I.

Introduction

Frederick II (of Prussia), called The Great (1712-1786), king of Prussia (1740-1786); during his reign, he was considered among the most notable of enlightened despots in 18th century Europe.

Frederick was born in Berlin on January 24, 1712, son of King Frederick William I and grandson of Frederick I. As crown prince he was trained, under his father’s supervision, to become a soldier and a thrifty administrator. Frederick, however, encouraged by his mother, Sophia Dorothea of Hannover, and his tutors, showed a preference for courtly life, music, and French literature. Frederick William, failing to understand the tastes of his son, developed an open dislike for him. At the age of 18, Frederick decided to escape to England; his proposed plan was discovered, and he was arrested, imprisoned, temporarily deprived of his status as crown prince, and forced to witness the execution of one of his two confederates. After he had subsequently applied himself diligently to fiscal and military affairs and had consented to a marriage in 1733 with Elizabeth Christine, daughter of Ferdinand Albert II of Brunswick, Frederick was reinstated to his position as crown prince. He then went to live for seven years on his estate at Rheinsburg, where, in his leisure time, he studied philosophy, history, and poetry and corresponded with the French philosophers, notably Voltaire. In his Antimachiavell, written during that period and published by Voltaire in 1740, Frederick idealistically opposed the political doctrines of the Italian statesman and philosopher Niccolò Machiavelli, favoring peaceful and enlightened rule.