doc. 4). They believed that God wishes for the King to rule over the people, and only those people could rule, making all decisions about the civilization on their own, and no person should give anything but

Catherine ruled autocratically. She was a great political leader, an absolutist and ruled as an enlightened monarch, referring to the historical period of Enlightenment during the 18th and 19th centuries. Catherine was greatly influenced by her many friendships with the western European thinkers of the Enlightenment, including Voltaire and Denis Diderot. She was able to distinguish herself from other monarchs by the way she governed. She believed her purpose was to develop and care for her subjects, rather than please the nobility. This was contrary to the beliefs of all

After a series of battles which established Catherine as an adequate ruler, the empire gained around 190,000 - 200,00 square miles of territory (“Internet History Sourcebooks” ; “Catherine II”). After these three partitions and fights, she gained Lithuania, Ukraine, and Courlan, plus some of Prussia and Austria (“Catherine II”). This established Russia as a sizable territory, which made it a good ally and horrible enemy (“An English Ambassador”). One could say that this large expansion is a key success of leadership; as all empires may be threatened, to be respected by others is infinitely important. These expansions also stretched its land far into central Europe (“An English Ambassador”), and thus made it recognized as a European power. Before this, Russia was thought to be mainly dull and far away; this brought Russia to Europe’s attention, which it has not left since. Thus, Russia in forever in debt to Catherine for doing this, as it was a highly commendable deed in leadership

These ideas of progression for people, but keeping a absolute ruler can be seen in an Enlightenment thinker known as Thomas Hobbes. Thomas Hobbes believed that man could not be trusted to rule over themselves and that a strong central government was key. In the same thought Napoleon believed in the equality of people but was still taking power and becoming more and more absolute.