Glossary
Catherine the Great of Russia
Empress of Russia from 1762 to 1796, who expanded the Russian Empire, promoted Enlightenment ideas, and oversaw a period of cultural flourishing, though she maintained serfdom.
Example:
Catherine the Great of Russia corresponded with Enlightenment thinkers like Voltaire and Diderot, yet her reign also saw the brutal suppression of Pugachev's Rebellion, highlighting the limits of her 'enlightenment.'
Edict of Toleration
A decree issued by Joseph II of Austria in 1781 that granted limited religious freedom to Protestants, Orthodox Christians, and Jews within the Habsburg lands.
Example:
The Edict of Toleration was a significant step towards religious pluralism in the Habsburg Empire, challenging the traditional dominance of Catholicism.
Enlightened Despots
Absolute monarchs who adopted Enlightenment ideals of progress, reason, and reform to improve their states and the lives of their subjects, while maintaining their own absolute power.
Example:
Catherine the Great, despite her reforms, remained an Enlightened Despot by refusing to abolish serfdom, prioritizing aristocratic support over universal liberty.
Frederick II of Prussia (Frederick the Great)
King of Prussia from 1740 to 1786, who expanded Prussian territory through military conquest and implemented Enlightenment-inspired reforms in law, education, and religious tolerance.
Example:
Frederick II of Prussia famously declared himself 'the first servant of the state,' reflecting his commitment to rational governance and military strength.
Frederick William I of Prussia
King in Prussia from 1713 to 1740, known as the 'Soldier King' for his focus on building a highly disciplined and efficient Prussian army and a centralized bureaucracy.
Example:
Frederick William I of Prussia meticulously managed state finances and military recruitment, laying the groundwork for Prussia's future military dominance.
Holy Roman Empire
A multi-ethnic complex of territories in Central Europe that developed during the Early Middle Ages and continued until its dissolution in 1806, significantly weakened by the Peace of Westphalia.
Example:
The decline of the Holy Roman Empire after 1648 allowed for the emergence of powerful, independent states like Prussia and Austria.
Joseph II of Austria
Holy Roman Emperor from 1765 to 1790, known for his radical and ambitious reforms aimed at centralizing the state, promoting religious toleration, and improving the lives of serfs.
Example:
Joseph II of Austria was often seen as the most radical of the enlightened despots, attempting to abolish serfdom and grant extensive religious freedoms, though many of his reforms were reversed after his death.
Maria Theresa of Austria
The only female ruler of the Habsburg dominions and the last of the House of Habsburg, who implemented significant administrative, military, and educational reforms to strengthen Austria.
Example:
Maria Theresa of Austria faced the War of Austrian Succession early in her reign but successfully modernized her state's military and bureaucracy.
Napoleon Bonaparte
A French military and political leader who rose to prominence during the French Revolution and led several successful campaigns during the Revolutionary Wars, ruling France as Emperor from 1804 to 1815.
Example:
Napoleon Bonaparte implemented significant legal and administrative reforms, such as the Napoleonic Code, but also pursued aggressive military expansion across Europe.
Napoleonic Code (1804)
The French civil code established under Napoleon I in 1804, which codified several branches of law, emphasizing legal equality, religious freedom, and property rights.
Example:
The Napoleonic Code was influential across Europe, spreading principles of legal equality and rationalized administration to many territories conquered by France.
Peace of Westphalia (1648)
A series of peace treaties signed in 1648 that ended the Thirty Years' War and the Eighty Years' War, fundamentally reshaping the political and religious map of Europe.
Example:
The Peace of Westphalia established a new international order where states, rather than empires or religious authorities, held primary power, paving the way for modern nation-states.
Prussia
A historical German state that rose to prominence in the 17th and 18th centuries, becoming a major European power through military strength and efficient administration.
Example:
Under leaders like Frederick the Great, Prussia transformed into a formidable military and economic force in Eastern Europe.
Westphalian Sovereignty
The principle of international law that each nation-state has exclusive sovereignty over its territory and internal affairs, free from external interference.
Example:
After the Westphalian Sovereignty was established, a ruler could decide the official religion of their territory without interference from the Pope or the Holy Roman Emperor.