The couple enjoyed a political marriage and not much else. Finally, in 1730, at age 18, Frederick attempted to escape with childhood friend Hans Herman von Katte. Charles II was the monarch of England, Scotland and Ireland during much of the latter half of the 17th century, marking the Restoration era. It was a political marriage that Frederick resented; at one point he threatened to commit suicide before relenting and going through with the marriage as ordered by his father. ThoughtCo, Aug. 28, 2020, thoughtco.com/biography-of-frederick-the-great-4161022. Unlike in every way, Frederick's parents sought to raise him in their own, if totally different, images. Frederick was born into the House of Hohenzollern, a major German dynasty. Catherine II, also known as Catherine the Great, was an empress of Russia who ruled from 1762-1796, the longest reign of any female Russian leader. In 1756, Austria, backed by France and Russia, tried to regain control of Silesia. This planted a seed of anti-Austrian sentiment in Frederick; he believed that Austria, long Prussia’s rival for influence in the crumbling Holy Roman Empire, was meddlesome and dangerous. "use strict";(function(){var insertion=document.getElementById("citation-access-date");var date=new Date().toLocaleDateString(undefined,{month:"long",day:"numeric",year:"numeric"});insertion.parentElement.replaceChild(document.createTextNode(date),insertion)})(); Subscribe to the Biography newsletter to receive stories about the people who shaped our world and the stories that shaped their lives. Frederick II, known as Frederick the Great, was Prussia's king from 1740 to 1786. She came to power following a coup d'état that overthrew her husband and second cousin, Peter III.Under her reign, Russia grew larger, its culture was … Password requirements: 6 to 30 characters long; ASCII characters only (characters found on a standard US keyboard); must contain at least 4 different symbols; Although Prussia had been an influential and important part of the Holy Roman Empire for centuries, under Frederick’s rule the small kingdom rose to the status of a Great European Power and had a lasting effect on European politics in general and Germany … With the goal of a united Prussia, Frederick lost little time plunging Europe into war. Hohenzollerns became kings, dukes, and emperors in the region from the establishment of the dynasty in the 11th century until the overthrow of the German aristocracy in the wake of World War I in 1918. Born in 1712, Frederick William II, known as Frederick the Great, was the third Hohenzollern King of Prussia. Frederick struck preemptively, invading Saxony, and with his ally Great Britain started the Seven Years War. ThoughtCo. . By winning wars and expanding territories, he established Prussia as a strong military power. Biography of Frederick the Great, King of Prussia. Stemming Learning Loss During the Pandemic: A Rapid Randomized Trial of a Low-Tech Intervention in Botswana Noam Angrist, Peter Bergman, Caton Brewster, and Moitshepi Matsheng* ... Frederick … Frederick assumed the throne in 1740 after the death of his father. He died in 1786. . He bolstered the legal system and established the first German code of law. Frederick II, known as Frederick the Great, was Prussia's king from 1740 to 1786. https://www.thoughtco.com/biography-of-frederick-the-great-4161022 (accessed April 2, 2021). They were caught and arrested for treason, however, and Katte was beheaded in Frederick's presence. He was the husband of Rosalie Hunter, his wife of 52 years, who died June 2, 2020. https://www.biography.com/political-figure/frederick-ii. He reformed the military and government, established religious tolerance and granted a basic form of freedom of the press. Frederick II inherited the Prussian throne in 1740 and established control of Silesia in 1745. Frederick II (German: Friedrich II. Frederick’s military successes and expansion of Prussian power led indirectly to the establishment of the German Empire in the late 19th century (through the efforts of Otto von Bismarck), and thus in some ways to the two World Wars and the rise of Nazi Germany. Frederick was almost certainly gay, and, remarkably, was very open about his sexuality after his ascension to the throne, retreating to his estate in Potsdam where he conducted several affairs with male officers and his own valet, writing erotic poetry celebrating the male form and commissioning many sculptures and other works of art with distinct homoerotic themes. “[A] tale of power, perseverance and passion . Frederick inherited an army that was not only large, it had also been shaped into the premier fighting force in Europe at the time by his military-minded father. © 2021 Biography and the Biography logo are registered trademarks of A&E Television Networks, LLC. This military power allowed Frederick to have a proportionately outsize influence on European history. Though lost to history after the ravages of WWII, the room was recreated in all its blinding, opulent glory in 2003, and is currently on display at the Catherine Palace. Her patronage includes students, unmarried girls, apologists and many more as well as many places around the world. Frederick and Tsar Catherine the Great signed a defensive alliance in 1764 that guaranteed Prussian control of Silesia in return for Prussian support for Russia against Austria or the Ottoman Empire. American Revolution: Baron Friedrich von Steuben, War of the First Coalition in 1790s France, Biography of Frederick I Barbarossa, Holy Roman Emperor, French & Indian/Seven Years' War: 1760-1763, Franco-Prussian War: Field Marshal Helmuth von Moltke the Elder, Biography of Catherine the Great, Empress of Russia, The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, The French & Indian War/The Seven Years' War: An Overview, Industry and Agriculture History in Europe, What’s So Great About Frederick? Holy Roman Emperor Joseph II tried to strengthen the Habsburg empire with his enlightened reforms, but the changes he made were met with fierce opposition. It was under Catherine the Great’s supervision that the legendary and magnificent “Amber Room” was installed in the Catherine Palace near St. Petersburg. (2020, August 28). Although most often remembered as a warrior, Frederick actually lost more battles than he won, and was often saved by political events outside his control—and the unparalleled excellence of the Prussian Army. After a tepid reconciliation, Frederick's father arranged for him a marriage to Elizabeth Christine of Brunswick-Bevern, in 1733. Catherine II, or Catherine the Great, served as empress of Russia for more than three decades in the late 18th century after overthrowing her husband, Peter III. Although officially pious and supportive of religion (and tolerant, allowing a Catholic church to be built in officially protestant Berlin in the 1740s), Frederick was privately dismissive of all religions, referring to Christianity in general as an “odd metaphysical fiction.”, He was also almost shockingly racist, especially towards the Poles, who he regarded as almost subhuman and undeserving of respect, referring to them privately as “trash,” “vile,” and “dirty.”. As a youth, Frederick showed little interest in military matters, preferring poetry and philosophy; subjects he studied in secret because his father disapproved; in fact, Frederick was often beaten and berated by his father for his interests. This attitude would prove to have long-lasting implications for the future of Germany and Europe. He is one of the most important European leaders in history, a long-reigning king whose personal beliefs and attitudes shaped the modern world. While he was undoubtedly brilliant as a tactician and strategist, his main impact in military terms was the transformation of the Prussian Army into an outsize force that should have been beyond the capability of Prussia to support due to its relatively small size. If you see something that doesn't look right, contact us! Despite believing German culture, in general, to be inferior to that of France or Italy, he worked to elevate it, establishing a German Royal Society to promote German language and culture, and under his rule, Berlin became a major cultural center of Europe. Frederick ascended the throne upon the death of his father in 1740, and abandoned peaceful pursuits to make his place in the geopolitical intrigue of 18th-century Europe. ThoughtCo uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. In fact, when Frederick ascended to the throne in 1740, he inherited an army of 80,000 men, a remarkably large force for such a small kingdom. Her feast day is Nov. 25, and she is the patron of a great many professions and causes. Frederick II, king of Prussia (1740–86), a brilliant military campaigner who, in a series of diplomatic stratagems and wars, greatly enlarged Prussia’s territories and made Prussia the foremost military power in Europe. Frederick was miserable under the authority of his harsh father and planned to escape to Great Britain, where his maternal grandfather was King George I, and he invited Katte to join him. Kaiser Wilhelm served as emperor of Germany from 1888 until the end of World War I. Nicholas II was the last tsar of Russia under Romanov rule. Baltimore Sun: Your source for Baltimore breaking news, sports, business, entertainment, weather and traffic a great story in the hands of a master storyteller.”—The Wall Street Journal The Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Peter the Great, Nicholas and Alexandra, and The Romanovs returns with another masterpiece of narrative biography, the extraordinary story of an obscure German princess who became one of the most … Frederick William abused his son, often beating and humiliating him for trifling reasons. By winning wars and expanding territories, he established Prussia as a strong military power. Frederick quickly separated from her and, for the rest of his life, showed no interest in women. ; 24 January 1712 – 17 August 1786) was a Prussian king and military leader who ruled the Kingdom of Prussia from 1740 until 1786, at 46 years the longest reign of any Hohenzollern king. It was often said that instead of Prussia being a country with an army, it was an army with a country; by the end of his reign Prussian society was largely dedicated to staffing, supplying, and training the army. "Biography of Frederick the Great, King of Prussia." However, the death of Empress Elizabeth of Russia placed advocate Peter III on the throne and Russia withdrew from the war. He became the head of an empire that was expanded by his son and successor, Alexander the Great. During his time on the throne, Frederick increased Prussia's territories and military power. He was succeeded by Queen Elizabeth II in 1952. Frederick’s father, King Frederick William I, was an enthusiastic soldier-king who worked to build up Prussia’s army, ensuring that when Frederick assumed the throne he would have an outsize military force. He played the flute extremely well and composed many pieces for that instrument, and wrote voluminously in French, despising the German language and preferring French for his artistic expressions. Sensing weakness in the Austrian Empire, Frederick deceived Habsburg Queen Maria Theresa to allow his armies to occupy Lower Silesia in exchange for protection from France, Spain and Bavaria. A man of many facets, Frederick was also a supporter of the arts, commissioning buildings, paintings, literature, and music. When he came of age, Frederick was forced into the army and set on a course of military science and governance. Philip II reigned over Macedonia from 359 to 336 B.C. Frederick was born into the House of Hohenzollern on January 24, 1712, to Frederick William I of Prussia and Princess Sophia-Dorothea — the sister of George II of Great Britain. Oscar Hammerstein II collaborated with Richard Rodgers on popular musicals such as ‘Oklahoma!,’ ‘South Pacific,’ ‘Carousel,’ ‘The King and I’ and ‘The Sound of Music.’. When their plot was discovered, King Frederick William threatened to charge Frederick with treason and strip him of his status as Crown Prince, and then had Katte executed in front of his son. Domestically, Frederick's Enlightenment influence was more evident. Catherine II (born Sophie of Anhalt-Zerbst; 2 May 1729 – 17 November 1796), most commonly known as Catherine the Great, was empress regnant of All Russia from 1762 until 1796 – the country's longest-ruling female leader. In the plus column, the longest-reigning empress of Russia transformed her empire into one of Europe’s great … Catherine the Great, Russian Yekaterina Velikaya, also called Catherine II, Russian in full Yekaterina Alekseyevna, original name Sophie Friederike Auguste, Prinzessin von Anhalt-Zerbst, (born April 21 [May 2, New Style], 1729, Stettin, Prussia [now Szczecin, Poland]—died November 6 [November 17], 1796, Tsarskoye Selo [now Pushkin], near St. Petersburg, Russia), German-born … Alexander the Great served as king of Macedonia from 336 to 323 B.C. During his time of leadership, he united Greece, reestablished the Corinthian League and conquered the Persian Empire. We strive for accuracy and fairness. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/biography-of-frederick-the-great-4161022. Somers, Jeffrey. Jeff Somers is an award-winning writer who has authored nine novels, over 40 short stories, and "Writing Without Rules," a non-fiction book about the business and craft of writing. During Frederick's childhood, his mother brought him many of the treasures of the Enlightenment. Catherine's candidate for the Polish throne, Stanisław August Poniatowski , a former lover and favourite of Catherine. He ruled as an enlightened despot and instituted numerous economic, civil, and social reforms. His father pardoned Frederick, but placed him as a junior official in local administration to learn the ways of government. In 1741, Prussia consisted of scattered territories across central Europe and few significant allies save for Great Britain. Of all things, Frederick the Great, as he became to be known, left a legacy of devotion to Germany that set the example for leaders into the 20th century. The Warrior King of Prussia, Atheist and gay, Frederick the Great was more radical than most leaders today, How keeping it in the family spelled the end of the line for the Hapsburg royal dynasty, Frederick William I of Prussia, The Soldier King. 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