Frederick the Great

Frederick the Great

Friedrich II of Prussia (Friedrich der Große, Frederick II, Frederick the Great -- January 24, 1712 - August 17, 1786) was the Hohenzollern king of Prussia, from 1740-86. He was one of the so-called "enlightened monarchs".

Friedrich preferred to speak French rather than German. He had little sympathy for the German literature of his time.

His mother was Princess Sophie Dorothea von Hannover(1687-1757). Contrary to her husband she was well educated and knew how to behave.

Frederick succeeded his father Frederick William I (der Soldatenkönig, the "Soldier King"). He had to endure a very rigourus and austere upbringing. The relationship between the music loving and francophile Frederick and his militaristic father was difficult. At a manoeuvre the 18 year old Frederick was once beaten in public by his father. Thereupon he tried to escape together with his friend Hans Hermann von Katte, but was caught (Aug. 5th 1730). Prince Friedrich was imprisoned in the fortress Küstrin. Accusation: Both Prince and von Katte were officiers in the Prussian army that had tried to flee from Prussia or even to work together with England against the Prussian king (treason!). Death penalty threaded the Prince and the king was not unwilling to allow an execution. The proud prince has to subordinate under his father. Friedrich was forced to watch the execution (decapitation) of his friend on Nov. 6th 1730, and was strictly supervised in the following years.

He had to marry Elisabeth Christine von Braunschweig-Bevern on Jun. 12th 1733. The unvoluntary matrimony did not lead to children. After having become king, Friedrich mostly ignored his wife.

After the crisis in the relationship with king Friedrich Wilhelm in the early 30ies, son and father made peace with one another in the later 1730ies (it kept a cold one). The father gave his son the chateau Rheinsberg. In Rheinsberg Friedrich could assemble a small number of musicians, actors and other artists. He spent his time on reading, watching dramatic plays, making and listening to music. It was a happy time for the Prince.

The writings of Machiavelli were considered to be a guideline to the behavior of a king in Friedrich's age. 1739 Friedrich finished his "Antimachiavel, ou Examen du Prince de Machiavel" - a writing in which he opposes Machiavelli. It was published as a anonymous writing in 1740.

1740 May 31th: Death of King Friedrich Wilhelm.
1740 Oct.20th: Death of the German king Karl VI.; The War of the Austrian Succession followed.
1741 Apr.10th: Battle of Mollwitz
1742 June 11th and July 28th: Separate peace treaties with Austria; Slesia becomes part of Prussia
1744 Aug.10th: Again war with Austria
1745 Dec.25th: Peace. Prussia and Friedrich have won all 5 battles against Austria in the two Slesian Wars
1756-1763 Seven Years' War Friedrich is confronted with a Austrian-French-Russian-Saxon alliance. Afraid to be attacked by resentful Austria, he decides to take initiative. Initial successes against Saxony and Austria in 1756/57 are not severe enough to reach a decision. The Prussians have to retreat from Bohemia. For the rest of the war Friedrich is busy trying to defend the triangle Berlin - Slesia - Saxony. In the west Prussia is sheltered by England-Hanover from France. Defence in Northern and Eastern Prussia is only sporatic.
1757 June 6th: First defeat of Friedrich in the Battle of Kolin
1759 Aug.12th: Disasterous defeat of Friedrich and his army in the Battle of Kunersdorf
1762 Armistance and peace with Russia; Austria financally ruined
1763 Prussia neither gains nor looses territories
After the war Friedrich begins immediately to rebuild his country.
1778 After the death of the Bavarian Kurfürst(elector) Austria tries to annex Bavaria. Friedrich (meanwhile 66) invades Bohemia. Austria has to give in

Frederick had not really a vision for an unified Germany; This did have to wait till Bismarck started and won several wars a century later. Actually he thought all his wars mainly against Austria (The Habsburg leaders of Austria were almost continously German Kings from 15th century till 1806). On contrary Frederick established Brandenburg/Prussia as the 5th and smallest European great power by using the resources his father had made available. For 100 years the Austro-Prussian dualism (ending with the Austrian defeat 1866) made a unified Germany impossible.

Frederick led the Prussians forces during the War of the Austrian Succession, during the Seven Years' War (1756-1763) and in a campaign 1778 - not only as king but also as military commander in the field. He was not only quite successful in the battlefield. Even more important were his operational successes (preventing unification of superior enemy armies; be at the right time at the right place to keep enemy armies out of Prussian core territory).

Had a life-long rivalry with his younger brother Heinrich, Prince of Prussia. Had a long term friendship with Voltaire. Friedrich hosted Voltaire from July 1750 till March 1752 in Berlin and Potsdam.

His nephew Friedrich Wilhelm II succeeded him as King of Prussia (no children).

Frederick had a great fondness for music, and in particular he played the flute to an more than acceptable standard. He was responsible directly or indirectly for the writing of many pieces of flute music, and also wrote over a hundred pieces himself. His court musicians included C. P. E. Bach and Johann Joachim Quantz. A meeting with Johann Sebastian Bach in 1747 led to Bach writing The Musical Offering. Frederick also befriended Voltaire.

Quotes

• "[The monarch] is a perpetual sentinel, who must watch...enemies of the state...it is not that he should remain the shadow of authority, but that he should fulfill [his] duties."
• "Hier muss ein jeder nach seiner Facon selig werden." ("Every one must find his happiness in his own way.")
• "Ich bin der erste Diener meines Staates." ("I am the first servant of my state.")

Preceded by: Frederick William I

List of Kings of Prussia

Succeeded by: Frederick William II