Frederick the Great

By s-smikkelson

  • The birth of Frederick

    Frederick the II was born on the 24th of January 1712 in Berlin, Germany.

  • The birth of Frederick

    Frederick the II was born on the 24th of January 1712 in Berlin, Germany.

  • Escape

    Frederick at the age of 18 attempted to escape to England where his maternal grandfather king George I was king, he was caught and court-martialed and was forced to watch his best friend to be decapitated.

  • Frederick gets married

    In 1733 Frederick got married to Elizabeth of Brunswick-Bevern in a political union

  • The Prince

    In 1739; Frederick published a philosophical argument of Niccolo Machiavelli, and this argument made Frederick the main idea for "The Prince"

  • Throne

    Frederick took his fathers throne in 1740 and immediately launched an attack against Austrian region of Silesia, this triggered the war of Austrian Succession.

  • Post war

    After the war of Austrian succession Frederick enacted a bunch of major reforms and domestic projects to help revamp Prussia's justice system along "Enlightenment lines", he banned torture, and argued for a uniform national criminal code. Along with working to economically consolidate Prussia and gain control of the press.

  • The Seven Years War

    In 1756 Europe's alliances changed, which caused Austria to be allied with France and Russia. The war ended in 1762 for Prussia when Russia withdrew.

  • The end of the Seven Years War

    The formal end of the War

  • Raison d’état (the needs of the state)

    This policy was officially put into place which had Frederick make sure his subjects were happy so he could govern more efficiently.

  • Death

    Frederick the Great died at Sansssouci in his Rococo palace on August 17th, 1786. He left a legacy of military prowess and political leadership.