Enlightened absolutism was the 18th-century phenomenon, by which absolutist monarchs promoted Enlightenment ideals in some form. Catherine the great of Russia implemented an education policy, though this did not get very far, because the children were needed at home to do jobs so their family would not starve. Catherine brought the Russian church completely under her control, which was applauded by Enlightenment members. Joseph II Holy Roman Emperor abolished one-third of the monasteries and implemented a compulsory education policy. He also reformed the legal system and abolished torture as a means of procuring information. Charles III of Spain lessened the power of the inquisition in Spain as well as bringing the church more under the control of the state. Frederick the Great of Prussia kept up a correspondence with Voltaire and was a self-proclaimed deist. He implemented Enlightenment ideas while laughing at mankind’s silly superstitions with Voltaire.
