How did absolutist rulers view Enlightenment philosophers?

Absolutist rulers viewed Enlightenment philosophers primarily as threats to their authority and power. During the Enlightenment, thinkers began advocating for ideas that challenged the traditional structures of monarchy and absolute rule, emphasizing individual rights, reason, and the social contract. These concepts directly contradicted the principles of absolutism, which were based on the belief that monarchs derived their authority from divine right and had absolute power over their subjects.

Philosophers like John Locke, Voltaire, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau promoted ideas about democracy, liberty, and equality, which inspired people to question the legitimacy of kings and the established social order. As these ideas spread, they posed a significant challenge to the stability of absolutist regimes, leading rulers to perceive Enlightenment thinkers as potential instigators of rebellion or revolution rather than collaborators or sources of inspiration. Thus, the tension between the absolute authority of monarchs and the emerging Enlightenment ideals created a climate in which these rulers felt compelled to suppress dissenting philosophical thought in order to maintain their control.