Frederick II of Prussia

Who was Frederick II of Prussia?

Frederick II reigned over the Kingdom of Prussia from 1740 until 1786. The third Hohenzollern king, Frederick is best known for his military victories, his reorganization of Prussian armies, his patronage of the Arts and the Enlightenment in Prussia, and his final success against great odds in the Seven Years' War. He became known as Frederick the Great and was nicknamed Der Alte Fritz by his soldiers.

In his youth, Frederick was more interested in music and philosophy than the art of war. He defied his authoritarian father, Frederick William I, and sought to run away with his close friend Hans Hermann von Katte. They were caught and the king nearly executed his son for "desertion"; he did force Frederick to watch the execution of Hans. 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 physically connected most of his realm by conquering Polish territories in the First Partition of Poland.

Famous Quotes:

• They say that kings are made in the image of God. If that is what he looks like, I feel sorry for God.
• In trying to defend everything he defended nothing.
• Every man must get to Heaven his own way.
• If I wished to punish a province, I would have it governed by philosophers.
• Our work is to present things that are as they are.
• I must in the face of a storm, think, live and die as a king.
• I love opposition that has convictions.
• It seems to me that man is made to act rather than to know: the principles of things escape our most persevering researches.
• Don't forget your great guns, which are the most respectable arguments of the rights of kings.
• The greatest and noblest pleasure which men can have in this world is to discover new truths; and the next is to shake off old prejudices.