European Absolutism Persuasive Essay by bigbug

This paper attempts to show how little the development of Royal Absolutism, so firmly established under the reign of Louis XIV, had progressed nearly a century later in Prussia under the rule of Frederick the Great. The paper argues that that the 'institution' of absolutism displayed remarkable threads of continuity under both rulers in terms of the objectives and functions of absolutist rule and that in reality the only distinct difference between Absolutism and Enlightened Absolutism was the premise from which both men justified their reign. The paper further argues, however, that being a product of his time Frederick was undoubtedly influenced and guided by the reason and logic of the Enlightened philosophers. Nevertheless, the paper demonstrates that the inherent nature of absolutism remained unaltered and that Louis XIV did as much to shape the political practice of Enlightened Absolutism, as did the writings of the French philosophers.