Frederick II of Prussia

Frederick II of Prussia (January 24, 1712–August 17, 1786) was a king of Prussia from the Hohenzollern dynasty, reigning from 1740 to 1786. He was one of the so-called "enlightened monarchs" (also refered to as "enlightened despots"). Because of his accomplishments he became known as Frederick the Great (German Friedrich der Große).

Early years

Frederick was the son of Frederick William I, the so-called "Soldier-King," who created a formidable army and efficient civil service. His mother was Sophia Dorothea of Hanover (1687–1757). Unlike her husband, Sophia was well-mannered and well-educated. Frederick was brought up by Huguenot governesses and tutors and learned French and German simultaneously.

Related Topics:
Frederick William I - Sophia Dorothea of Hanover - 1687 - 1757 - Huguenot - Governess - Tutor - French

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As Crown Prince, Frederick displayed passionate interests in French literature, poetry, philosophy, and Italian music. This roused the suspicions of his father, who wanted to see his son follow more masculine pursuits like hunting, riding, and beer-drinking. He called his son "an effeminate chap," and subjected him to bloody and humiliating beatings. When he was 18, Frederick plotted to flee to England with a group of friends, all junior army officers. But he botched his escape, and was arrested with friend (and possibly lover) Hans Hermann von Katte. An accusation of treason was leveled against both the prince and Katte since they were officers in the Prussian army and had tried to flee from Prussia, allegedly even having hatched a plan to ally with the United Kingdom against the Prussian king. The prince was threatened with the death penalty, and the king did not rule out an execution. The proud prince had to submit to his father's demands. Frederick was forced to watch the execution by decapitation of his friend Katte on November 6, 1730, and was strictly supervised in the following years.

Related Topics:
Crown Prince - Literature - Poetry - Philosophy - Italian - Music - England - Hans Hermann von Katte - United Kingdom - November 6 - 1730

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The only way that Frederick atoned (and regained his title of crown prince) for this in his father's eyes was in his marriage to Elisabeth Christine von Braunschweig-Bevern on June 12 1733. The involuntary matrimony did not lead to children as after becoming king, Frederick mostly ignored his wife. Some sources (Voltaire) indicate that Frederick was homosexual, it remains unclear whether he ever acted upon these supposed tendencies.

Related Topics:
Elisabeth Christine von Braunschweig-Bevern - June 12 - 1733 - Voltaire - Homosexual

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After the crisis in the relationship with the King in the early 1730s, father and son made a chilly peace in the late 1730s. Frederick William gave his son the chateau Rheinsberg north of Berlin. In Rheinsberg Frederick assembled a small number of musicians, actors and other artists. He spent his time reading, watching dramatic plays, making and listening to music, and regarded this time as one of the happiest of his life.

Related Topics:
1730s - Chateau - Rheinsberg - Berlin - Actor - Play

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The works of Niccolò Machiavelli, such as The Prince, were considered a guideline for the behavior of a king in Frederick's age. In 1739, Frederick finished his "Antimachiavel, ou Examen du Prince de Machiavel" - a writing in which he opposes Machiavelli. It was published anonymously in 1740.

Related Topics:
Niccolò Machiavelli - The Prince - 1739 - Antimachiavel - Anonymously - 1740

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