Summary
Catherine the Great's correspondence with Denis Diderot, primarily conducted in 1773-1774, reveals Catherine's strategic engagement with Enlightenment ideals to legitimize and modernize her autocratic rule. Her central thesis is to present herself as an enlightened despot, receptive to philosophical discourse while firmly maintaining absolute authority over Russia. She uses Diderot's ideas, particularly regarding law, education, and governance, to bolster her image as a progressive sovereign, while carefully filtering and adapting them to suit her practical political needs and the realities of the Russian empire.
Through these exchanges, readers gain insight into Catherine's sophisticated political maneuvering and her understanding of how Enlightenment philosophy could be co-opted for imperial purposes. The letters showcase her intellectual engagement, her persuasive communication style, and her ability to control the narrative of her reign. A reader understands the tension between Enlightenment aspirations and autocratic power, and how intellectual influence could be wielded by rulers to consolidate and project their authority.
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Key concepts
- Enlightened Absolutism — The theory and practice of absolute monarchs who embraced Enlightenment ideals and applied them to their governance.
- Philosophical Patronage — Rulers commissioning or engaging with intellectuals and philosophers to enhance their prestige and legitimize their policies.
- Imperial Modernization — Efforts by autocratic rulers to introduce Western European models of law, administration, and education into their empires.
- Pragmatic Idealism — The application of abstract philosophical concepts in a way that is tempered by practical considerations and political realities.