Frederick William II of Prussia
A Prussian king whose reign was marked by cultural flourishing and personal indulgence, but whose military and financial policies left the state weakened.
1744–1797 (age 53)·King of Prussia from 1786 to 1797·Birthday: September 25
Biography
Frederick William II ascended to the Prussian throne in 1786, inheriting a formidable state built by his austere uncle, Frederick the Great. In stark contrast to his predecessor, he was a patron of the arts and a man of considerable appetites, presiding over a court known for its splendor and his own complicated private life. His reign saw the construction of Berlin's iconic Brandenburg Gate and a golden age for music, with composers like Mozart and Beethoven receiving his support. Yet, politically, his rule was less assured. He pursued costly and ultimately inconclusive wars, intervened against the French Revolution with little success, and allowed the state's finances to decay through mismanagement and his own extravagance. By the time of his death in 1797, Prussia, while culturally enriched, was diplomatically isolated and burdened with debt, setting the stage for future crises.
#1 When Frederick Was Born
The biggest hits of 1744
Frederick's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1744Born
1749Started school
1757Became a teenager
1760Could drive
1762Could vote
1765Turned 21
1774Turned 30
1784Turned 40
1794Turned 50
1797Died at 53
Key Achievements
- Commissioned the construction of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, which became a national symbol.
- Issued the Prussian Religious Edict of 1788, which enforced Lutheran orthodoxy and restricted other faiths.
- Presided over the signing of the Treaty of Reichenbach in 1790, which temporarily averted war with Austria.
- Was a significant patron of composers including Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Ludwig van Beethoven.
Did You Know?
He was a keen cellist and maintained a private orchestra.
He married four times and had several mistresses, most famously Wilhelmine Enke, whom he created Countess of Lichtenau.
He was deeply interested in mysticism and Rosicrucianism, and his court included various spiritual advisors.
Under his rule, the Prussian legal code known as the Allgemeines Preußisches Landrecht was completed and promulgated.
“The state must be administered with mildness and not drained by excessive burdens.”
