| Frederick II of Prussia (1712-86), commonly | | | | the flute very well (there is a famous painting by |
| known as Frederick the Great, was King of | | | | Adolph von Menzel of Frederick playing a flute in |
| Prussia and one of that country's greatest rulers. | | | | the music room of his palace, Sanssouci) and |
| He had a multi-faceted personality, being a great | | | | some of his musical compositions are still played |
| statesman, a military commander, a writer, a | | | | today. |
| musician, and a social reformer. | | | | He read French literature and wrote poetry. He |
| The Statesman and Military Leader | | | | corresponded with French writers and |
| When Frederick the Great was born, Austria was | | | | Enlightenment philosophers such as Voltaire (the |
| the leading power in the German-speaking area of | | | | latter visited Frederick in Berlin in 1750) and |
| Europe. Frederick opposed Austria' s overbearing | | | | studied their works. |
| power. He had ambitious plans for Prussia: he | | | | A famous observation written by Frederick in a |
| thought it should increase its military influence and | | | | letter to Voltaire dated March 18, 1771 has been |
| economic power and become the leading | | | | preserved and says: "Drive out prejudices through |
| German-speaking state. | | | | the door, and they will return through the |
| In 1740 Frederick reactivated Prussia's old claims | | | | window." |
| to the Austrian province of Silesia. When this claim | | | | Frederick wrote a great deal - always in French - |
| was rejected by Austria's ruler, the Empress | | | | on politics, history and military science. His works |
| Maria Theresa, Frederick seized Silesia. This move | | | | have been published in 33 volumes. |
| upset Maria Theresa and helped provoke the | | | | Frederick was a patron of architecture and had |
| outbreak of the War of the Austrian Succession | | | | many wonderful buildings constructed in Berlin. |
| (1740-48). and the Seven Years' War (1756-63). | | | | These buildings, including such gems as the Berlin |
| With Frederick's outstanding skills as a military | | | | State Opera, mostly still exist today. |
| commander, some good luck and much effort, | | | | Frederick also constructed a beautiful summer |
| Prussia ended up not only keeping Silesia but also | | | | palace named Sanssouci (French for "carefree" or |
| ended up, in 1772, taking part of Poland. | | | | "without worry") at nearby Potsdam. This palace |
| By the time that Frederick died, Prussia comprised | | | | is the best example of the Northern German |
| twice the surface area than it had at the time of | | | | Roccoco style of architecture. The palace and |
| his birth. | | | | gardens of Sanssouci, often seen as the Prussian |
| Frederick the Great fostered the growth of a | | | | equivalent of the Palace of Versailles, were placed |
| strong economy in Prussia, by encouraging | | | | on the United Nations list of World Heritage Sites |
| modernization and greater efficiencies in both | | | | in 1990. |
| Prussian agriculture and industry. This | | | | The Social Reformer |
| development, combined with the fact that | | | | Frederick the Great increased freedom of speech |
| Frederick managed to wage his wars without | | | | and promoted freedom of religion. He improved |
| incurring debt, brought much prosperity to the | | | | the efficiency and honesty of government |
| country. | | | | administration. He abolished torture and corporal |
| With its enlarged geographical area, its larger army | | | | punishment. Serfdom, however, was not |
| (having 195,000 soldiers by 1786) and its strong | | | | abolished. |
| economy, Prussia not only prevailed over its rival, | | | | Enlightened Despotism |
| Austria, and became the largest and most | | | | Frederick's form of government is what we call |
| powerful of the German states, but it ended up | | | | enlightened despotism or benevolent despotism |
| during Frederick's reign as a leading European | | | | (that is, the country was ruled by an absolute |
| power. | | | | monarch, but one who tried to rule his people |
| The Man of Culture | | | | justly, rather than according to his own selfish |
| Unlike his rigidly militaristic and Calvinist father, | | | | whims and desires). |
| Frederick William I, Frederick the Great (Frederick | | | | Frederick is reported to have described this type |
| II) was interested in culture and in the ideas of | | | | of government as follows: |
| the Enlightenment, particularly the ideas of the | | | | "My people and I have come to an agreement |
| French philosophes (philosophers) such as Voltaire. | | | | which satisfies us both. They are to say what |
| Frederick played and composed music. He played | | | | they please, and I am to do what I please. |