The+Enlightened+Monarchs

Vera Yevteyev

Compare and contrast the various reforms that were instituted by the enlightened monarchs Catherine the Great, Joseph II, and Frederick II.
**__Catherine the Great__**
 * **Ruler of Russia**
 * Succeeded Peter the Great
 * Reign lasted from **1762-1796 **
 * //**Instruction - **//guide to the deliberations
 * questioned serfdom, torture, and capital punishment
 * advocated equality for all before the law
 * little change produced
 * **Divided Russia into 50 provinces**
 * Strengthening of the landholding class came at the expense of others, especially serfs
 * this is ironic because she originally planned to free them
 * **Charter of Nobility 1785** - newly formed corporate groups could: trial by peers and exempt selves from taxes and corporal punishment
 * Serfs were forbidden to appeal to state against their masters in 1767 (even more ironic)
 * Peasants were enraged
 * **Emelyan Pugachev led the Pugachev Rebellion 1773**
 * successful at first by freeing peasants from oppressive taxes and military service
 * Pugachev was crushed
 * **resulted in even greater repression of the peasants** (again the irony..)
 * Catherine expanded Russia westward and eventually southward by the defeat of the Turks
 * **Treaty of Kuchuk-Kainarji 1774**
 * Russia gained land, privilege in protecting Greek Orthodox Christians, and right to sail in Turkish waters



=__Joseph II__= Reign **1765-1790**
 * Ruler of Austria**
 * Ruler of Austria**
 * shared rule with his mother, Maria Theresa from 1765-1780
 * sole power in 1780
 * **Abolished serfdom**
 * attempted to give peasants hereditary rights to their land holdings
 * **Eliminated internal trade barriers**
 * New penal code that got rid of death penalty and established equality for all before the law
 * **Complete religious toleration + restrictions on Catholic Church**
 * Issued 6,000 decrees and 11,000 laws...
 * Many were unable to comprehend his drastic and overwhelming policies which tended to anger society quite a bit
 * Reforms efforts were undone after his death



=__Frederick II__= Reign **1740-1786**
 * Ruler of Prussia**
 * Aka **Frederick the Great**
 * Aka **Frederick the Great**
 * Established **single code of laws**
 * eliminated torture with the exception of treason and murder cases
 * **Limited freedom of speech and press**
 * **Complete religious toleration**
 * Decided not to meddle with serfdom problems
 * **Enlarged Prussian military** and actively used it during War of Austrian Succession and Seven Years' War
 * Prussia was recognized as a great European power by the end of his reign