What were Voltaires beliefs in government?

Voltaire believed in an enlightened despotism, where a benevolent and rational monarch would rule according to the principles of reason and justice. He argued that the best form of government was one in which the ruler was enlightened and wise, and the people were free and prosperous. He believed that the government should be strong enough to maintain order and protect its citizens, but not too strong as to oppress them. He also believed that the government should be fair and impartial, and that all citizens should be treated equally under the law.

Voltaire's political views were influenced by his experiences living under the Ancien Régime in France. He was critical of the absolute monarchy of Louis XIV, and he believed that the French people were suffering under a system of oppression and injustice. He also believed that the Catholic Church was too powerful and that it had a negative influence on society. He argued that the government should be secular, and that religion should be a private matter.

Voltaire's beliefs in government had a profound impact on the development of political thought in the 18th century. He was one of the most influential philosophers of the Enlightenment, and his ideas helped to shape the French Revolution and the American Revolution.