1. Enlightened Monarchy
No…seriously, we care!

2. Enlightened Despot Despot: absolute ruler
Enlightened: Rulers took on the spirit of the Enlightenment and the philosophes to rule justly.
Freedom of religion, speech, the press
Natural rights (human rights)
Rulers should protect natural rights

3. Frederick the Great King of Prussia (1740-86)
Hohenzollern dynasty
Many military reforms and victories
Many religious freedoms, reduced censorship, improved education
Reformed the justice system
Abolished torture
Didn’t change existing social order
“The first servant of the state”

4. Joseph II Holy Roman Emperor (1780-90)
Austria
Legal reforms
Freedom of the press
Freedom of worship
More education
Abolish the death penalty
Biggest reform:
Abolish serfdom
Peasants must be paid in cash
Nobility undid most of the reforms after Joseph’s death

5. Catherine the great Queen of Russia (1762-96)
Well educated; friend of Voiltaire
Reform proposed made with ideas of Montesquieu and Beccaria
Abolish torture and capital punishment
Religious toleration
Eventually put reforms in place
Life no better for Russian peasants
Expanded Russian territory