An enlightened despot was a ruler who?

Answer 1

Supposedly an enlightened despot was a monarch who tried to adapt modern ideas into their rule. But, the term enlightened despot is highly contradictory because enlightened indicated modernization of ideas and change, whereas despot carries the denotation of clinging to tradition and the past. So, essentially the monarchs called themselves enlightened despots to gain public appeal, but they were not enlightened despots- it's impossible to be one. That's be like being a carnivorous vegetarian; laughably impossible.