Joseph II of Austria: The Misunderstood Despot

Joseph II of Austria was a complicated man. He loved his subjects and was willing to do anything for them. Unfortunately for them, in his mind that meant telling them how to do everything!
Joseph had been raised to believe that, as royalty, he was smarter and better than anyone else. He believed that being kind to them meant treating them like children. After all, wasn't a ruler supposed to be like a doting parent, always instructing his children? Unfortunately for Joseph, the people saw it ...