Enlightened absolutism

Main article: Enlightened absolutism

The Marquis of Pombal, as the head of the government of Portugal, implemented sweeping
socio-economic reforms

The leaders of the Enlightenment were not especially democratic, as they more often look to
absolute monarchs as the key to imposing reforms designed by the intellectuals. Voltaire
despised democracy and said the absolute monarch must be enlightened and must act as dictated
by reason and justice—in other words, be a "philosopher-king".[60]

Denmark's minister Johann Struensee, a social reformer, was publicly executed in 1772 for
usurping royal authority
In several nations, rulers welcomed leaders of the Enlightenment at court and asked them to help
design laws and programs to reform the system, typically to build stronger states. These rulers
are called "enlightened despots" by historians.[61] They included Frederick the Great of Prussia,
Catherine the Great of Russia, Leopold II of Tuscany and Joseph II of Austria. Joseph was over-
enthusiastic, announcing many reforms that had little support so that revolts broke out and his
regime became a comedy of errors, and nearly all his programs were reversed.[62] Senior
ministers Pombal in Portugal and Johann Friedrich Struensee in Denmark also governed
according to Enlightenment ideals. In Poland, the model constitution of 1791 expressed
Enlightenment ideals, but was in effect for only one year before the nation was partitioned
among its neighbors. More enduring were the cultural achievements, which created a nationalist
spirit in Poland.[63]

Frederick the Great, the king of Prussia from 1740 to 1786, saw himself as a leader of the
Enlightenment and patronized philosophers and scientists at his court in Berlin. Voltaire, who
had been imprisoned and maltreated by the French government, was eager to accept Frederick's
invitation to live at his palace. Frederick explained: "My principal occupation is to combat
ignorance and prejudice... to enlighten minds, cultivate morality, and to make people as happy as
it suits human nature, and as the means at my disposal permit."[64]