Enlightened
Despotism
HSTEU302 #13
Prussia Frederick II The Great reign 1740-1786
by 1780: increases army to 200,000 (population up to 6 million)
rejects
dynastic & divine right theories of govt. for contract theory
-utilitarian justification of power ("1st servant of state")
1740 Anti Machiavel: political principles of enlightened
rule outlined:
but his actual practice in territorial wars is quite Machiavellian
1740 invasion of Silesia (taken from
Austria at death of Charles VI)
1740-1748 War of the Austrian Succession (triggered
by Maria Theresa’s reign)
Diplomatic Revolution of 1756: European response to rise of Prussia
Austria
& France (traditional enemies) ally against Prussia & England
1756-1763 Seven
Years' War Prussia retains Silesia
1772 Partition of
Poland:
for
Prussia, result is solid block of territory from Brandenburg to
Prussia (Nieman River) (See
maps in Palmer)
Issue of
"enlightened despotism": Frederick's relationship with Voltaire
****************************************************************************
RUSSIA AFTER PETER THE
GREAT (d. 1725)
1716 execution of son
Alexis; 1722 decree on succession:
chooses own heir
Peter
III 1762 marries German princess,
Sophie of Anhalt who becomes
Catherine
the Great
1762-1796
1767 NAKAZ:
instructions to legislative commission
principles of “enlightened despotism” [see excerpts on class Handout]
- sources: Baron de Montesquieu, Spirit of the Laws
Cesare
Beccaria, Crime and Punishment, 1764
1773-74 PUGACHEV’S REVOLT Cossack leader seen
as Peter III (returned from dead)
Reaction to Pugachev: 1775 Administrative Reorganization
1785
Charter of the Nobility
****************************************************************************
AUSTRIA: 1719 Pragmatic Sanction of Charles VI (son of Leopold I) no
male heirs
1740 succession of his daughter, Maria
Theresa 1740-1780 = first & only female
ruler in Hapsburg dynasty, 16 children, 10
survive: youngest Marie Antoinette
Maria Theresa cannot be elected
Holy Roman Emperor: husband and son elected
instead
son Joseph II as Emperor
1780-1790 considered “Enlightened”
****************************************************************************
POLAND: “the sick man of
Europe” weak electoral monarchy
Pacta Conventa: formal statement of
concessions by candidate to throne
Military role of Polish Kings against Turks and
against Russia
1649 Cossack Revolt: aided by Russia;
King Jan Sobieski:
joins Austrian Hapsburgs against Turks, takes part in
1683 Siege of Vienna: crusading mentality
of Catholic Poland
18th C. 1772: First partition of
Poland = Balance of Power at work
30% of Polish territory divided between
three
great powers: Russia, Austria and
Prussia
1793 and 1795: Subsequent partitions
remove Poland from map