1. Enlightened Absolutists/Enlightened Despots Case study: Catherine II (the Great) of Russia (r. 1762-96)

2. Catherine the Great: German Princess Sophie 1745 Married to Peter Romanov 1762 Peter becomes tsar Peter III, but deposed. Catherine installed as empress. Peter III killed soon after

3. Religion: Not generally claiming divine right to rule, but rather that using reason for benefit of subjects Tolerance

4. Catherine the Great: Extending tolerance to Old Believers 1772 Takes control of part of Poland. Treats Jews fairly 1794 Imposes double taxation on Jews

5. Justice: Cesare Bonesana, Marquis of Beccaria (1738-94) Rights of the accused: innocent until proven guilty Opposing torture and capital punishment

6. Catherine the Great: 1767 Catherine summons Legislative Commission Regulating legal practices Restricting torture. Disapproving of capital punishment

7. Education: Education as source of civil servants Establishing ministries of education and/or schools

8. Catherine the Great: French as language of Russian aristocracy Corresponding with Voltaire, hosting Diderot Philosophes as press agents for Russia Domestic promotion of education/publication

9. Serfdom: Attempts to eliminate serfdom or improve conditions of peasantry Benefits regarding taxation or military service

10. Catherine the Great: Initial dislike of serfdom 1773 Outbreak of Pugachev’s Rebellion Emelian Pugachev 1774 Defeat of Pugachev’s Rebellion

11. Catherine the Great: Repression of peasants Reliance on nobility 1785 Charter of the Nobility Effective enslavement of Russian peasantry

12. The Limits of Enlightened Absolutism: Idealistic visions vs. realities of power Reforms generally favouring rulers Some benefits for subjects, but limited Church-state alliances being re-established

13. Cesare Beccaria (1738-94) Essay on Crimes and Punishments (1764)

14. Frederick II (the Great) of Prussia (r. 1740-86) Essay on Forms of Government