KING FREDERICK, THE GREAT
(24 January 1712 - 17 August 1786)
Frederick II was a King in Prussia (1740–1786) from the Hohenzollern dynasty. In his role as a prince-elector of the Holy Roman Empire, he was Frederick IV (Friedrich IV) of Brandenburg. He was in personal union the sovereign prince of the Principality of Neuchâtel and became known as "Frederick the Great" (Friedrich der Große) and was nicknamed "der alte Fritz" (Old Fritz).
Frederick was born in Berlin, the son of King Frederick William I of Prussia and Sophia Dorothea of Hanover. The so-called Soldier-King, Frederick William had developed a formidable army and encouraged centralization, but was also known for his authoritarianism and temper. In contrast, Sophia was well-mannered and well-educated. Her father, George, Elector of Hanover, was the heir of Queen Anne of Great Britain.
Interested primarily in music and philosophy and not the arts of war during his youth, Frederick unsuccessfully attempted to flee from his authoritarian father, Frederick William I, with childhood friend, Hans Hermann von Katte, whose execution he was forced to watch after they had been captured.
Frederick served at Prussian Army as Colonel of the Regiment von der Goltz, stationed near Nauen and Neuruppin. When Prussia provided a contingent of troops to aid Austria during the War of the Polish Succession, Frederick served under Prince Eugene of Savoy, during the campaign against France, on the Rhine.
In 1739, Frederick finished his "Anti-Machiavel", an idealistic refutation of Machiavelli. It was published anonymously in 1740, but Voltaire distributed it in Amsterdam to great popularity. Frederick's years dedicated to the arts instead of politics ended upon the 1740 death of Frederick William and his inheritance of the Kingdom of Prussia.
When Frederick ascended the throne as "King in Prussia" in 1740, Prussia consisted of scattered territories, including Cleves, Mark, and Ravensberg in the west of the Holy Roman Empire; Brandenburg, Hither Pomerania, and Farther Pomerania in the east of the Empire; and the former Duchy of Prussia, outside of the Empire bordering the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. He was titled King in Prussia because this was only part of historic Prussia; he was to declare himself King of Prussia after acquiring most of the rest in 1772.
Frederick structured their predecessor's army. In 1740 Frederick invaded Silesia, seizing the moment in which Austria was particularly vulnerable. It was the beginning of the Austrian Succession War. Shortly after, Prussia and Austria signed a secret treaty of peace that recognized the achievements of Frederick II and allowed the Austrian army to retreat to Moravia.
The Austrian Succession War confirmed the possession of Silesia by the Prussian king. In 1744, Frederick invaded Bohemia but, was not the expected success. Exhausted, his army retreated to Silesia where he obtains three decisive victories. After those victories, Frederick established the "Treaty of Dresden", with Austria and Saxony, in 1745. In half a century, Prussia has tripled its population due to the acquisition of Silesia, by this treaty.
Victorious, would soon feel threatened by the creation of a coalition formed by Austria and Russia. Allying itself with Britain, eventually preemptively invade Saxony in 1756, beginning the Seven Year's War.
Frederick successfully resisted the combined efforts of France, Austria and Russia. During this conflict, his kingdom was attacked from all sides and Berlin was occupied twice by enemy troops.
Frederick won great victories, like the battles of Rossbach, Leuthen and Prague. He is considered one of the greatest military leaders in history.
Out with Prussia, Frederick was saved by the death of the Russian empress and the ascent to the throne of Czar Peter III, who admired him. Ended the conflict, with perseverance reorganized its states, which were weakened by the war.
Frederick managed to transform Prussia from a European backwater to an economically strong and politically reformed state. Frederick was able to give Prussia a modern bureaucracy and a system of education was seen as one of Europe's finest. Frederick also abolished torture and corporal punishment.
Frederick died in an armchair in his study in the palace of Sanssouci on 17 August 1786.
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