History 9w Alexandra Seeman Enlightened Despot Essay May 2015 Dear Enlightened Despot Hall of Fame, I would like to nominate Joseph II for the Enlightened Despot Hall of Fame, as I believe he embodies both the Enlightened and Despotic sides perfectly. When Joseph II was crowned Holy Roman Emperor he took after the Enlightened Despot ways of his mother, Maria Theresa. He continued many of his mother’s ideas and reforms, except with very different objective. Joseph’s ultimate goal was to bring everyone under his absolute rule with realistic reforms more focused on the Enlightenment. Joseph II was very passionate about the Enlightenment and bringing common good to his subjects, so much so that many of his ideas were …show more content…
Joseph II was so keen on implementing his reforms that he did not care how his subjects felt about their changing lives. From the start of his reign, Joseph’s reforms brought conflict. His first reforms were only minor but, like many of his later ones, were opposed by the nobility and clergy, as the reforms restricted their power. Seeing the upset, Joseph’s mother decided to rule alongside him in co-regency, putting a check on what Joseph had the power to do. Once Maria died, Joseph was free to enforce all of his ideas, no matter how radical they were. Used to having power, Joseph’s goal, to bring everyone under his monarch, did not sit well with the nobility or clergy. One of his more controversial reforms was the dissolving of monasteries. Joseph dissolved all monasteries that he did not feel benefitted the people. Monasteries that did not …show more content…
When his mother forced co-regency upon him, Joseph travelled out of Austria, and seeing the situations of other lands only strengthened his belief in the movement. One of Joseph’s main changes was taking religious toleration to a new level. When the Edict of Tolerance was passed, Protestants were almost equal to Catholics and Jews gained access to previously Catholic-only opportunities. He allowed non-Catholics more rights while promoting other Enlightenment ideas such as education by allowing them to attend universities. Like his mother he had public schools, but he took it a step further, forcing families to send their children to the schools and get an education by threatening them with higher taxes. He also ended censorship, which was initially set up to stop the Enlightenment ideas from spreading. Accepting different religions was not the only thing Joseph did in attempt to create a more equal society. Joseph revoked the legal privileges of the nobility and abolished serfdom. He ended the favoritism of the nobles by giving them the same taxes given to the lower classes. He also made sure everyone was treated equally while being tried in a court. Even though he believed he was doing the right thing, many people were not happy with the equal set
One of the most influential Enlightenment thinkers was John Locke, an English philosopher and physician. His work and ideas had a incomputable impact on modern day society. He was known as “Father of Liberalism” due to his opinions of freedoms and liberty. According to Locke, the people were entitled to have control over themselves as long as it adheres to the law. The Second Treatise on Civil Government by John Voltaire went to prison twice and spent multiple years in exile.
He began his career as Richelieu’s closest friend, adviser, and negotiator in 1612. Although he aided Richelieu in domestic affairs including military action against rebellious Huguenots Father Joseph’s signal achievement was the successful implementation of Richelieu’s anti-Habsburg foreign policy. During the Thirty Years’ War, Father Joseph promoted Richelieu’s strategy of keeping the Protestant king of Sweden, Gustavus Adolphus, in the field against the Catholic Habsburgs. But for the Father Joseph the most compelling project was a pan-European crusade against the Turks.
The beginning of individualism’s gradual evolution was first manifested in the Renaissance Era. The Renaissance was a ripe time ready for change. The weakening role of the Catholic Church led to an increase in power for the masses. Corruption plagued Church officials and many sought theological respite elsewhere. The reemphasis of ancient Greek and Roman texts proffered alternatives for many to satisfy their religious needs. This helped contribute to the abolishment of the Church’s imposition of its absolute truth and its claim to ultimate authority. As the church lost power, so did the political units. The bonds between church and state began to erode. Feudalism declined, hence giving rise to new political opportunity. The noble class no longer held a monopoly on the valued positions in society. Rather, one was able to pursue wealth and fame through various endeavors ranging from artist to soldier.
The Enlightenment political thought helped the Glorious Revolution of 1688 in England. James II wanted to strengthen his royal power alone and weaken the militia while raising his own army. The Enlightenment helped the English opponent to come forth and overthrow their king with the help of the Prince William of Orange and his wife Mary. They then reestablished the monarchy and accepted the Parliaments Bill of Rights. With the Enlightenment period, individuals helped get their words out and they learned to questions their ideals and beliefs. With the Glorious Revolution of 1688, the individuals were able to overthrown their king and establish the representative government and that a well-regulated militia under the locals control was best for everyone. The Enlightenment political thought helped the Glorious Revolution to establish a representative government and take control on what’s best for
He didn’t realize that there were other people in the world beside him. Everything had to revolve around him and everything had to be centered around him. He had to have his way, or it was no way. To him, if he gave you the basic necessities of life, he did a good job.
Unlike the Koran Joseph isn’t proven guilty or innocent. Instead Joseph willing decides to take his garment off. It stated, “and he left his garment in her hand and fled outside, she called out to the people of the house and said to them, saying, see, he has brought us a Hebrew man to play with us (The Hebrew Bible, 182).” It is clear that Joseph willingly took of his garment because he perhaps thought that would be a safe and quick way to remove himself from the situation. Little would he have imagined it would back fire and become the man reason he is thrown in
(the writer could not help herself) Napoleon is a timeless example of an enlightened despot. The Bible still has not fully recovered from the rationality of his church. His codified law system is still active in France and the great state of Louisiana. Mankind today clutches desperately at his social ideologies.
Frightfully stimulated as a child from a home intrusion by Parisians during an aristocratic revolt in 1651, Louis XIV realized his rule would be decisive, militant, and absolute (458). His lengthy reign as Frances’ king and how he ruled would be the example that many countries throughout Europe would model their own regimes under. With this great authority also came greater challenges of finance and colonization. In the 17th century, the era of absolute monarchs were the means to restore European life (458).
light to his society as they believed that what's done individually but not collectively cannot be
It promised certain administrative reforms, the abolition of tax farming, the standardization of military conscription, and the elimination of corruption. 2 These decrees created equality among all religions, decentralized the government, and helped to make the millets more autonomous.... ... middle of paper ... ...
A. A. “Europe and the Superior Being: Napoleon.” The History Guide: Lectures on Modern European Intellectual History. 13 May. 2004. The 'Secondary' of the 'Secondary' of the 'Secondary' of the 'Secondary' of the 6 Dec. 2004. Karl, Kenneth.
Later and twice, he had a dream in which both suggested he was going to rule over his family(37:6-11).This caused tension between him and his brothers. As a result family rivalry rose, and his brothers hatched a scheme to halt the dream’s fulfillment. Then the setting shifts quickly to Schechem and immediately to Dothan where Joseph had been sent to
Their wealth earned them great power and loyalty from the royals and citizens. Their power was used to restrict not only peasant folk but also nobles and the monarch in following the Catholic faith. This influences everyone’s daily life and morals. The Church was similar to a government institution where it sustained its own laws and rights. This provided stability to the land as people have benevolent morals with the assistance of religion.
His thoughts were that a job should be done only by those who are best suited
The Dissolution of the Monasteries The dissolution of the monasteries during the reign of Henry VIII was seen by many as a disaster for the people and only benefiting the king and crown. However new research has contradicted this statement suggesting that the dissolution affected less people, less dramatically, it even goes as far as to suggest that the dissolution was a brilliant opportunity for plenty of people across the country. It is this change of opinion prompting people to question the facts about the impact of the closers on the people that took place during the fifteenth century. The dissolution has many potential problems which have been disputed between historians. Catholic writers believe that cultural and religious vandalism took place pointlessly destroying medieval art and architecture as well as entire libraries of knowledge because their contents were ‘temporarily out of fashion’ thus, traditions and ides dating back many centuries where eliminated.