Friedrich II.: "Aufgeklärter Absolutismus"

Abstract

Frederick II: “Enlightened Absolutism“

This paper is about the governance of the Prussian king Frederick II. It will examine how far Frederick’s governance was influenced by the philosophy of Enlightenment. As will be shown, Frederick ruled rather as a strategic monarch than as a philosopher of Enlightenment. His governance followed some of the ideas of Enlightenment only to consolidate his sovereignity. Thus Frederick’s governance cannot be called “enlightened” per se.