Was Louis XIV an enlightened despot?

Answer 1

How can a dictator be enlightened? The two ideals are completely the opposite of each other. To achieve enlightenment one must come to terms with their own flaws, appreciating at the same time that everyone is equally flawed (in their own way obviously). From this comes the ability to accept everyone's beliefs equally, and to value their differences of opinion. This is in direct contrast with the fundamentals of a Dictatorship. Therefore, Napoleon was not an enlightened dictator.

The original response is 100% wrong and id like to correct them

Napoleon was most certainly a enlightened dictator for every flaw he had an achievement to make up for it

Did the original poster know that Napoleon was the first person in France to ever propose freedom of religion and stood with it until it was passed

In history many times people get skewed in the eye of the people for the necessary actions they must take

Napoleon was a hero he was the only thing that helped the french survive after the revolution and acted in the peoples best interest

So yes Napoleon is a Enlightened dictator and deserves the title

Napoleon's domestic policy, "was his greatest legacy to France"

Answer 2

Yes and no. He created many reforms and strategic plans for the improvement of the well-being of the people of France. For example, he reintroduced the Catholic Church to France which was a great relief to the French people, most of whom were Catholics. He also put the Napoleonic Code in place which reinstated the rights that were first introduced in the beginning of the a French Revolution, such as the abolishment of birth based status. He held that you could rise to the top without having noble birth. After all, that is what he did. But Napoleon was also a dictator. He restricted some rights like freedom of the press and had a secret police force to get rid of his enemies. He mostly enforced laws or rights that were in advantageous to his own agenda. He was of course a very ambitious power hungry person, conquering or defeating most of Europe, including Spain, Holland, Prussia, Italy, Austria and Russia. Great Britain was his greatest obstacle, but he feared her strong navy. He decided to attack Britain economically through the Continental System but that was a failure for the most part and it hurt France instead. He did eventually crown himself Emperor, taking the crown from Pope Pius VI's hands and putting it on his head. He never stopped looking for power. Even when he was in St. Helena he sought territories of his own, eventually becoming governor of the island's 120,000 people.

Answer 3

NO. Louis XVI was a very weak and unenlightened ruler. In order to be an enlightened despot, a ruler must be an absolute monarch that tries to implement Enlightenment reforms. Louis XVI was neither an absolute monarch nor did he try to implement Enlightenment reforms.

If perhaps the questions seeks to ask about Louis XIV, the great-great-great-grandfather of Louis XVI, he was an absolute monarch, but is not considered an enlightened despot. He did not seek to implement Enlightenment reforms.

Answer 4

No! he was the whole reason the french revolution occured

Answer 5

Technically no, he was a Emperor, who was mostly liked/loved by his people, but in a literal sense, yes, he exercised absolute power.