Frederick the Great
An Enlightenment autocrat who transformed Prussia into a military powerhouse while composing flute sonatas and debating philosophy with Voltaire.
1712–1786 (age 74)·King of Prussia from 1740 to 1786·Birthday: January 24
Biography
Frederick II of Prussia began his reign in 1740 as a philosopher-king enthusiast, immediately shocking Europe by invading Silesia and triggering a series of wars that would define his legacy. A complex contradiction, he was a ruthless military tactician who drilled his army to a state of fearsome efficiency, yet he corresponded with Enlightenment thinkers, reformed legal codes, and promoted religious tolerance. His long rule was marked by constant conflict, from the brutal Seven Years' War—where he narrowly saved Prussia from collapse—to the cynical partition of Poland that expanded his territory. He ruled from the spartan palace of Sanssouci, which he designed, where he played the flute and wrote voluminous histories. By his death, he had doubled Prussia's size and forged it into a state respected and feared for its discipline, setting the stage for future German unification.
#1 When Frederick Was Born
The biggest hits of 1712
Frederick's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1712Born
1717Started school
1725Became a teenager
1728Could drive
1730Could vote
1733Turned 21
1742Turned 30
1752Turned 40
1762Turned 50
1772Turned 60
1782Turned 70
1786Died at 74
Key Achievements
- Led Prussia to victory in the Silesian Wars and successfully defended it during the Seven Years' War.
- Oversaw the First Partition of Poland in 1772, dramatically expanding Prussian territory.
- Implemented significant legal reforms, codifying Prussian law and abolishing torture for most crimes.
- Established himself as a major patron of the arts and sciences, founding the Berlin Academy of Sciences.
Did You Know?
He was an accomplished flutist and composer, writing over 100 sonatas and four symphonies.
He preferred speaking and writing in French, considering German the language of his soldiers and stable boys.
His father, Frederick William I, once imprisoned him for attempting to flee the country as a young prince.
He was a lifelong owner of Italian greyhounds, and his will requested he be buried next to them at Sanssouci.
“A crown is merely a hat that lets the rain in.”
