by Scott Mehl © Unofficial Royalty 2013
Kingdom of Prussia: The Protestant Franconian branch of the House of Hohenzollern ruled as Margraves of Brandenburg, Dukes of Prussia, Electors of Brandenburg, Kings of Prussia from 1415 until 1918. In November 1700, in exchange for supporting the Holy Roman Empire in the Spanish War of Succession, Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor agreed to allow Friedrich III, Duke of Prussia, Elector of Brandenburg to make Prussia a kingdom and become its first king. In the aftermath of World War I, Prussia had a revolution that resulted in the replacement of the monarchy with a republic. Wilhelm II, German Emperor, King of Prussia abdicated on November 9, 1918.
The Kingdom of Prussia had territory that today is part of Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Russia, and Switzerland. All or parts of the following states of today’s Germany were part of the Kingdom of Prussia: Brandenburg, Hesse, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Saarland, Saxony-Anhalt, and Schleswig-Holstein.
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Friedrich II, King of Prussia (the Great) – Credit: Wikipedia
King Friedrich II of Prussia, best known as Frederick the Great, was born January 24, 1712, at the Berlin City Palace in Berlin, Kingdom of Prussia, now in Brandenburg, Germany, the eldest surviving son and the fourth of the fourteen children of Friedrich Wilhelm I, King in Prussia and Sophia Dorothea of Hanover, daughter of King George I of Great Britain.
Friedrich had thirteen siblings:
- Friedrich Ludwig (1707 – 1708), died in infancy
- Wilhelmine (1709 – 1758), married Friedrich, Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth, had one child
- Charlotte Albertine (1713 – 1714), died in infancy
- Frederica Louise (1714 – 1784), married Karl Wilhelm Friedrich, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach, had two children
- Philippine Charlotte (1716 – 1801), married Karl I, Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, had thirteen children
- Ludwig Karl Wilhelm (1717 – 1719), died in early childhood
- Sophia Dorothea (1719 – 1765), married Friedrich Wilhelm, Margrave of Brandenburg-Schwedt, Prince in Prussia, had issue
- Louisa Ulrika (1720 – 1782), married Adolf Frederik, King of Sweden, had issue
- Augustus Wilhelm (1722 – 1758), married Duchess Luise of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, had four children including King Friedrich Wilhelm II of Prussia
- Anna Amalia (1723 – 1787), Abbess of Quedlinburg
- Heinrich (1726 – 1802), married Princess Wilhelmina of Hesse-Kassel, no issue
- Augustus Ferdinand (1730 – 1813), married Margravine Elisabeth Louise of Brandenburg-Schwedt, had seven children
Friedrich with his brothers; Credit – Wikipedia
As Crown Prince, Friedrich had a very distant and tense relationship with his father, whose interests varied greatly from the young prince. While his father was interested in all things military, Friedrich’s interests were in the arts, particularly music. However, he enjoyed a very close relationship with his mother. At the age of 18, he attempted to flee Prussia for England but was captured and jailed. His close friend was implicated in the affair and the King had him executed while forcing Friedrich to watch. This would further alienate the father from his son for the rest of his life.
Friedrich’s marriage to Elisabeth Christine; Credit – Wikipedia
On July 12, 1733, Friedrich married Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel-Bevern, but they spent most of their lives separated, seeing each other only a handful of times after he became King. They had no children, and upon becoming King in 1740, Friedrich named his brother Augustus as Crown Prince. Augustus predeceased Friedrich so his son succeeded as King Friedrich Wilhelm II.
Friedrich became King in Prussia in 1740 upon the death of his father Friedrich II. Aside from his promotion of the arts, Friedrich proved himself a skilled military commander and is attributed with great advancements in his kingdom. Through several battles and wars, he united the various parts of his kingdom, taking the title King of Prussia in 1772.
The death of Friedrich; Credit – Wikipedia
Friedrich II died quietly in his study at Sanssouci in Potsdam, Kingdom of Prussia, now in Brandenburg, Germany on August 17, 1786, at the age of 74. He was succeeded by his nephew King Friedrich Wilhelm II. He left strict instructions that he wished to be buried on the grounds of Sanssouci with little fuss or fanfare. However, his nephew had him buried in the Garrison Church in Potsdam with his father. During World War II, his remains were removed and hidden and were later found by American Forces and reburied at St Elisabeth’s Church in Marburg. In 1953, his remains were moved to Hohenzollern Castle where they remained until 1991. Finally, on the 205th anniversary of his death, Fredrick the Great’s wishes were granted. His casket lay in state in the court of honor at Sanssouci with a guard of honor. Late that night, he was laid to rest in the plot he had designated before his death – on the terrace overlooking the vineyards at Sanssouci – near the graves of his beloved dogs.
Grave of Frederick the Great. Photo: Wikipedia
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