Frederick William II of Prussia

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…

Historians often refer to absolutist monarch Joseph II of Austria (1741-1790) as an enlightened despot due to the numerous social reforms he instilled during his reign. Joseph commissioned countless works of propaganda that showcase his enlightened ideology, yet it is through one of these images that one can also see the ironies that invalidate the possibility of an effective enlightened despot. The authority of a despot relies on his ability to secure his own power, while a true Enlightenment…

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.…

After a military success conquering Saxony on September 10, Frederick II, King of Prussia wrote on October 26, 1756, “The enemy apparently made more mistakes than my officers, to the point where, this year, we have succeeded. However, this whole campaign is but the arrangement of the chessboard. This coming year, the game will begin and it is a difficult task that I have proposed to myself to be wise still.” Frederick had now to await the forthcoming of the next campaign, when France, Austria,…

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…

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…

Though the painting is of a real palace, the composition is teeming with the lush greenery, almost to the point of an excess of foliage. This abundance of flora mirrors perhaps nostalgic attitudes for the more economically prosperous times of Prussia, when the state was abundant with greenery in the form of wealth and power in comparison to the other Germanic states. To accentuate this point, Blechen 's composition includes a ceiling-to-floor perspective, utilizing the small four figures in the…

Authors Herold and Roberts debated the legacy of Napoleon, each choosing very different opinions about his decisions as a ruler. Events such as John Hunter’s nightly sojourns as a body snatcher, Fredrick the Great and his Father’s experiences in Prussia, and Great Britain’s road-building parliament exemplify the themes of the 18th century enlightenment. John Hunter was a surgeon who lived during the 18th century enlightenment. Often known as the father of modern surgery, he showed some of the…

countries. In France, the power of the nobility was limited by the monarch. Louis XIV built the Versailles Palace as a distraction for the noble so they would not interfere with Louis’s political affairs. This differed greatly in eastern Europe. In Prussia, the Junkers, the nobility, formed the backbone of the Prussian military officer unit. They had power and a strong influence in political affairs.The monarch and nobles were basically equal in power which is why it was hard for the monarch to…

The fifth circle is where angry people are sent and they are forced to fight atop the river Styx. In the sixth circle people who have committed heresy, they are forced to burn in flaming tombs for eternity. Dante sees Pope Anastasius II and Roman Emperor Frederick II, along with other historical figures. The eighth circle of hell is for persons who have committed some sort of fraudulence; they are sorted into ten different trenches for each type of fraud committed. In order to pass through this…