Greatest Enlightened Despot of the 1700’s, except Frederick the Great

Greatest Enlightened Despot of the 1700’s

  • 1st Marquis of Pombal- Portugal

    Votes: 3 6.5%
  • Maria I- Portugal

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Abate Giulio Alberoni- Spain

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Charles III- Spain

    Votes: 1 2.2%
  • Maria Carolina- Naples

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Victor Amadeus III- Savoy, Sardinia

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Ludovico Manin- Venice

    Votes: 1 2.2%
  • Joseph II- HRE

    Votes: 16 34.8%
  • Leopold II- HRE

    Votes: 1 2.2%
  • Gustavus III- Sweden

    Votes: 4 8.7%
  • Christian VII- Denmark

    Votes: 1 2.2%
  • Elizaveta Petrovna- Russia

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Catherine II- Russia

    Votes: 11 23.9%
  • Louis XVI- France

    Votes: 3 6.5%
  • Maximilien Robespierre- France

    Votes: 5 10.9%

  • Total voters
    46
Greatest Enlightened Despot of the 1700’s, except Frederick the Great
This is my poll for greatest Enlightened Despot of the 1700’s. I left Frederick the Great out for the reason I thought he would win badly. Note not all leaders I have listed are monarchs or necessarily the rulers of their respective country.
1st Marquis of Pombal- Portugal
Maria I- Portugal
Abate Giulio Alberoni- Spain
Charles III- Spain
Maria Carolina- Naples
Victor Amadeus III- Savoy, Sardinia
Ludovico Manin- Venice
Joseph II- HRE
Leopold II- HRE
Gustavus III- Sweden
Christian VII- Denmark
Elizaveta Petrovna- Russia
Catherine II- Russia
Louis XVI- France
Maximilien Robespierre- France
Source
Rousseau and Revolution by Will Durant
 
Screw Peter the Great, Why no Fritz? Frederick The Great basically wrote the book on being an enlightened despot. Hell why is Manin even on the list, he proceeded over the republics incredibly pathetic death!
 
I agree hb, that Frederick the Great would probably win the vote for Greatest Enlightened Despot of the 1700's. I have a question, what's the standard here for greatness - enlightened benevolence or enlightened barbarity or enlightened use of both generosity and terror?
 
OP stated that he figured that Old Fritz would have an unfair advantage.

Joseph II, I guess. For lack of Marie Theresa.
 
I agree hb, that Frederick the Great would probably win the vote for Greatest Enlightened Despot of the 1700's. I have a question, what's the standard here for greatness - enlightened benevolence or enlightened barbarity or enlightened use of both generosity and terror?

yeah greatest might not have been the best word to use:)
 
OP stated that he figured that Old Fritz would have an unfair advantage.

Joseph II, I guess. For lack of Marie Theresa.

This. Marie Theresa should win this one if we ignore Fritz (and speaking for myself, even if we include him).

Louis XIV was not an enlightened despot, even if one could make a creative argument Peter I was (please don't! :eek:) .
 
And speaking as to the second most popular option; regardless of what he might have done for the advancement of liberal ideals, Someone responsible for the decapitation of twenty thousand people the vast majority of which on utterly spurious charges is not enlightened in any sense of the word.
 
Joseph II?

The man who wanted his epitaph to read "He failed at everything he tried to accomplish"?

That Joseph II?

I'm voting for Gustavus III. Because, damn it, someone has to.
 
Voted Joseph II only as a place holder for Maria Theresa. As other above have also stated I too would of voted for her if she were an option.

I do sometimes wonder the myth of Frederick II. Really he got very lucky, and in fact very near had his nation carved up. Then again on the post 1900 forum everyone assumes the German Empire in WW1 has superman soldiers, so I guess every forum needs it's myths.
 
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