Who Was Fredrick The Great Of Prussia?

Fredrick II reigned in Prussia between 1740 and 1786. He was a young man, a reputed thinker, writer, musician and lover of philosophy and literature. He inherited a country which had a strong, centralised system of government and a strong sense of the benefits of primary education and financial reform. He also inherited an army of 80,000 trained and conscripted men.

As a young man Fredrick was trained in military skills but was also allowed to develop his academic and creative talents. Also when he was younger, Fredrick began to correspond with Voltaire, one of the primary Enlightenment thinkers. His early writings showed that he had taken Enlightenment ideas to heart. He believed that kings should act as the first servants of the state and should protect the innocent and look after the poor. Honesty and truth should be vital components, he thought. But he was also a believer in absolute monarchy, for, as he said, only under such a system could a king have the freedom to help his people.

Add Comment

Report