Frederick William I of Prussia
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Frederick William I of Prussia (in German: Friedrich Wilhelm I), of the House of Hohenzollern, (August 14, 1688 – May 31, 1740), often known as 'the Soldier-King' reigned as King in Prussia (1713 - 1740).
He was born in Berlin to Frederick I of Prussia and Sophia Charlotte of Hanover. His father had successfully acquired the title King for the margraves of Brandenburg.
Frederick William's contributions to the state of Prussia primarily consisted of civil service reforms, developing the (well-deserved) international reputation of the Prussian military, and increasing the overall efficiency and discipline of his military, which in turn placed Prussia as an entity on a par with Early Modern France, the Kingdom of Great Britain, and other politically dominant states in Europe during the 18th century.
During his reign, Frederick William I did much to centralize and improve Prussia. He replaced mandatory military service among the middle class with an annual tax, established primary schools, and resettled East Prussia (which had been devastated by the plague in 1709).
Frederick William was an extremely able administrator. He opposed all superfluous spending, so long as it did not concern his army. Frederick William paid the consumer tax he himself had imposed, and no candles were left burning at court. He lived frugally and worked hard and tirelessly for the welfare of his people. He encouraged farming, reclaimed marshes, stored grain in good times and sold it in bad times. He dictated the manual of Regulations for State Officials, containing 35 chapters and 297 paragraphs in which every public servant in Prussia could find his duties precisely set out. A minister or councillor failing to attend a committee meeting would lose six months' pay. If he absented himself a second time, he would be discharged from the Royal service.
In short, Frederick William was extremely concerned by every little aspect of his country so that it suited the needs of his army. His rule was absolutist and he was a firm autocrat. He practiced rigid economy, and at his death there was a large surplus in the treasury. The Prussian army was made an efficient instrument of war. Although Frederick William built up one of the most powerful armies in Europe and loved military pomp, he was essentially a peaceful man. He intervened briefly in the Great Northern War, but gained little territory.
Though he was peaceful, he was by no means gentle. His eldest surviving son was Fritz, born in 1712. Frederick William wanted him to become a fine soldier. As a little child Fritz was awakened each morning by the firing of a cannon. At the age of 6 he was given his own regiment of children to drill as cadets and a year later he was given a miniature arsenal. Fritz was beaten for being thrown off a bolting horse and for wearing gloves in cold weather. Frederick William would frequently mistreat Fritz (he preferred his younger sibling August William), executing one of his closest friends (and suspected lover), Hans Hermann von Katte, and almost disinheriting him.
He acquired a reputation for his fondness for military display - leading to his special efforts to hire the tallest men he could find in all of Europe for a special regiment nicknamed Potsdam Giants.
Frederick William and his wife Sophia Dorothea of Hanover (his first cousin and the daughter of King George I of Great Britain) had eight surviving children:
- Wilhelmine of Bayreuth (1709 - 1758)
- Friedrich II of Prussia (1712-1786)
- Friederike Luise (1714-1784)
- Philippine Charlotte (1716-1801), married Charles I, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg
- Sophie Dorothee Marie (1719-1765)
- Luise Ulrike of Sweden (1720-1782)
- Augustus William, Prince of Prussia (1722-1758)
- Anna Amalia Princess of Prussia (1723-1787)
- Heinrich (1726-1802)
- August Ferdinand (1730-1813)
| Preceded by: Frederick I |
King in Prussia 1713–1740 |
Succeeded by: Frederick II |
