Most of us associate the term "enlightened absolutism" exclusively with the name of Voltaire and his letters to Catherine II, and this phenomenon affected not only the state life of Russia and the philosophical thought of France. The ideas of enlightenment of absolutism have become widespread throughout Europe. So what did the monarchs see in this policy as attractive?
The essence of enlightened absolutism is brief
In the second half of the eighteenth century, the situation in Europe was quite alarming, since the old order had already exhausted itself, serious reforms were required. This situation influenced the accelerated formation of enlightened absolutism.
But where did these ideas come from and what is the meaning of such enlightenment? The ancestor is Thomas Hobbes, also the great influence on the formation of enlightened absolutism was provided by the ideas of Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Voltaire and Montesquieu. They proposed the transformation of outdated institutions of state power, the reform of education, legal proceedings, etc. Briefly the main idea of ​​enlightened absolutism can be stated as follows: the sovereign, the autocrat should acquire along with the rights also duties to his subjects.
In essence, enlightened absolutism had to destroy the remnants of feudalism, this included reforms to improve the life of the peasants and the elimination of serfdom. Also, the reforms were supposed to strengthen centralized power and form a completely secular state, not subordinate to the voice of religious leaders.
The establishment of ideas of enlightened absolutism was characteristic of monarchies with a rather unhurried development of capitalist relations. Such countries included all European countries, except France, England, and Poland. In Poland, there was no royal absolutism, which would have to be reformed, there everyone was ruled by the nobility. England already had everything that enlightened absolutism sought, and France simply did not have leaders who could become the initiators of the reforms. Louis XV and his follower were not capable of this, and as a result, the system was destroyed by the revolution.
Features and features of enlightened absolutism
Literature of the XVIII century, propagandizing the ideas of enlightenment, not only criticized the old order, it also spoke about the need for reform. Moreover, these changes were to be made by the state and in the interests of the country. Therefore, one of the main features of the policy of enlightened absolutism can be called the alliance of monarchs and philosophers who wanted to subordinate the state system to pure reason.
Of course, not everything worked out as philosophers drew in rainbow dreams. For example, enlightened absolutism spoke of the need to improve the life of the peasants. Some reforms in this direction were indeed carried out, but at the same time the power of the nobility was strengthened, because it was precisely this that was to become the main support of the autocracy. Hence the second
Enlightened absolutism in the Russian Empire
As we know, Russia has its own way. Here and there she was very special. In Russia, unlike the countries of Europe, enlightened absolutism was rather a fashion trend rather than a really necessary thing. Therefore, all reforms were made exclusively for the benefit of the nobility, not taking into account the interests of ordinary people. With the church authorities, too, there was a discomfiture - in Russia it had not had a decisive word since ancient times, as it was in Catholic Europe, because the church reforms brought only split and confusion, destroying spiritual values, revered by ancestors. Since then, one can observe the devaluation of spiritual life, moreover, since that time even spiritual leaders often prefer material values. For all its education, Catherine II could not understand the "mysterious Russian soul" and find the right way to develop the state.