But, after the war his kingdom was ravaged, farmlands destroyed, and his subjects were poorer. It was this failure, the war on many fronts, that lead future Prussian war planners and diplomats to the idea of avoiding a 2 front war.

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 …

Frederick’s religious tolerance, however, was genuine: it was one of the things that helped to mark him in the eyes of contemporaries as a truly enlightened ruler. The abolition of judicial torture, one of his first acts as king, also showed his genuine belief in this aspect of enlightened reform.

Frederick is buried at his favourite residence, Sanssouci in Potsdam. Because he died childless, Frederick was succeeded by his nephew, Frederick William II.

In 1749 and 1764 he issued decrees limiting the obligations of the peasant to his lord, and in 1748 he ordered officers not to treat their men “like serfs”; but these were essentially efforts to prevent the plight of the peasant from becoming so desperate that he would be driven into flight and thus jeopardize the …

Frederick II (1712-1786) ruled Prussia from 1740 until his death, leading his nation through multiple wars with Austria and its allies. His daring military tactics expanded and consolidated Prussian lands, while his domestic policies transformed his kingdom into a modern state and formidable European power.

In 1763, Frederick II of Prussia abolished the serfdom on all Crown lands. Additionally, he issued an order to end the suppression of the peasant, relieving him and his children of domestic services to the landlord. As part of these reforms, serfdom was legally abolished throughout the kingdom.

A deist, Frederick prided himself on religious tolerance. When the Jesuits were expelled from Catholic states, he invited them to seek refuge in predominantly Lutheran Prussia. Frederick rendered Prussians a great service by his judicial reforms, which freed the courts from political pressures.

Religious Policies. While Frederick was largely non-practicing (in contrast to his devoutly Calvinist father) and tolerated all faiths in his realm, Protestantism became the favored religion and Catholics were not chosen for higher state positions.

Sanssouci Palace, Potsdam, Germany

Frederick the Great died of natural causes on August 17, 1786. He was 74 years old. Frederick was found sitting in an armchair in his study.

John Brown Steals Frederick the Great’s Sword Robert E. Lee, appointed to command the U.S. troops from Fr. Monroe present in Harpers Ferry, successfully recaptured the armory. Brown was injured and captured. Carrying Frederick’s sword might have helped save his life.

His nephew and successor Frederick William II did not obey these instructions and ordered him to be buried in the Potsdam garrison church (destroyed in 1945) next to his father, the soldier-king Frederick William I.

In fact, the two overriding policies for Frederick were the security of the kingdom and the psychological urge to promote Prussia to establish his military and historical reputation.

Frederick the Great’s Philosophical Writings

German

In 1871, owing to the efforts of Prussian Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, most German principalities were united into the German Empire under Prussian leadership, although this was considered to be a “Lesser Germany” because Austria and Switzerland were not included.