Frederick William III of Prussia

of Russia and Prussia, came along two monarchs whose views and reforms almost changed everything. These rulers were Frederick II of Prussia and Catherine II of Russia and are now coined with the term “Enlightened Despots.” (Ellis, Esler 191). These monarchs managed to play both sides of the Enlightenment: reform and absolutism. Frederick and Catherine successfully maintained and even gained power while implementing new reforms based on new Enlightenment ideas. In Berlin, Prussia…

Asoka The Enlightened Ruler An enlightened ruler is someone who protects their community, gives gifts to the poor, and devotes themself to kindness and goodwill. Asoka did each and every one of those things, Therefore, Asoka is nothing other than an enlightened ruler and one who should be forgiven. First Thing to Remember, Asoka’s self devotion to goodwill shows that he was ready for some improvement and that he would do anything to be forgiven of his actions in the past. In document C,…

with bureaucracy. These absolutists included Catherine II of Russia, Frederick II of Prussia, and Joseph ll of Austria. They followed the acronym of TRAP where, “T” stands for religious views, “R” for reform of institutions, “A” for absolutism, and “P” for patronage of the philosopher. Each of these philosophers had different views on the consolidation of power from each other. Catherine the Great was very light to reform, Frederick the Great was the most successful in the terms of…

liberation, government, and religious tolerance which were so much better then his. Obviously surprised at my eloquent attack, he resorted back to his such trite obsession with his three branches of government. Weakened by my blows, his highness Frederick the Great finished him off with talk of how real government should be run; absolutely. Turning around to get more refreshments, I was engaged by Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Knowing that Rousseau was a radical and seemed to possess an opinion on…

ultimate goal for Frederick II was to promote Prussian power and he understood how to set his nation up for success. Frederick directed state funds towards public welfare (McGoldrick, 12). Frederick understood that homes were destroyed by the Seven Years War and helped his people. When people do not have to worry about shelter or their next meal, they become more productive and this results in an overall more productive nation and better economy. After the Seven Years War, Frederick spent large…

Historians often refer to absolutist monarch Joseph II of Austria (1741-1790) as an enlightened despot due to the numerous social reforms he instilled during his reign. Joseph commissioned countless works of propaganda that showcase his enlightened ideology, yet it is through one of these images that one can also see the ironies that invalidate the possibility of an effective enlightened despot. The authority of a despot relies on his ability to secure his own power, while a true Enlightenment…

death penalty. Most importantly, Joseph II believed that everyone had the same basic rights and that the government may not interfere with them. His reform program encompassed the main ideals of the Enlightenment, and accomplished feats that both Frederick II and Catherine II did not even attempt to…

as their empress. But Maria Theresa immediately faced resistance to her succession from European powers who had previously agreed to her father’s Pragmatic Sanction. Under the leadership of Frederick II, King of Prussia, those powers formed a coalition against Maria Theresa. By December of that year, Frederick II’s army invaded Silesia, an Austrian province, and claimed it for his kingdom. Bavaria and France followed suit with their own invasion of Habsburg territories, resulting in an…

After a military success conquering Saxony on September 10, Frederick II, King of Prussia wrote on October 26, 1756, “The enemy apparently made more mistakes than my officers, to the point where, this year, we have succeeded. However, this whole campaign is but the arrangement of the chessboard. This coming year, the game will begin and it is a difficult task that I have proposed to myself to be wise still.” Frederick had now to await the forthcoming of the next campaign, when France, Austria,…

Frederick II, the 3rd king of Prussia, is among one of the few dominant people in modern Germany's history. Under his rule, Frederick made Prussia one of the great states of Europe. He quickly became known as a good military leader and the Prussian army became a model that was copied by others. He also became a leader for the idea of enlightened government. His example of insisting the state over personal interest and religious toleration spread this idea and effected the main currents of the…