Frederick the Great
(Frederick II of Prussia )
1712–1786
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Frederick's father was Frederick William I, a strict and demanding military hero. The king pushed his son to study military matters but Frederick defied his father by reading poetry and ancient histories in secret. When he was 18, the prince attempted to flee to England with his friend, a lieutenant in the Prussian army, and several other officers. Hearing of their plans, the king arrested and imprisoned Frederick and his friend on charges of treason. The lieutenant was killed and Frederick was imprisoned until he was released by the Holy Roman Emperor. Frederick eventually reconciled with his father and began to take an interest in military matters.
When Frederick ascended to the throne he inherited a full treasury and a well-trained army. When the Austrian king died, leaving the Hapsburg throne to his daughter Maria Theresa, Frederick immediately moved to sieze the province of Silesia, a long time Hapsburg property on the that bordered Brandenburg. The controversy over the hereditary claims of the Hapsburgs led Europe into the War of the Austrian Succession. After years of conflict, Austria gave up the fight for Silesia, but did not surrender its claim to the territory, and eight years later, Austria made an alliance with Russia and France to oppose the upstart. The second Silesian War, better known as the continent wide Seven Year's War, failed to dislodge Frederick from his new territory, and in 1763 the treaties signed to bring the conflict to a close recognized Prussian control of Silesia.
Frederick's goal throughout his reign was to unite and expand his divided kingdoms of Brandenburg and Prussia. He finally achieved this goal by arranging the first and second partition of Poland, in cooperation with Austria and Russia. Frederick was also responsible for bringing modernizing reforms to Prussia, draining swamps for agricultural purposes and establishing a new bureaucracy. Frederick grew more solitary toward the end of his life, finally passing away in his study in 1786.
Key events during the life of Frederick the Great:
| Born | |
| Punished by father in attempted escape to England | |
| Ascended to Throne of Prussia | |
| Invaded Silesia—War of Austrian Successsion | |
| Seven Years' War against Austria, France, and Russia | |
| First Partition of Poland | |
| War of the Bavarian Succession | |
| Died while in his palace |
| Book Links |
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Other Resources
| King and the Page in | Fifty Famous People by James Baldwin |
| Frederick the Great in | Germany: Peeps at History by John Finnemore |
| Frederick the Great in | Famous Men of Modern Times by John H. Haaren |
| Charles VII in | The History of Germany by Henrietta Elizabeth Marshall |
| Youth of Frederick the Great in | Historical Tales: German by Charles Morris |
| Scenes from the Seven Year's War in | Historical Tales: German by Charles Morris |
| Boyhood of Frederick the Great in | The Awakening of Europe by M. B. Synge |
| Boyhood of Frederick the Great in | Brave Men and Brave Deeds by M. B. Synge |
| Fritz, and His Reign in | The History of Prussia by John S.C. Abbott |
Image Links | ||
|---|---|---|
 Frederick the Great and his page in Germany: Peeps at History |
Frederick the Great in Famous Men of Modern Times |
 The Justice of Frederick (allegorical) in Famous Men of Modern Times |
 Frederick addressing his generals in Famous Men of Modern Times |
Frederick the Great in Back Matter |
Frederick and the Austrians after Leuthen in Back Matter |
 Frederick II, King of Prussia in Two German Giants |
 The plucky little Prussian King made all Europe stare at his soldiery in The History of Germany |
 Statue of Frederick the Great, Unter den Linden, Berlin in Historical Tales: German |
 Frederick's interview with his father after his attempt to escape in Brave Men and Brave Deeds |
 After the battle of Kollin. in Frederick the Great |
 Good-evening, gentlemen, evidently you were not expecting me.' in Frederick the Great |
 Frederick stood on the bloody field like one dazed. in Frederick the Great |
 Frederick at the watch fires before the battle of Liegnitz. in Frederick the Great |
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| Controversial "free-thinker", satirist, essayist, and Enlightenment philosopher. | |
| Head of Hapsburg Dynasty. Ruled over much of Eastern Europe. Opposed Frederick the Great. | |
| Handel | Composer of Baroque Symphonies and Operas. Major influence on Beethoven and Mozart. |
| German composer associated with Baroque classical music. |