Frederick II

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 age. Odysseus, an epic hero, spent ten years away from home fighting in the Trojan War. On his way back home to his palace in Ithaca he and his men faced many obstacles. Homer’s epic poem, The Odyssey, tells Odysseus’ stories of his many encounters with…

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…

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…

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…

Pier delle Vigna was inappropriately charged with the attempted murder of Frederick II, Holy Roman emperor and king of Sicily. He was conspired against by envious people who wanted to see an end to his greatness. Once charged, Pier was jailed, beaten, and had his eyes viciously removed from his skull, blinding him. He saw no hope for his future, and therefore ended his life, by bashing his head against the wall until his brain leapt from his cranium. Pier was the victim of political envy, which…

unmannered people are guarded over by a worm-like Cerberus creature and the slush sinners are forced to lie in nasty slush, followed by never ending icy rain. This symbolizes overindulgence in cuisine, wine and other pleasures. The sinners also are not aware of each other, suggesting their indifference and egoism. The fourth circle is much like the third and greedy people who hoard or lavishly spend are sent here. The people are forced to push weights, which insinuates their selfish ambition for…

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…

He did not limit his reforms to appease the nobility in order for his success like Catherine II, but fought against them. Despite his alienation from the nobility and the church, he was successful in his reforms during his lifetime. He drastically changed the Austrian Empire by abolishing serfdom, allowing religious toleration, and annulling the death penalty. Most importantly, Joseph II believed that everyone had the same basic rights and that the government may not interfere with them. His…

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…

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…