Enlightened despots held that royal power emanated not from divine right but from a social contract whereby a despot was entrusted with the power to govern in lieu of any other governments. In effect, the monarchs of
Why were enlightened despots called?
Enlightened absolutism (also called enlightened despotism) refers to the conduct and policies of European absolute monarchs during the 18th and early 19th centuries who were influenced by the ideas of the Enlightenment, espousing them to enhance their power.
Why did enlightened despots fail?
Enlightened despotism ultimately failed as a form of government because it maintained the privileges of the estates system, and did not introduce reforms to make all people free and equal before the law.
