Table of Contents
What type of ruler was Frederick the Great?
An enlightened absolute monarch, he favoured French language and art and built a French Rococo palace, Sanssouci, near Berlin. 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.
What are three things Frederick believes a good monarch would do?
They must be active, hard- working, upright and honest, and concentrate all their strength upon filling their office worthily.
What did Frederick the Great say was a fundamental rule of government?
His rule must be personal. He must not rely on ministers who were likely to be influenced by selfish ambitions or factional feeling and who might well keep important information from their master if they were allowed to. Personal rule alone could produce the unity and consistency essential to any successful policy.
What qualities indicate that Frederick II was an enlightened ruler?
He was ‘enlightened’ and established a single code of laws for his territories that eliminated the use of torture (except in treason and murder), gave limited freedom of speech/press, and complete religious toleration.
Who succeeded Frederick the Great?
Frederick William II
| Frederick the Great | |
|---|---|
| Successor | Frederick William II |
| Born | 24 January 1712 Berlin, Kingdom of Prussia |
| Died | 17 August 1786 (aged 74) Potsdam, Kingdom of Prussia |
| Burial | Sanssouci, Potsdam |
How did Frederick the Great centralize power?
He worked to economically consolidate Prussia, lowering internal duties, building canals to encourage trade and enacting protective tariffs. Frederick built up Berlin as a cultural capital with grand buildings and rejuvenated the scientific work of the Berlin Academy.
What is Frederick the Great known for?
Frederick II, known as Frederick the Great, was Prussia’s king from 1740 to 1786. By winning wars and expanding territories, he established Prussia as a strong military power.
How tall was Frederick the Great?
5 ft 3 in
The 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.
How did Frederick the Great rule?
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.
What were Frederick William’s policies?
Prussia’s commercial policies were strictly mercantilist, encouraging industry and manufacture, especially the wool industry, which clothed the king’s army. Convinced that an efficient state could not afford illiterate subjects, Frederick William instituted compulsory primary education in 1717.
What did Frederick the Great do for the enlightenment?
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 did Joseph II do for the enlightenment?
The Enlightened Despot Joseph’s reforms included abolishing serfdom, ending press censorship and limiting the power of the Catholic Church. And with his Edict of Toleration, Joseph gave minority religions, such as Protestants, Greek Orthodox and Jews, the ability to live and worship more freely.