Changing Perspectives on the “Revolutionary Emperor”: Joseph II Biographies since 1790

• Published in: The Journal of Modern History Vol. 83; no. 1; pp. 111 - 138
• Main Author: Szabo, Franz A. J.
• Format: Book Review Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chicago The University of Chicago Press 01-03-2011; University of Chicago, acting through its Press
• Subjects: 18th century; Abolition; Absolutism; Biographies; Caraccioli, Louis Antoine; Despotism; Economic reform; Emperors; Empires; Enlightenment; European history; Historians; Historical analysis; Historiography; History of political ideas; Joseph II [Emperor]; Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor (1741-90); Kings; Liberalism; Monarchy; Reform; Reforms; Review Article; Tax reform; Writers
• ISSN: 0022-2801; 1537-5358
• DOI: 10.1086/658104

The French writer, poet, and biographer of Pope Clement XIV, Louis Antoine Caraccioli published his biography of Joseph II, La Vie de Joseph II, immediately upon the emperor's death. This was possible because he had been collecting materials for a biography for some years. Cataloging and acclaiming all of Joseph's reforms, he gave the emperor uncritical credit for the abolition of serfdom and of peasant labor services (robot), both civil and penal law reforms, the revival of trade, the creation of a disciplined army, education reforms, the building of hospitals and other public social service institutions, the abolition of superstition, the reform of the Church, the construction of roads and the "complete" abolition of mendicancy. Here, Szabo looks at some of Joseph II biographies written since 1790.