What is Enlightened Absolutism?

Enlightened absolutism (also known as benevolent or enlightened despotism) is a form of despotism in which rulers were influenced by the Enlightenment, a historical period. Enlightened monarchs embraced the principles of the Enlightenment, especially its emphasis upon rationality, and applied them to their territories. They tended to allow religious toleration, freedom of speech and the press, and the right to hold private property. Most fostered the arts, sciences, and education

Enlightened absolutists' beliefs about royal power were often similar to those of absolute monarchs, in that many believed that they had the right to govern by birth and generally refused to grant constitutions, seeing even the most pro-monarchy ones as being an inherent check on their power. The difference between an absolutist and an enlightened absolutist is based on a broad analysis of how far they embraced Enlightenment. In particular, the Holy Roman Emperor Joseph II can be said to have fully embraced the enlightened concept of the social contract. In contrast, Empress Catherine II of Russia entirely rejected the concept of the social contract while taking up many ideas of the Enlightenment, for example by being a great patron of the arts in Imperial Russia and incorporating many ideas of enlightened philosophers, especially Montesquieu, in her Nakaz, to a committee meant to revise Russian law.

In effect, the monarchs ruled with the intent of improving the lives of their subjects in order to strengthen or reinforce their authority. For example, the abolition of serfdom in some regions of Europe was achieved by enlightened rulers. In the spirit of enlightened absolutism, Emperor Joseph II said, "Everything for the people, nothing by the people."

Other enlightened absolutists, such as King Frederick the Great maintained the ideals of the Enlightenment while also permitting the practice of serfdom. The governing political philosophy of "rationalism" under the enlightened ancient regime, permitted these hereditary monarchs to commit hypocritical, yet rationally justifiable actions. Unlike the absolutist King Louis XIV of France, Frederick viewed himself as the "First servant of the State," rather than the state itself.

In modern times, Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said of Oman has been characterized as an enlightened absolutist, as while he maintains an absolute monarchy he also seeks to improve his country and rule with a light hand.

Enlightened Absolutists

• Catherine II of Russia
• Frederick II of Prussia
• Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
• Gustav III of Sweden
• Maria Theresa of Austria
• Charles III of Spain
• Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor, Grand Duke of Tuscany
• Joseph I of Portugal
• Frederick VI of Denmark
• Napoleon I of France

References

• Spielvogel -- (2003) p.493, 517.
• Scott, H. M, -- Enlightened Absolutism: Reformee and Reformers in Late Eighteenth Century Europe (1990), ISBN 0-472-10173-0.
• Blanning, T.C.W. -- Joseph II and Enlightened Despotism (1970), ISBN 0-582-31406-2.

Forms of Government and Methods of Rule: Autocratic and Authoritarian Autocratic: Despotism | Dictatorship | Tyranny | Absolute monarchy | Caliphate | Despotate | Emirate | Empire | Khanate | Sultanate | Other monarchical titles) | Enlightened absolutism Other Authoritarian: Military dictatorship (often a Junta) | Oligarchy | Single-party state (Communist state | Fascist(oid) state) | de facto: Illiberal democracy

•  • [ e] The Age of Enlightenment
Austria	Joseph II
Denmark-Norway	Ludvig Holberg
England	Thomas Hobbes
France	Pierre Bayle
Germany	Erhard Weigel
Ireland	Edmund Burke
Italy	Giambattista Vico
Netherlands	Hugo Grotius
Poland	Stanisław Leszczyński
Portugal	Sebastio de Melo, Marquis of Pombal
Romania	Ion Budai-Deleanu
Russia	Catherine the Great
Scotland	David Hume
Serbia	Dositej Obradović
Spain	Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos
Sweden	Anders Chydenius
USA	Benjamin Franklin
Related concepts	Capitalism