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[[File:494px-Friedrich der Große (1781 or 1786) - Google Art Project.png|thumb|300px|Frederick the Great, here with the breast star as Knight of the Order of the Black Eagle, was the longest reigning monarch of the [[House of Hohenzollern]]. He was an enlightened absolute monarch and reformer, a musician (harpsicord & flute), composer and writer, and a brilliant military campaigner who, in a series of diplomatic stratagems and wars against the [[Archduchy of Austria]] and other European powers, greatly enlarged Prussia’s territories and made the [[Kingdom of Prussia]] one of the European great powers. He was party to the Partitions of [[Poland]].]]
'''Frederick the Great'''’s father laid the foundation for Frederick’s legendary military exploits by assembling a well-drilled professional army for Prussia. In the early eighteenth century, Prussia was one of dozens of minor German states, and it was far from the most powerful. Prussia’s possessions stretched from the Baltics to what is now western Germany. Prussia’s more powerful neighbors, including [[France]], [[Russia]], Sweden, and [[Austria]] were a constant threat to Prussia’s security.
'''Frederick II''' ({{lang-de|Friedrich II.}}; b. 24 January 1712 in [[Berlin]]; d. 17 August 1786 in [[Potsdam]] near Berlin) was a [[King of Prussia]] (1740–1786) from the [[House of Hohenzollern|Hohenzollern dynasty]].<ref>Frederick was the third and last "[[King in Prussia]]"; beginning in 1772 he used the title "King of Prussia".</ref> In his role as a prince-elector of the [[Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation]], he was '''Frederick IV''' (''Friedrich'' IV.) of the Margraviate  [[Brandenburg]]. He was in personal union the sovereign prince of the Principality of Neuchâtel.  Because of his victories in war and the prosperity he acheived for Prussia, he became known as '''Frederick the Great''' ({{lang-de|Friedrich der Große}}) and was nicknamed ''der alte Fritz'' ("old [[Fritz]]").
The young Frederick was more interested in the arts and philosophy than learning. This caused problems between Frederick and his father. Frederick was more interested in [[philosophy]] and [[music]] than drill and maneuvers. At one point, Frederick attempted to flee Prussia. He was caught, arrested, and imprisoned for a short time by his father. [[Art|Artistic]] and philosophical interests aside, Frederick clearly learned much about warfare as well. When he became king, he quickly demonstrated it.
When Frederick inherited his army, he put it to use almost immediately by invading Silesia in defiance of Austria, a country with a much larger and on paper more powerful army. The Prussian Army Frederick greatly enhanced amazed [[Europe]] and the world in short order. {{Rquote|right|"The speed and smoothness of Prussia’s mobilization was disquieting in a Europe where war’s relative stateliness reflected in good part the length of time armies required to wind up and deliver a punch."|Unknown}}From 1740 through the 1760s Prussia fought a series of wars culminating in the [[Seven Years’ War]], which was fought in North America as the [[French and Indian War]], which produced many future officers in the [[The Revolutionary War]], including [[George Washington]].


=References=
==Life==
{{Reflist|2}}
[[File:Prussian army Forward!.png|300px|thumb|Frederick II of Prussia leading the [[Prussian Army]] into the Battle of Zorndorf on 25 August 1758 against Russian troops during the [[Seven Years' War]].]]
Interested primarily in the arts during his youth, Frederick unsuccessfully attempted to flee from his authoritarian father, the "Soldier-King" [[Frederick William I]], after which he was forced to watch the execution of a childhood friend. Upon ascending to the Prussian throne, he attacked [[Austria]] and claimed [[Silesia]] during the [[Silesian Wars]], winning military acclaim for himself and Prussia. Near the end of his life, Frederick united most of his disconnected realm through the "First Partition of Poland".


[[Category:Places]]
Frederick was a proponent of enlightened absolutism. For years he was a correspondent of [[Voltaire]], with whom the king had a turbulent friendship. He modernized the Prussian bureaucracy and civil service and promoted religious toleration throughout his realm. Frederick patronized the arts and philosophers. Frederick is buried at his favorite residence, [[Sanssouci]] in [[Potsdam]]. He was succeeded by his nephew, [[Frederick William II of Prussia]].
[[Category:Nations]]
 
[[Category:History]]
===Wars===
* War of the Austrian Succession
** First Silesian War
** Second Silesian War
* [[Seven Years' War]]
** Third Silesian War
* First Partition of Poland
* War of the Bavarian Succession
==Reception==
Admired by German fascists and in [[National Socialist Germany]], his reputation in [[West Germany]] was consequently assailed after 1945, as with anyone that the [[NSDAP]] had liked.
 
===After 1990===
This changed after the German reunification 1990. On the 205th anniversary of his death, on 17 August 1991, Frederick's coffin was transported solemnly from Burg Hohenzollern to Potsdam and lay in state in the court of honour at Sanssouci, covered by a Prussian flag and escorted by a [[Bundeswehr]] guard of honour. After nightfall, Frederick's body was finally laid to rest in the terrace of the vineyard of Sanssouci—in the still existing crypt he had built there. Every year hundreds of thousands of Germans and tourists from around the world visit the castle and vast park of Sanssouci, also paying their respects to the famous Kong of Prussia.
 
==Quotes==
* ''"We have too many jews in the towns. They are needed on the Polish border because in these areas Hebrews alone perform trade. As soon as you get away from the frontier, the jews become a disadvantage, they form cliques, they deal in contraband and get up to all manner of rascally tricks which are detrimental to Christian burghers and merchants. I have never persecuted anyone from this or any other sect; I think, however, it would be prudent to pay attention, so that their numbers do not increase."''<ref>MacDonogh, Giles, ''Frederick the Great'' - A Life in Deed and Letters, St.Martin's Griffin, New York, 2001, ISBN 0-312-27266-9.</ref>
 
==External links==
===jewish policies===
*[https://www.theoccidentalobserver.net/2019/05/17/161764/ Frederick the Great’s jewish Policy: Between Containment and Profit, Part 1]
**[https://www.theoccidentalobserver.net/2019/05/18/frederick-the-greats-jewish-policy-between-containment-and-profit-part-2/ Frederick the Great’s jewish Policy: Between Containment and Profit, Part 2]
**[https://www.theoccidentalobserver.net/2019/05/19/frederick-the-greats-jewish-policy-between-containment-and-profit-part-3/ Frederick the Great’s jewish Policy: Between Containment and Profit, Part 3]
===Encyclopedias===
*[https://www.britannica.com/biography/Frederick-II-king-of-Prussia Encyclopedia Britannica: Frederick II]
*[https://theodora.com/encyclopedia/f/frederick_ii_of_prussia.html Encyclopedia Britannica 1911 Edition: Frederick II of Prussia]
*[https://www.encyclopedia.com/people/history/german-history-biographies/frederick-great Encyclopedia.com: Frederick the Great]
 
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
 
 
 
 
 
[[Category:Prussia]]
[[Category:Prussian generals]]
[[Category:Freemasons]]

Latest revision as of 18:17, 28 February 2024

File:494px-Friedrich der Große (1781 or 1786) - Google Art Project.png
Frederick the Great, here with the breast star as Knight of the Order of the Black Eagle, was the longest reigning monarch of the House of Hohenzollern. He was an enlightened absolute monarch and reformer, a musician (harpsicord & flute), composer and writer, and a brilliant military campaigner who, in a series of diplomatic stratagems and wars against the Archduchy of Austria and other European powers, greatly enlarged Prussia’s territories and made the Kingdom of Prussia one of the European great powers. He was party to the Partitions of Poland.

Frederick II (; b. 24 January 1712 in Berlin; d. 17 August 1786 in Potsdam near Berlin) was a King of Prussia (1740–1786) from the Hohenzollern dynasty.[1] In his role as a prince-elector of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation, he was Frederick IV (Friedrich IV.) of the Margraviate Brandenburg. He was in personal union the sovereign prince of the Principality of Neuchâtel. Because of his victories in war and the prosperity he acheived for Prussia, he became known as Frederick the Great () and was nicknamed der alte Fritz ("old Fritz").

Life

File:Prussian army Forward!.png
Frederick II of Prussia leading the Prussian Army into the Battle of Zorndorf on 25 August 1758 against Russian troops during the Seven Years' War.

Interested primarily in the arts during his youth, Frederick unsuccessfully attempted to flee from his authoritarian father, the "Soldier-King" Frederick William I, after which he was forced to watch the execution of a childhood friend. Upon ascending to the Prussian throne, he attacked Austria and claimed Silesia during the Silesian Wars, winning military acclaim for himself and Prussia. Near the end of his life, Frederick united most of his disconnected realm through the "First Partition of Poland".

Frederick was a proponent of enlightened absolutism. For years he was a correspondent of Voltaire, with whom the king had a turbulent friendship. He modernized the Prussian bureaucracy and civil service and promoted religious toleration throughout his realm. Frederick patronized the arts and philosophers. Frederick is buried at his favorite residence, Sanssouci in Potsdam. He was succeeded by his nephew, Frederick William II of Prussia.

Wars

  • War of the Austrian Succession
    • First Silesian War
    • Second Silesian War
  • Seven Years' War
    • Third Silesian War
  • First Partition of Poland
  • War of the Bavarian Succession

Reception

Admired by German fascists and in National Socialist Germany, his reputation in West Germany was consequently assailed after 1945, as with anyone that the NSDAP had liked.

After 1990

This changed after the German reunification 1990. On the 205th anniversary of his death, on 17 August 1991, Frederick's coffin was transported solemnly from Burg Hohenzollern to Potsdam and lay in state in the court of honour at Sanssouci, covered by a Prussian flag and escorted by a Bundeswehr guard of honour. After nightfall, Frederick's body was finally laid to rest in the terrace of the vineyard of Sanssouci—in the still existing crypt he had built there. Every year hundreds of thousands of Germans and tourists from around the world visit the castle and vast park of Sanssouci, also paying their respects to the famous Kong of Prussia.

Quotes

  • "We have too many jews in the towns. They are needed on the Polish border because in these areas Hebrews alone perform trade. As soon as you get away from the frontier, the jews become a disadvantage, they form cliques, they deal in contraband and get up to all manner of rascally tricks which are detrimental to Christian burghers and merchants. I have never persecuted anyone from this or any other sect; I think, however, it would be prudent to pay attention, so that their numbers do not increase."[2]

External links

jewish policies

Encyclopedias

References

  1. ↑ Frederick was the third and last "King in Prussia"; beginning in 1772 he used the title "King of Prussia".
  2. ↑ MacDonogh, Giles, Frederick the Great - A Life in Deed and Letters, St.Martin's Griffin, New York, 2001, ISBN 0-312-27266-9.
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