Which Enlightened despot abolished serfdom and the death sentence but was undone after their death?

The individual who abolished serfdom and the death sentence, while also being known as an enlightened despot whose reforms were largely undone following their death, is Joseph II. Joseph II, who ruled as Holy Roman Emperor from 1765 to 1790, is famously recognized for his sweeping reforms aimed at modernizing the Austrian Empire. His policies were grounded in Enlightenment ideals, emphasizing rationality, equality, and the betterment of society.

Among his significant reforms was the abolition of serfdom in 1781, which aimed to free peasants from the obligations and hardships of feudal obligations. He also sought to limit the use of the death penalty, reflecting a more humanitarian approach to justice. However, much of his reform agenda faced strong resistance from the entrenched nobility and local institutions, which ultimately led to many of his initiatives being rolled back after his death in 1790. His efforts had a transformative vision for his empire, but the immediate backlash against his reforms highlighted the difficulties of enacting change in deeply established social and political structures.

In contrast, figures like Catherine the Great maintained serfdom and had a more pragmatic approach to the power structures of her time. Louis XVI is primarily associated with the turmoil leading to the