Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften

Abstract:
Aim of this study is to prove influences of the political development in France, as well as those of contemporaryenlightened literature, on the so-called “Jacobins” of the Habsburg monarchy by using examples of their politicaland legal ideas.There can be no doubt that French events and ideas have significantly influenced the democratic groups reviewedhere. However, elements derived from the political philosophy of authors such as Montesquieu or Rousseau can befound as well. And not least it was the ideology of enlightened absolutism as practised by emperors Joseph II. andLeopold II. from which the ideas of many democrats developed.Although these democrats labelled “conspirators” by the governmental authorities indeed often wished for a revolutionaryoverthrow of state and society and some even tried to act towards this goal, they never managed to become aserious danger to the monarchy from an objective point of view.