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enlightened despotism, form of government in the 18th century in which absolute monarchs pursued legal, social, and educational reforms inspired by the Enlightenment. Among the most prominent enlightened despots were Frederick II (the Great), Peter I (the Great), Catherine II (the Great), Maria Theresa, Joseph II, and Leopold II.
21 lis 2023 · Enlightened despotism, or enlightened absolutism, is a political concept that merges the political structure of the absolute monarchy with values tied to the Enlightenment period of 18th century...
Learning Objective. Define enlightened despotism and provide examples. Key Points. Enlightened despots held that royal power emanated not from divine right but from a social contract whereby a despot was entrusted with the power to govern in lieu of any other governments.
Definition. An Enlightened Despot is a monarch who embraces the principles of the Enlightenment by implementing reforms aimed at improving society, while still maintaining absolute power.
Enlightened absolutism, also called enlightened despotism, refers to the conduct and policies of European absolute monarchs during the 18th and early 19th centuries who were influenced by the ideas of the Enlightenment, espousing them to enhance their power. [1]
Definition. Enlightened despotism refers to a form of absolute monarchy in which a ruler adopts Enlightenment principles to strengthen their power while implementing reforms aimed at improving the lives of their subjects.
As an example, almost none among them believed that it was either possible or desirable to eliminate entirely the "society of orders," that is, a society in which the law was written differently for different groups, depending on their social rank.
