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The Leaders of The Leaders of 18th Century 18th Century
EuropeEurope
Regent (1715 - 1723) was Duke of Orleans – Louis XV was only 5.
Nobility made a strong comeback
1748 - Louis XV - implemented 5% Income tax on everyone - no one was exempt. – What problem could that cause?
Parlement of Paris protested the tax and challenged royal authority
Government withdrew tax in 1764
passed legislation limiting the King from levying any tax without consent of the Parlement
Louis XV appointed Rene de Maupeou to crush his opposition
abolished Parlement
Philosophes disagreed with his policies - led to a stream of attacks on his Royal authority.
•What other king we studied does this sound like?
•What happened to him?
•What is different now in Europe that might impact Louis XIV in a very negative way?
Philosophes displeasure with him took away the aura of the King
Died before he could prevail
Louis XVI took the throne - eager to please
Weakened and unreformed Monarchy
Wife of Peter III
He was overthrown and murdered within months of taking over- with the approval of Catherine
Ruled for 34 years
Corresponded with Voltaire and other thinkers.
Did very little to reform or modernize Russia
Introduced Western ideas that only pleased herself.
Led to flourishing scholarship, book publishing, journalism, architecture and theater
Catherine herself wrote articles and plays
Sponsored the 1st school for girls in Russia
Established an elementary school system
Mostly spent time increasing Russian autocracy and military power
Extended Russia’s boundaries southward and westward
Charter of Nobility of 1785 - landlord’s control over peasants and serfs became stronger then ever before
Died November 17, 1796
She died while attempting an unusual practice with a horse – Not true – probably started by the French elite soon after she died as a way to mar her reputation.
She died on the toilet – and her body was so bloated that she shattered the toilet – this more recent rumor that emerged also as an attempt to humiliate, and mar her reputation.
Perfect example of the benevolent or enlightened despot
Friend of Voltaire
Learned - wrote essays, poetry and music - Voltaire taught him to write elegant French.
Implemented a type of Religious Toleration
accepted Catholics and didn’t persecute Jews as much as other rulers of his time.
Militaristic - passion for military victory
Founded Elementary Schools for peasants
Founded High Schools for future government officials
Founded Berlin Academy of the Sciences
What was so Enlightened about his rule?
What was not so Enlightened about his rule?
Proved her abilities by successfully defending Austria from those who believed it was easy to conquer a woman - Frederick the Great of Prussia
Believed in reform:
Increased taxed on nobility, Roman Catholic Church
Confiscated monastic property
Expelled Jesuits
Steps towards abolishing Serfdom.
•What was Enlightened about her rule?
•What was not Enlightened about her rule?
A Model Enlightened Despot
Abolished Serfdom
Equality of Taxation
Equal punishment for equal crime (Nobles - Peasants)
Legal punishments were less cruel
Equal civil rights extended to Jews
Even appointed Jewish nobles
Wanted independence from Rome
Seized Catholic Monasteries - used property to finance hospitals
Few reforms were long lasting
Resistance from Hungarian Nobility
didn’t like abolition of serfdom
didn’t like equal Taxation
didn’t like Roman Catholic Church
Died disillusioned
Brother Leopold II reversed most of Joseph’s reforms.
•What was Enlightened about his rule?
•What was not very Enlightened about his rule?
Believed political change should come from them; the government.
Encouraged by philosophes to make laws that promoted human happiness
They acted abruptly and wanted quick and immediate results - IMPATIENT
They justified their authority on usefulness not divine right
Rational and Reformist - regarded political change as possible and desirable.
“The Monarch is not the absolute master, but only the first servant of
the state.” - Frederick the Great
