Absolutism

Eighteenth-century absolutism was grounded in the principle that the monarch’s power derived directly from God (droit divin) and was therefore largely unconstrained by earthly laws. In this system, the ruler unified legislative, judicial, and executive… 

When we think of the Prussian absolutist state of the 18th century, images of immaculate military parades, strict administrative efficiency, and the philosophical enlightenment of Frederick the Great often come to mind. However, behind this…