Answer :
Final answer:
Some European monarchs adopted Enlightenment ideals to legitimize their rule and promote reforms. Monarchs like Catherine the Great and Frederick the Great sought to improve stability and foster national identity, aligning their governance with rational and progressive principles. This selective acceptance helped them maintain power amid growing revolutionary sentiments.
Explanation:
Why Some European Monarchs Adopted Enlightenment Ideals
The Enlightenment was a pivotal movement that challenged traditional beliefs, including the notion of the divine right of kings. This intellectual shift prompted several European monarchs to adopt Enlightenment ideals in an effort to legitimize their rule and respond to growing demands for political reform.
Key monarchs such as Catherine the Great of Russia, Frederick the Great of Prussia, and Joseph II of Austria endeavored to implement enlightened absolutism. They sought to strengthen their authority while promoting reforms that sought to improve the welfare of their subjects and align their governance with rational principles derived from Enlightenment thought.
- Challenge to Traditional Authority: Enlightenment thinkers like John Locke and Rousseau advocated that governments should protect the natural rights of individuals. Monarchs realized that adopting these ideas could reinforce their authority by presenting themselves as protectors of the people's rights.
- Political Stability: By promising reforms such as limited freedoms and a degree of participation in governance, monarchs aimed to quell unrest and consolidate power amidst rising revolutionary sentiments.
- Nation-Building: Many monarchs saw Enlightenment ideals as a way to foster a sense of national identity and loyalty that could unify disparate regions within their realms.
Thus, while the monarchs held on to their absolute power, they selectively embraced Enlightenment principles to modernize their states and maintain stability in a time of rapid change.
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