Enlightenment despots

1. Joseph II

1.1. 1764-1790

1.2. Holy Roman Emperor

1.3. Modest reforms establishing secular schools in Austria

1.4. Banned torture

1.5. Eliminated heresy as a crime

1.6. Granted religious tolerance for Jews, Protestants, and orthodox Christians

1.7. Eliminated cruel punishment and death penalty

2. Leopold II

2.1. Holy Roman Emperor

2.2. 1765-1790

2.3. rationalized taxation an tariff systems

2.4. encouraged development of representative institutions

2.5. emancipated peasantry and granted religious liberty to non-Catholics

3. Frederick II

3.1. Frederick the Great

3.2. 1740-1786

3.3. Brought enlightenment to Prussia

3.4. hailed as a military genius after being involved in seven years war and Austrian succession

3.5. banned torture

3.6. Argued for a uniform national criminal code

3.7. Allowed freedom of press

3.8. Supported a moderate level of religious freedom

3.9. Kept in frequent contact with Voltaire

4. Catherine II

4.1. Catherine the Great

4.2. 1762-1796

4.3. Reformed the Russian legal system

4.3.1. Instituted the "instruction"

4.3.1.1. Granted equal protection under law to all citizens

4.3.1.2. Emphasized prevention of criminal acts rather than imposition of harsh punishment