High School

Who was the Austrian ruler whose reform program abolished serfdom, established religious toleration, and instituted a new penal code, among other things?

Answer :

Final answer:

Joseph II, the Austrian ruler from 1765 to 1790, abolished serfdom, established religious toleration, and instituted a new penal code, among other reforms.

Explanation:

The Austrian ruler that you're referring to is Joseph II. Joseph II ruled as the Holy Roman Emperor from 1765 to 1790, during which he instituted a number of significant reforms. To reduce the power of the nobility, Joseph II abolished serfdom, freeing peasants from the domination of their landowning overlords.

He also introduced a policy of religious toleration, which was an important step toward giving his subjects freedom of belief and worship. In addition, Joseph II instituted a new penal code that was the first in Europe to abolish the death penalty, signaling a new era of enlightened justice in Austrian law.

Learn more about Joseph II here:

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