1. Enlightened Despotism

2. Frederick the Great Practices religious toleration
Did not offend the religious beliefs of his people by ridiculing their faith
“first servant of the state”
Laid out how each element of society played a specific function

3. Did not produce equality
Prussian social classes remained legally defined
Favored the Junkers over others
Serfdom grew worse during his reign

4. Achieved a degree of centralization
Codified laws of his diverse lands
Enforced laws with Prussia’s renowned bureaucracy

5. Joseph II Most thoroughly upheld Enlightenment principles
Abolished serfdom
Granted religious toleration
Granted liberty to the press
Introduced legal equality

6. Insisted on greater control of the Church in Austria
Promoted economic development
Died at the age of 49, and most of his reforms were reversed

7. Catherine the Great Most famous and admired woman of the era
Gained power via a palace coup
“philosopher on the throne”

8. Wrote an Instruction to the Legislative Commission
Established schools for girls
Abolished torture and capital punishment
Had a reputation for leaving project unfinished & acting ruthlessly

9. She allowed serfdom to worsen by selling off crown lands
Brutally crushed revolts
Liberated the nobles from state service
Added more territory to Russia
Earned a reputation for sexual promiscuity