Frederick II of Prussia
Frederick the Great made Prussia a great power and held it against three empires. Born in Berlin in 1712, he was tormented by a father who despised his interest in music and French literature, beat him publicly, and in 1730, after Frederick tried to flee to England with his friend Hans Hermann von Katte, had Katte beheaded in the courtyard beneath his window and required him to watch. He submitted, learned administration, and on his accession in 1740 invaded Silesia within months — an unprovoked seizure of Austria's richest province that doubled Prussia's population and started two wars. He beat the Austrians at Mollwitz, Chotusitz and Hohenfriedberg, and kept Silesia. The Seven Years' War from 1756 pitted Prussia against Austria, France, Russia, Sweden and Saxony simultaneously. He won at Rossbach and Leuthen in 1757 — the second by the oblique order, marching across the Austrian front concealed by hills and concentrating everything on one flank — and was nearly destroyed at Kunersdorf in 1759. He survived because the Russian empress died in 1762 and her successor admired him and withdrew. He was an enlightened despot in a genuine sense: he abolished judicial torture, permitted religious toleration including for Catholics and Jesuits, subsidised agriculture and drained marshes, and codified the law. He also partitioned Poland with Russia and Austria in 1772, taking West Prussia. He wrote in French, played and composed for the flute, corresponded with Voltaire until they quarrelled, and called himself the first servant of the state. He died in 1786. He asked to be buried beside his dogs at Sanssouci, and was, two centuries later.
- Lived: 1712 CE – 1786 CE
- Nationality: Prussian
- Roles: king_of_prussia, military_leader, philosopher_king
