"I have made philosophy the lawmaker of my empire"
Abolished serfdom
Penal code est. that gave equal rights
Freedom of press, constructed hospitals, and abolished torture
Religious toleration -> private worship for Jews
Many reforms backfired and were overturned
Catherine the Great
Maria Theresa
R. 1762-1796; Russia
German
Produced little change after est. an assembly for reform (1767)
Strengthened landholding class, subjugated the serfs
Divided Russia into 50 provinces ruled by elite
Tax exempt and had special legal privileges
Limited religious toleration
Pugachev's Rebellion (1773-74)
Issued manifesto freeing all peasants from taxes and military service
Peasants killed ~1500 estate holders
Led to greater repression
Westernization & growth
Austrian Empire became a great European state in the 18th c.
War of Austrian Succession solidified her as Queen
Maria Theresa R. 1740-1780; Austria
Clergy and nobility paid property and income taxes
Reduced power of lords over serfs
Centralized monarchy by splitting Austrian lands into provinces controlled by royal reps
Not religiously tolerant
Enlightened Absolutism
Joseph II
Partition of Poland
Most European states led by a monarch in the 18th c.
Enlightenment impacted political development of some nations
Declaration of Independence
Qualifications of an enlightened ruler: religious toleration, freedom of speech & press, rights to private property, fair justice system, access to education
Rulers would use enlightenment ideals to reform their countries
-> modernism
Poland had a weak monarchy, nobles overtook King
Competition for territory between Russia, Prussia, and Austria = demise
1772-Poland lost 30% of its land
Austria gained Galicia, Russia took part of eastern Poland
Russians kept troops in rest of independent Poland
1793-1795-More partitions
Thaddeus Kosciuszko led last stitch rebellion but failed
Remainder of Poland divided between empires
50% to Russia
Frederick (II) the Great
R. 1740-1786, Prussia
Militarism
~200,000 men
Invasion of Silesia
Enjoyed works of Voltaire and French lang.
Saw himself as a "servant of the state"
Single code of laws; no torture (except in treason and murder)