He was a despot insofar that his will was the law and he did what he wanted as if he was a dictator in ancient Rome. However, he fought for enlightenment ideals throughout his laws. He opened Lycees which were something like high schools that prepared people for universities, and he also made the Napoleonic codes to protect religious freedom of the people and abolish the system of feudalism that was prevalent or survived in traces. He used his tyrannical behavior for constructive thing that didn't bring harm.
