Frederick II of Prussia

members who had power were fighting this revolutionary movement so that they could maintain their power. Then, in the enemy countries of Russia and Prussia, came along two monarchs whose views and reforms almost changed everything. These rulers were Frederick II of Prussia and Catherine II of Russia and are now coined with the term “Enlightened Despots.” (Ellis, Esler 191). These monarchs managed to play both sides of the Enlightenment: reform and absolutism. Frederick and Catherine successfully maintained and even gained power while implementing new reforms based on new Enlightenment ideas. In Berlin, Prussia…

ultimate goal for Frederick II was to promote Prussian power and he understood how to set his nation up for success. Frederick directed state funds towards public welfare (McGoldrick, 12). Frederick understood that homes were destroyed by the Seven Years War and helped his people. When people do not have to worry about shelter or their next meal, they become more productive and this results in an overall more productive nation and better economy. After the Seven Years War, Frederick spent large…

October of 1740, Charles VI died. It was time for Maria Theresa, then 23 years old, to succeed to the Habsburg throne. Subjects of her crown lands—the Austrian duchies and Netherlands, and Bohemia and Hungary—were quick to accept Maria Theresa as their empress. But Maria Theresa immediately faced resistance to her succession from European powers who had previously agreed to her father’s Pragmatic Sanction. Under the leadership of Frederick II, King of Prussia, those powers formed a coalition…

Frederick the Great was also successful when the odds were stacked against thanks to luck and his genius. Frederick won the Seven Years War for Prussia (Murphy, 13). Austria’s will to repossess Silesia was a major cause leading up to the Seven Years War. Austria, Russia, France, in Saxony were all allied against Prussia. Great Britain was on Frederick’s side. Frederick understood that these countries did not work well with each other when it came to teamwork and attacked them one at a time…

Frederick II, the 3rd king of Prussia, is among one of the few dominant people in modern Germany's history. Under his rule, Frederick made Prussia one of the great states of Europe. He quickly became known as a good military leader and the Prussian army became a model that was copied by others. He also became a leader for the idea of enlightened government. His example of insisting the state over personal interest and religious toleration spread this idea and effected the main currents of the…

bottom was the way to rule and the society didn’t need to rule with bureaucracy. These absolutists included Catherine II of Russia, Frederick II of Prussia, and Joseph ll of Austria. They followed the acronym of TRAP where, “T” stands for religious views, “R” for reform of institutions, “A” for absolutism, and “P” for patronage of the philosopher. Each of these philosophers had different views on the consolidation of power from each other. Catherine the Great was very light to reform, Frederick…

September 10, Frederick II, King of Prussia wrote on October 26, 1756, “The enemy apparently made more mistakes than my officers, to the point where, this year, we have succeeded. However, this whole campaign is but the arrangement of the chessboard. This coming year, the game will begin and it is a difficult task that I have proposed to myself to be wise still.” Frederick had now to await the forthcoming of the next campaign, when France, Austria, Sweden and Russia would be ready to “enter the…

Frederick II came to his senses that he had to obey his father when he was appointed commander of an infantry regime. Here he learned how to be a good soldier and leader. Over the years Frederick met and exceeded his father’s expectations but at the same time still studied the music and literature he loved (Encyclopedia of World Biography, 3). On May 31, 1740, Frederick II was crowned the King of Prussia after his father had died. (Encyclopedia of World Biography, 6). Frederick proved to be a…

To the people of Fontenay-le-Comte, I thank you all for having provided me with the opportunity to represent you in the National Assembly. In the past few months, I had listened to and voted on each proposition with only your best interest in mind. Despite my efforts, not only have we lost the National Assembly, we have lost our beloved country of France to Austro-Prussia. Despite the loss of our country, I write to you in good faith that the invasion and takeover of France will in fact greatly…

During her reign she made a lot of improvements to Russia that have improved the government and the country for a long time. Then in 1772 she came together with Frederick William II of Prussia and Maria Theresa, the three of them divided a large section of Poland between their three states so Russia grew much bigger than it was before (McGuire 86). Under Catherine’s rule they defeated the Turks so Russia also spread southward to the Black Sea (Spielvogel 410). Many people have said that during…