Enlightened Despots

1. Catherine II

1.1. empress of russia

1.2. Looked up to Voltaire and Diderot

1.3. believed in Enlightenment ideas

1.4. 1762

1.5. abolished torture

1.6. religious tolerance

1.7. criticized institution of serfdom

1.8. expanded empire

2. Joseph II

2.1. student of enlightenment

2.2. traveled in disguise of his subjects to learn problems

2.3. religious equality

2.4. free press

2.5. tried to bring Catholic Church under royal control

2.6. abolished serfdom

3. Maria Theresa

3.1. Austria

3.2. did not push for reform

3.3. improved peasants way of life

4. absolute rulers who used powers to bring political and social change

5. Frederick II

5.1. King of Prussia

5.2. 1740-1786

5.3. "first servant of the state"

5.4. work for the common good

5.5. looked up to Voltaire

5.6. Reduced torture

5.7. free press

5.8. civil services

5.9. religious tolerance

5.10. strong monarch = more power for himself