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'''Enlightened absolutism''' (also known as '''benevolent despotism''' or '''enlightened despotism''') is a form of [[absolute monarchy]] or [[despotism]] in which rulers were influenced by the [[Age of Enlightenment|Enlightenment]]. 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 and the press, and the right to hold private property. Most fostered the arts, sciences, and education.
'''Enlightened absolutism''' (also known as '''benevolent despotism''' or '''enlightened despotism''') is a form of [[absolute monarchy]] or [[despotism]] in which rulers were influenced by the [[Age of Enlightenment|Enlightenment]]. Enlightened monarchs embraced the principles of the Enlightenment, especially its emphasis upon MONEYYY!!!!and applied them to their territories. They tended to allow religious toleration, freedom of speech and the press, and the right to hold private property. Most fostered the arts, sciences, and education.


Enlightened absolutists' beliefs about royal power were often similar to those of absolute monarchs, in that many believed that they had the right to govern by birth and generally refused to grant [[constitution]]s, seeing even the most pro-monarchy ones as being an inherent check on their power. The difference between an [[Absolutism (European history)|absolutist]] and an enlightened absolutist is based on a broad analysis of how far they embraced Enlightenment. For example, although Empress [[Catherine II of Russia]] entirely rejected the concept of the social contract, she [[Russian Enlightenment|took up many ideas of the Enlightenment]], being a great patron of the arts in [[Russian Empire|Imperial Russia]] and incorporating many ideas of enlightened philosophers, especially [[Charles de Secondat, Baron de Montesquieu|Montesquieu]], in her [[Nakaz]], which was meant to revise Russian law.
Enlightened absolutists' beliefs about royal power were often similar to those of absolute monarchs, in that many believed that they had the right to govern by birth and generally refused to grant [[constitution]]s, seeing even the most pro-monarchy ones as being an inherent check on their power. The difference between an [[Absolutism (European history)|absolutist]] and an enlightened absolutist is based on a broad analysis of how far they embraced Enlightenment. For example, although Empress [[Catherine II of Russia]] entirely rejected the concept of the social contract, she [[Russian Enlightenment|took up many ideas of the Enlightenment]], being a great patron of the arts in [[Russian Empire|Imperial Russia]] and incorporating many ideas of enlightened philosophers, especially [[Charles de Secondat, Baron de Montesquieu|Montesquieu]], in her [[Nakaz]], which was meant to revise Russian law.

Revision as of 18:09, 9 March 2011

Enlightened absolutism (also known as benevolent despotism or enlightened despotism) is a form of absolute monarchy or despotism in which rulers were influenced by the Enlightenment. Enlightened monarchs embraced the principles of the Enlightenment, especially its emphasis upon MONEYYY!!!!and applied them to their territories. They tended to allow religious toleration, freedom of speech and the press, and the right to hold private property. Most fostered the arts, sciences, and education.

Enlightened absolutists' beliefs about royal power were often similar to those of absolute monarchs, in that many believed that they had the right to govern by birth and generally refused to grant constitutions, seeing even the most pro-monarchy ones as being an inherent check on their power. The difference between an absolutist and an enlightened absolutist is based on a broad analysis of how far they embraced Enlightenment. For example, although Empress Catherine II of Russia entirely rejected the concept of the social contract, she took up many ideas of the Enlightenment, being a great patron of the arts in Imperial Russia and incorporating many ideas of enlightened philosophers, especially Montesquieu, in her Nakaz, which was meant to revise Russian law.

In effect, the monarchs ruled with the intent of improving the lives of their subjects in order to strengthen or reinforce their authority. German historian Reinhold Koser described the spirit of enlightened absolutism by borrowing a phrase from the cameralist writer Johann Heinrich Gottlob Justi (1717-1771), "Everything for the people, nothing by the people"[1]. Implicit in this philosophy was that the sovereign knew the interests of his subjects better than they themselves; his responsibility to them thus precluded their political participation.

Voltaire was a prominent Enlightenment philosopher who felt enlightened monarchy was the only real way for society to advance.

However, historians debate the actual implementation of enlightened absolutism. They distinguish between the "enlightenment" of the ruler personally, versus that of his or her regime. For example, Frederick II, "The Great," of Prussia was tutored in the ideas of the French Enlightenment in his youth, and maintained those ideas in his private life as an adult, but in many ways was unable or unwilling to effect enlightened reforms in practice.[2] Others rulers like Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo, the prime minister of Portugal, "used" their enlightenment not only to achieve reforms but also to enhance autocracy, crush opposition, suppress criticism, further colonial economic exploitation, and consolidate personal control and profit.[2]

Benevolent Despotism is also the title of an essay by Frederick the Great defending this system of government

Rulers associated with enlightened absolutism

See also

References

  1. ^ Wilson, Peter H., Absolutism in Central Europe, (New York: Routledge, 2000, p. 109)
  2. ^ Scott, H.M. (ed.), Enlightened Absolutism: Reform and Reformers in Later Eighteenth-Century Europe, (Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 1990)
  3. ^ McKay, "A History of Western Society", Houghton Mifflin Company, 2006, p.616-619
  4. ^ H.M. Scott, 1990, p. 1.
  5. ^ H.M. Scott, 1990, p. 265ff
  6. ^ H. Arnold Barton, Scandinavia in the Revolutionary Era 1760-1815, University of Minnesota Press, 1986, p.142ff. ISBN 0-8166-1392-3.
  7. ^ H. Arnold Barton, Scandinavia in the Revolutionary Era 1760-1815, University of Minnesota Press, 1986, p.142ff. ISBN 0-8166-1392-3.
  8. ^ H.M. Scott, 1990, p. 1.
  9. ^ H.M. Scott, 1990, p. 1.
  10. ^ Bearne, Catherine Mary (1907). A Sister of Marie Antoinette: The Life-Story of Maria Carolina, Queen of Naples. T. Fisher Unwin: London, p 142.
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