Frederick II, known as Frederick the Great 1712-86
King of Prussia

Frederick was born in Berlin, the son of Frederick William I, and of Sophia-Dorothea, daughter of George I of Great Britain. His early years were devoted to military training and a rigid system of education, against which he initially rebelled to no avail. In 1733 he dutifully accepted as his bride the Princess Elizabeth of Brunswick-Wolfenb�ttel (1715-97), and he was restored to favour.

From 1734 Frederick resided at Rheinsberg, where he avidly studied music and French literature. He achieved a high level of proficiency on the flute, and some of his music is still played. He corresponded with Voltaire, who in 1750 visited Berlin, and studied his work. On 31 May 1740 Frederick became king; and in October the accession of Maria Theresa separated the Crown of Austria from the imperial diadem. Frederick, in possession of a fine army and a well-filled treasury, seized the opportunity. He entered Silesia (December 1740), defeated the Austrians at Mollwitz (1741) and Chotusitz (1742), and, after concluding an alliance for 15 years with France, forced Maria Theresa to yield him Upper and Lower Silesia by the Treaty of Breslau (1742).

The second Silesian War (1744-45) left Frederick with increased territories and a reputation as one of the first military commanders of the day. The next 11 years were years of peace; but Frederick's energetic internal reforms were coloured by the expectation of renewed war. In 1756 the third Silesian War, the 'Seven Years War', began. Frederick anticipated attack by himself taking the offensive, and during all this momentous struggle displayed great courage and military genius.

In 1772 he shared in the first partition of Poland, by which he acquired Polish Prussia and a portion of Great Poland. In 1778 he completed the acquisition of the Franconian duchies. One of his last political actions was the formation of the 'F�rstenbund', which marked the emergence of Prussia as a rival to Austria for the lead in Germany.

Frederick was an able administrator, and contrived to carry on his wars without incurring any debt. He regarded himself as the first servant of the state, and he governed Prussia as one huge camp. With a view to providing treasure for future wars he fostered woollen and other manufactures by a high protective tariff, but he made himself unpopular by the introduction of the French excise system.

During Frederick's reign the country rapidly recovered from the ravages of war, while the army was raised to a strength of 200,000 men. By the end of his reign the area of Prussia had doubled, and, despite a temporary eclipse under Napoleon I, the foundation of Prussia's greatness was laid. Frederick was essentially a just, if somewhat austere man, and the administration of justice under his rule was pure; the press enjoyed comparative freedom; and freedom of conscience was promoted.

Bibliography: Frederick was a prolific writer on political, historical and military subjects. He wrote wholly in French, and his works were published by the Berlin Academy (31 vols, 1846-57), as was his Political Correspondence (1879 onward). See also R B Asprey, Frederick the Great (1988); E Simon, The Making of Frederick the Great (1974); Thomas Carlyle, The History of Friedrich II of Prussia, Called Frederick the Great (6 vols, 1858-65, reprinted 8 vols, 1974).