During the 1600s and 1700s, Europe was changing. While kings in countries like France expanded their power through absolutism, rulers in other regions began doing the same. Two of those regions were Russia and Prussia.

Russia was a large, mostly isolated empire in eastern Europe and Asia. It had powerful rulers called czars, but much of its population lived in rural areas with little connection to the rest of Europe. Prussia, on the other hand, was a smaller but rising kingdom in central Europe, in what is now Germany and parts of Poland.

Both nations began to grow stronger by centralizing government power and expanding their militaries. Rulers like Peter the Great, Frederick the Great, and Catherine the Great used absolutist ideas to strengthen their control and modernize their states.

Peter the Great of Russia

Peter the Great ruled Russia from 1682 to 1725. He believed that Russia needed to modernize and become more like Western Europe. To do this, he made major changes to the military, government, and even everyday life.

Peter built a stronger army and navy, introduced new taxes, and reduced the power of nobles. He created a government where officials answered directly to him. Peter also forced cultural changes, such as requiring men to shave their beards and wear Western-style clothing.

One of his biggest accomplishments was building a new capital, St. Petersburg, which became a symbol of his power. The city gave Russia better access to Europe and helped Peter increase trade and communication with the West.

Frederick the Great of Prussia

Frederick the Great ruled Prussia from 1740 to 1786. He believed in strong government and used absolutist rule to strengthen his army and promote education and reform.

He turned Prussia into a military power, known for its discipline and efficiency. Frederick took personal control of military planning and expanded Prussian territory through wars. He also introduced legal reforms, encouraged religious tolerance, and supported public schools.

Although he called himself “the first servant of the state,” Frederick still held absolute power. His actions helped Prussia grow into a major European state.

Catherine the Great of Russia

Catherine the Great ruled Russia from 1762 to 1796. She came to power after her husband was removed from the throne. Like Peter, she wanted to modernize Russia and increase the power of the monarchy.

Catherine expanded the Russian Empire through military victories and added large areas of land. She supported education, science, and the arts, and worked to improve Russia’s laws. But she also gave more power to wealthy landowners and kept tight control over peasants.

Catherine believed that a strong, central government was necessary to bring order and progress. Even though she supported Enlightenment ideas, she ruled as an absolute monarch who made all the major decisions.

Why It Matters

The reigns of Peter the Great, Frederick the Great, and Catherine the Great show how absolutism spread beyond France. In Russia and Prussia, these monarchs used military power, government control, and cultural reform to increase their authority. Their rule helped shape the future of Eastern Europe—and showed how absolute monarchs could transform entire nations.

Source: Absolutism in Russia and Prussia
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