What did Frederick Frederick II ruled the Kingdom of Prussia from 1740 until 1786, the longest reign of any Hohenzollern king, at 46 years. His most significant accomplishments during his reign included his military victories, his reorganization of Prussian armies, his patronage of the arts and the Enlightenment and his final success against great odds in the Seven Years' War. Frederick was the last Hohenzollern monarc…Frederick the Great
What did Frederick the Great say about history?
This interesting story is detailed in the Eminent Spirits Appear to Wilford Woodruff wiki. A student of history, Frederick II of Prussia, often called Frederick the Great, concluded that history was an excellent teacher but drew few pupils. He wrote: “It is in the nature of man that no one learns from experience.
Who is Fredrick the Great?
Frederick was born into the House of Hohenzollern, a major German dynasty. Hohenzollerns became kings, dukes, and emperors in the region from the establishment of the dynasty in the 11 th century until the overthrow of the German aristocracy in the wake of World War I in 1918.
What did Frederick the Great say about audacious generals?
So confident in the performance of men he selected for command when compared to those of his enemy, Frederick once quipped that a general considered audacious in another country would be ordinary in Prussia because Prussian generals will dare and undertake anything that is possible for men to execute.
How did Frederick the great use his army?
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.
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What is Frederick the Great famous for?
His most significant accomplishments include his military successes in the Silesian wars, his re-organisation of the Prussian Army, the First Partition of Poland, and his patronage of the arts and the Enlightenment.
Did Frederick the Great allow freedom of speech?
Frederick gave his state a modern bureaucracy, reformed the judicial system, and made it possible for men not of noble stock to become judges and senior bureaucrats. He also allowed freedom of speech, the press, and literature, and abolished most uses of judicial torture.
What language did Frederick the Great speak?
The cosmopolitan ruler - affectionately nicknamed Frederick the Great by his subjects - seldom spoke German. Instead, he preferred to speak and write in French, but was also versed in English, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese. Arguably his favorite language of all, though, was music.
What did Alexander the Great say?
I am not afraid of an army of lions led by a sheep; I am afraid of an army of sheep led by a lion. There is nothing impossible to him who will try. Remember upon the conduct of each depends the fate of all.
What did Frederick Douglass believe was the key to freedom?
Frederick Douglass rose from slavery to become the leading African-American voice of the nineteenth century. At an early age, he realized that his ability to read was the key to freedom.
Why did Frederick the Great ban?
In Prussia, King Frederick the Great staunchly forbid coffee drinking in 1777 because he thought it was impacting beer sales. Throughout the 18th century, women in Europe rallied against the drink, which they thought was causing their men to become impotent, National Geographic reports.
How tall was Frederick the Great?
5 ft 3 inThe king was about 1.60 m (5 ft 3 in) tall himself. He tried to obtain them by any means, including recruiting them from the armies of other countries.
Who is King of Prussia?
King of Prussia's name comes from an inn and tavern opened in 1769 in a converted farmhouse originally built by Welsh Quakers in 1719. The owner named his tavern to honor King Frederick II of Prussia, an eighteenth-century monarch who opposed Britain's imperial ambitions.
What are 3 facts about Frederick the Great?
5 Interesting Facts About Frederick the GreatDespite being known as a brilliant commander, his first battle was an embarrassment. ... He is the first Prussian king to use the title “King of Prussia” instead of “King in Prussia”. ... His famous palace, Sanssouci, was one of the intellectual centers of Europe.More items...•
What are 5 famous quotes?
Quotes by Famous PeopleThe greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall. - ... The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing. - ... Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. ... If life were predictable it would cease to be life, and be without flavor. -More items...•
Who said to the strongest?
As Alexander the Great lay on his deathbed in 323 B.C., his generals reportedly asked to whom he left his empire. "To the strongest," Alexander said, according to historians.
What was Alexander the Great's last word?
After Alexander's death, his successor was unclear. His generals alleged that his last words were “to the strongest,” meaning that his empire would go to the general who could defeat the others in battle.
What did Frederick Douglass say about free speech?
In December 1860, the great American orator and former slave Frederick Douglass delivered one of his finest speeches, “A Plea for Free Speech in Boston.” In it, he boldly declared that “liberty is meaningless where the right to utter one's thoughts and opinions has ceased to exist.”
How did Frederick Douglass feel about freedom?
Douglass believed that the right to liberty was a natural right, which had been clearly articulated in the Declaration of Independence. Disagreeing with Garrison, Douglass further believed that those who wrote the U.S. Constitution had intended to put slavery on a course of ultimate extinction.
What does freedom mean to Frederick Douglass?
Frederick Douglass believed that freedom meant that a human should be able to make a choice without constraint of coercion being placed on them. Douglass, who was born into slavery in 1818, escaped bondage in 1838 and soon emerged as one of the nation's post powerful abolitionists.
How did Frederick the Great affect society?
Domestically, Frederick's Enlightenment influence was more evident. He reformed the military and government, established religious tolerance and granted a basic form of freedom of the press. He bolstered the legal system and established the first German code of law.
What is Frederick II known for?
Frederick II, king of Prussia (1740–86), was a brilliant military campaigner who, in a series of diplomatic stratagems and wars against Austria and...
When was Frederick II born?
Frederick II was born on January 24, 1712, in Berlin, Prussia (now in Germany).
When did Frederick II ascend the throne?
Frederick II ascended the throne, becoming the king of Prussia, in 1740, following the death of his father, Frederick William I.
What was Frederick the Great's greatest achievement?
Frederick’s greatest achievement was perhaps the creation of effective government bureaucracy, which became the model for the nineteenth century, and laws establishing religious and social freedoms, which were fundamental in defining the concept of liberty. Frederick the Great was a renaissance man in the Age of Reason.
How did the American cause during the American War of Independence benefit?
The American cause during the American War of Independence benefitted greatly from examining the lessons of Frederick the Great. In fact, it also directly benefitted from one of Frederick’s former officers. A onetime protege of Frederick's, von Steuben left the Prussian army during peacetime looking for employment.
What was Frederick the Great's father's military exploits?
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 ...
What war did Prussia fight in?
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 American War for Independence, including George Washington.
What was Frederick the Young interested in?
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. Artistic and philosophical interests aside, Frederick clearly learned much about warfare as well. When he became king, he quickly demonstrated it.
What was Frederick's military concept called?
Frederick made considerable use of a military concept known as "interior lines, " where a central force can rapidly mobilize against a series of enemies around the periphery who cannot coordinate their attacks and bring overwhelming numbers against the central opponent. - The Seven Years War, Interior Lines. Courtesy, the Department of History, United States Military Academy.
What were the most important neighbors of Prussia?
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. The young Frederick was more interested in the arts and philosophy than learning.
How did King Frederick II reform the army?
His father died in 1740, and as the new king Frederick began his sweeping reform by dismantling his father’s “giant” regiment. The ruling powers of Europe saw this action and hoped that in King Frederick II they had a weak ruler who might be overpowered. But in this hope they were sadly mistaken. Frederick knew their intent and established an elaborate network of spies. He did not disband the army as many had hoped, but doubled its size and readiness.
What did Frederick the Great do for history?
The follies of the father are lost on their children; each generation has to commit its own.” Frederick’s own knowledge of history led him to establish a new era. In his memoirs of the House of Brandenburg, written in 1758, he wrote a startling new philosophy of state that the ruler was in reality the servant of his state. The concept of royalty serving the people was unknown to the people of that age. Frederick helped inaugurate the age of enlightenment. The rulers of state could not easily turn their backs on this leadership style for Frederick proved it so highly successful.
Why was Frederick the Great considered a heartless man?
Because of his restraint for the sake of the ruling position of the country , Frederick is often seen as heartless and without personal attachment. But there were two people we know for whom he held great tenderness and affection this was his sister and his mother. When his mother approached him after he had been made king, she addressed him as “Your Majesty.” He responded to her, “Call me son; that is the title of all others most agreeable to me!” He also refused to have her called “Queen Dowager” as was tradition for widowed queens. Her title was to be “Her Majesty the Queen Mother.” He never approached her except with his hat in his hand, and when in Berlin regardless of how busy he was, he seldom failed to visit her daily.
What did Nebuchadnezzar say in his dream?
He knew what he had to do. He said; “The ox must plow the furrow, the nightingale must sing, the dolphin must swim and I must fight.” And then prophetically he announced: “This small event changes the entire system of Europe. It is the little stone which Nebuchadnezzar saw, in his dream, loosening itself, and rolling down on the image made of four metals, which it shivers to ruin.
What was Frederick's tolerance?
Frederick’s tolerance extended to the press and he made one of the first attempts to give freedom to the press. This freedom, however, was not the freedom of the press we experience today; nevertheless, in practice it always had some from of a real existence throughout his reign.
Who was the eminent spirit that appeared to Wilford Woodruff?
Frederick the Great is one of the eminent spirits who appeared to President Wilford Woodruff in the St. George Temple ( Latter-day Saint, LDS) on August 21, 1877. This interesting story is detailed in the Eminent Spirits Appear to Wilford Woodruff wiki.
Who was Frederick's friend?
By the time Frederick was eighteen, he had determined to flee to his relatives in England. With the help of his loyal friend, Lieutenant Latte , Frederick reached the borders of Prussia, but the pair were discovered by the King and both were locked up and placed under guard. Latte was marched in front of young Frederick’s door and executed by order of the Kings. A tribunal was held on young Frederick, and he was sentenced to die. Through the pleading of the kings of Sweden, Austria, and others, the crown prince was saved.
What does "l'audace" mean?
L’audace! L’audace! Toujouts l’audace! A quote by Frederick the great referred to by general Patton. It literally means audacity audacity always audacity. I’m more comfortable translation would be boldness boldness always boldness!
Why did Frederick speak French?
Frederick came before Napoleon. He spoke French because that was the language of the Prussian court during Frederick's day.
Do dignified enter the game?
The dignified don't even enter in the game.
Who said "Patton"?
George c Scott said it in the film Patton, with him playing the lead role.
Who was the French intellectual who spent a great deal of time with Voltaire?
Frederick the great respected french intellect. He spent a great deal of time with Voltaire.
When did Frederick II ascend the throne?
Frederick II, byname Frederick the Great, German Friedrich der Grosse, (born January 24, 1712, Berlin, Prussia [Germany]—died August 17, 1786, Potsdam, near Berlin), king of Prussia (1740–86), a brilliant military campaigner who, in a series of diplomatic stratagems and wars against Austria and other powers, greatly enlarged Prussia’s territories and made Prussia the foremost military power in Europe. An enlightened absolute monarch, he favoured French language and art and built a French Rococo palace, Sanssouci, near Berlin.
What was Frederick's first victory?
The first military victory of Frederick’s reign was the battle of Mollwitz (April 1741), though it owed nothing to his own leadership; in October Maria Theresa, now threatened by a hostile coalition of France, Spain, and Bavaria, had to agree to the Convention of Klein-Schnellendorf, by which Frederick was allowed to occupy the whole of Lower Silesia. However, the Habsburg successes against the French and Bavarians that followed so alarmed Frederick that early in 1742 he invaded Moravia, the region south of Silesia, which was under Austrian rule. His rather incomplete victory at Chotusitz in May nonetheless forced Maria Theresa to cede almost all of Silesia by the Treaty of Berlin of 1742 in July. This once more allowed Habsburg forces to be concentrated against France and Bavaria, and 1743 and the early months of 1744 saw Maria Theresa’s position in Germany become markedly stronger. Frederick, again alarmed by this, invaded Bohemia in August 1744 and rapidly overran it. However, by the end of the year lack of French support and threats to his lines of communication had forced him to retreat. Moreover, the elector Augustus III (king of Poland and the elector of Saxony) now joined Maria Theresa in attacking him in Silesia. He was rescued from this threatening situation by the prowess of his army; victories at Hohenfriedberg in June 1745 and at Soor in September were followed by a Prussian invasion of Saxony. The Treaty of Dresden, signed on December 25, 1745, finally established Prussian rule in Silesia and ended for the time being the complex series of struggles that had begun five years earlier.
What was Frederick the Third?
Frederick, the third king of Prussia, ranks among the two or three dominant figures in the history of modern Germany. Under his leadership Prussia became one of the great states of Europe. Its territories were greatly increased and its military strength displayed to striking effect. From early in his reign Frederick achieved a high reputation as a military commander, and the Prussian army rapidly became a model admired and imitated in many other states. He also emerged quickly as a leading exponent of the ideas of enlightened government, which were then becoming influential throughout much of Europe; indeed, his example did much to spread and strengthen those ideas. Notably, his insistence on the primacy of state over personal or dynastic interests and his religious toleration widely affected the dominant intellectual currents of the age. Even more than his younger contemporaries, Catherine II the Great of Russia and Joseph II in the Habsburg territories, it was Frederick who, during the mid-18th century, established in the minds of educated Europeans a notion of what “enlightened despotism” should be. His actual achievements, however, were sometimes less than they appeared on the surface; indeed, his inevitable reliance on the landowning officer (Junker) class set severe limits in several respects to what he could even attempt. Nevertheless, his reign saw a revolutionary change in the importance and prestige of Prussia, which was to have profound implications for much of the subsequent history of Europe.
What was Maria Theresa's goal in 1748?
He was well aware, however, that his situation was far from secure. Maria Theresa was determined to recover Silesia , and the peace she signed with France and Spain at Aix-la-Chapelle in 1748 allowed her to accelerate significant improvements in the administration of her territories and the organization of her army.
What province did the Hohenzollerns attack?
He therefore decided shortly after the emperor’s death to attack the Habsburg province of Silesia , a wealthy and strategically important area to which the Hohenzollerns, the ruling family of Prussia, had dynastic claims, though weak ones.
What was the Treaty of Dresden?
The Treaty of Dresden, signed on December 25, 1745, finally established Prussian rule in Silesia and ended for the time being the complex series of struggles that had begun five years earlier . Silesia was a valuable acquisition, being more developed economically than any other major part of the Hohenzollern dominions.
What did Britain do to Russia in 1755?
In September 1755 Britain signed an agreement with Russia by which Russia, in return for British subsidies, was to provide a large military force in its Baltic provinces to protect, if necessary, the electorate of Hanover, ruled by George II, against possible French or Prussian attack.
What was the name of the war that saw Austria and Russia allied with France and Russia?
In 1756 Europe’s longstanding alliances reshuffled during the so-called Diplomatic Revolution , which saw Austria allied with France and Russia as Prussia sided with England. Frederick, who had used the years of peace to build and train an army of 154,000, launched a preemptive attack on Austria’s ally Saxony in 1756. In the years of war that followed, Frederick racked up daring tactical victories, but often at great cost to the dwindling Prussian forces. For Prussia, the war was a stalemate mercifully ended by Russia’s sudden 1762 withdrawal—termed the “Miracle of the House of Brandenburg”—following the ascension of Czar Peter III.
What was the name of the country that Frederick II invaded?
Frederick II took the throne on May 31, 1740, and immediately launched an unprovoked attack on the Austrian region of Silesia (in what is now southwestern Poland), triggering the eight-year War of Austrian Succession. With an army drilled to perfection by his late father, Frederick annexed and held Silesia and invaded Bohemia with an army of 140,000. He was driven back in Bohemia, but a series of quick Austrian defeats in 1748 led to treaty negotiations.
What war did Frederick the Great win?
Frederick the Great: The War of Austrian Succession. Frederick the Great: The Seven Years’ War. Frederick the Great: Legacy. Frederick II (1712-1786) ruled Prussia from 1740 until his death, leading his nation through multiple wars with Austria and its allies.
Where was Frederick the Great born?
The future Frederick the Great was born on January 24, 1712, in Berlin, Prussia, the son of Frederick Wilhelm I, a Calvinist who ruled his household and kingdom with a stern, paternal intolerance of frivolity. When the young Frederick showed talents for music and languages, his father prescribed military training. At age 18 Frederick attempted to escape to England—where his maternal grandfather George I was king—in search of personal freedom and a new Prussian alliance with the British. He was caught, court-martialed and forced by his father to watch as his best friend was decapitated.
When did Frederick II take power?
Frederick II took the throne on May 31, 1740, and immediately launched an unprovoked attack on the Austrian region of Silesia (in what is now southwestern Poland), triggering the eight-year War of Austrian Succession.
Which country allied with France and Russia in 1756?
In 1756 Europe’s longstanding alliances reshuffled during the so-called Diplomatic Revolution, which saw Austria allied with France and Russia as Prussia sided with England. Frederick, who had used the years of peace to build and train an army of 154,000, launched a preemptive attack on Austria ’s ally Saxony in 1756.
Who was the father of Prussian militarism?
Frederick is often remembered as the father of Prussian militarism, but Prussia’s location as a border state between larger empires meant that frequent wars were hardly a new phenomenon. Still, Frederick ’s long reign unified Enlightenment rationalism and military tradition, yielding a highly trained army and a militaristic system of public education.
What was Frederick's occupation of Saxony?
The Seven Years War. In 1756 Frederick once again surprised the world with his occupation of Saxony, which was officially neutral. Frederick acted in response to a political environment that saw many of the European powers arrayed against him; he suspected his enemies would move against him and so acted first, but miscalculated and was nearly destroyed. He managed to fight the Austrians well enough to force a peace treaty that returned the borders to their 1756 status. Although Frederick had failed to retain Saxony, he did hold onto Silesia, which was remarkable considering he’d come very close to losing the war outright.
What was Frederick the Great known for?
Also Known As: Frederick William II; Friedrich (Hohenzollern) von Preußen. Legacy: Transformed Germany into a world power; modernized the legal system; and promoted freedom of the press, religious tolerance, and the rights of citizens.
Why was Frederick the king of Prussia?
He was officially known as King in Prussia, not King of Prussia, because he only inherited a portion of what was traditionally known as Prussia— the lands and titles he assumed in 1740 were actually a series of small areas often separated by large areas not under his control.
What was Frederick's military success?
Frederick’s military successes and expansion of Prussian power led indirectly to the establishment of the German Empire in the late 19 th century (through the efforts of Otto von Bismarck ), and thus in some ways to the two World Wars and the rise of Nazi Germany.
What was the legacy of Prussia?
Legacy: Transformed Germany into a world power; modernized the legal system; and promoted freedom of the press, religious tolerance, and the rights of citizens.
What was Frederick's first move?
Frederick’s first move was to challenge the ascension of Maria Theresa as the head of the House of Hapsburg, including the title of Holy Roman Empress.
Who is Jeff Somers?
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. Born in 1712, Frederick William II, known as Frederick the Great, was the third Hohenzollern King of Prussia. Although Prussia had been an influential ...
as King of Prussia
- Having traveled rather extensively throught the land as crown-prince, he was a keen observer of the conditions of the people. After opening the granaries he appointed an “Inspector of the Poor” who was charged to do something immediatly; particularly to assist the poor, helpless women. “The destitute of Berlin” were “set to spin” at Frederick’s exp...
Education
- Education was especially important to him, and in this cause he was very active. Every child in Prussia, from five to fourteen was to attend school. It is said that he founded as many as sixty schools in one year. Because of his military leanings, old soldiers were appointed as schoolmasters and Latin was dropped from curriculum. Much of the learning was in military drill …
Presumption of “Heartlessness”
- Because of his restraint for the sake of the ruling position of the country, Frederick is often seen as heartless and without personal attachment. But there were two people we know for whom he held great tenderness and affection this was his sister and his mother. When his mother approached him after he had been made king, she addressed him as “Your Majesty.” He respon…
Royal Family
- Frederick’s mother was the Princess Sophia-Dorothea, daughter of King George I of England, who was actually a German from the Hanoverian line. Frederick was born on 12 January 1712. His father, Frederick William, was terribly disappointed in his son’s below average size. His father was further annoyed when his son spent his days in a dressing gown, reading French history, philoso…
Military
- Though young Frederick wasn’t the least bit interested in military drill he was forced to memorize the entire military history of the royal family in detail. Because his father considered many of Frederick’s actions effeminate, he abused his son. He forbade Frederick, eventually, to read or study in French. And when he did not measure up, his father shouted at him in public and often …
Escape and Capture
- By the time Frederick was eighteen, he had determined to flee to his relatives in England. With the help of his loyal friend, Lieutenant Latte, Frederick reached the borders of Prussia, but the pair were discovered by the King and both were locked up and placed under guard. Latte was marched in front of young Frederick’s door and executed by order of the Kings. A tribunal was h…
Freeing Silesia
- In 1741, he entered with his army into the province of Silesia, which is now part of Czechoslovakia, and took possession of the whole of it. Silesia at this time was part of Ausrtia. This invasion had often been called the most unwarranted act in history. However, it was not without its precedent in Europe. At one time Silesia had its own ruling family. Austria was devout…
Seven Years War
- So began the Seven Years Wars, the war that changed the face of Europe, breaking down the old and setting up the new. Though Frederick’s army was set against the major armies of Europe, he prevailed, outnumbered by more that two to one. A brilliant strategist, he was not afraid of his purpose and personally led his army. In one skirmish he had two horses shot out from under him…