Question

which combination of actions best represents how monarchs applied enlightenment ideas to state-building and expansion?

increasing local autonomy, limiting state authority, and granting more power to
religious leaders

maintaining feudal privileges, strengthening traditional guilds, and supporting
decentralized governance

reducing noble privileges, centralizing power, and introducing legal reforms

eliminating all monarchies, establishing democratic republics, and dissolving state
borders

Explanation:

Enlightenment ideas emphasized rational governance, equality under law, and centralized authority. Monarchs applying these would reduce noble privileges (to create equality), centralize power (for efficient rule), and introduce legal reforms (based on reason). The first option limits state authority (opposite of Enlightenment - inspired centralization) and empowers religious leaders (Enlightenment often sought secularism). The second maintains feudal privileges and decentralized governance (against Enlightenment's push for centralization and merit - based systems). The fourth eliminates monarchies (Enlightened monarchs still ruled as monarchs, not abolished them). So the third option fits.

Answer:

reducing noble privileges, centralizing power, and introducing legal reforms