How did the enlightenment thinkers affect the monarchical regime?

Enlightenment thinkers, such as john Locke, Voltaire, and Montesquieu, challenged the absolute authority of monarchies by promoting ideas of individual rights, reason, and the separation of powers. Their advocacy for democracy, liberty, and social contract theories inspired revolutions, including the American and French Revolutions, which weakened monarchical control. By emphasizing rational governance and the importance of consent from the governed, Enlightenment thought fundamentally transformed political discourse and led to the emergence of constitutional and representative governments. Ultimately, these ideas diminished the legitimacy of absolute monarchy and encouraged the rise of secular and democratic institutions.