Ancient history

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Enlightened Despotism

Enlightened Despotism
Enlightened despotism was a reformist way of governing characteristic of Europe, it was supported by Enlightenment principles. It developed in Eastern Europe where the economy was still backward and the bourgeoisie was very weak or non-existent. Enlightened despotism aimed to accelerate the modernization process of some countries and thus increase their power and prestige in order to weaken opposition to their government. They argue that they govern in the name of people's happiness.

The main enlightened despots were:

Frederick II:he was the main enlightened Prussian despot where he reformed the penal system, abolished the tortures practiced by his father, founded schools promoting education, encouraged commercial and manufacturing cultural production, decreed religious tolerance.

Catherine II:foreigner from Prussia took over Russia and built schools, hospitals, renovated and modernized cities, rationalized public administration and limited the action of the church.

Joseph II:Emperor of Germany abolished serfdom and torture, secularized his possessions, founded schools, hospitals and asylums, granted freedom of worship to all religious beliefs, created taxes for the clergy and the nobility, limited holidays and pilgrimages, made the language German as mandatory.

Marquês de Pombal:Portuguese count who initiated economic and social administrative reforms, developed colonial trade, exempted taxes for exports, founded the royal bank, expelled the Jesuits from Portugal, modernized the army.

Many reforms promoted by enlightened despots were short-lived. Most were annulled by their successors.

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