Origin
Frederick 2, (Frederick the Great), he is also known by the nickname "Old Fritz" (born January 24, 1712 - death August 17, 1786) - King of Prussia since 1740. Father - King of Prussia Friedrich Wilhelm 1 (the Hohenzollern dynasty), mother - Sophia Dorothea of Hanover, daughter of King George 1 of England.
Childhood
Frederick was born in January 1712 and received the name Karl-Friedrich at baptism. His first educator, a French emigrant, Mademoiselle de Rocul, gave birth to a love of French literature in him. Frederick retained this addiction until the end of his days, despite the obvious disapproval of his father, Frederick Wilhelm, who wanted to make his son an exemplary soldier. Alas, Frederick's character did not develop in the direction his father dreamed of. In a multitude of important and trivial circumstances, a complete difference between them was soon revealed.
Youth. Disagreements with father
The constant military exercises bored the prince. Rough fun with the hunt was repulsive to him. From an early age, Friedrich felt a penchant for science and art. In his spare time, he read French books and played the flute. The monarch did not like this: he made frequent and severe reprimands to his son, not understanding either place or time. "Not! - he said. - Fritz the rake and the poet: there will be no use in him! He does not like the soldier's life, he will ruin the whole business over which I have been bothering for so long!"
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Unfortunately, the father took very strict measures trying to correct his son's shortcomings, which led to many quarrels between them. 1730 - Frederick decided to flee to England. The horse and money had already been prepared, but at the last minute everything was revealed. The prince was arrested and imprisoned in Kistrin Castle, where he spent several months without furniture, books and candles. He was given one Bible for entertainment.
Family life. Accession to the throne
Having cooled down somewhat, the king released his son from captivity, but the final reconciliation was only after he agreed to the marriage arranged by his father with Elizabeth Christina of Braunschweig. Although, Friedrich's family life clearly did not work out. It is said that the prince's first love experiences were very unsuccessful and left an indelible mark on his character. In an extreme case, throughout his life he could not stand women, treated them very harshly and wished that those close to him were not married.
With his wife Elizabeth, he never had a conjugal relationship. On their wedding night, he persuaded his friends to raise the alarm and shout with all his might: "Fire!" When a commotion arose, Frederick fled from the newlywed and from that time he never slept with her again. In May 1740, the old king died, and the throne passed to Frederick.
Having received a flourishing power and a full treasury from his father, the young king changed almost nothing in the court order: he retained the same simplicity and moderation that was established under Frederick Wilhelm. Like his father, he loved order and work, was thrifty to the point of stinginess, autocratic and irritable.
Frederick II after coronation
War of Austrian Succession
However, unlike him, Frederick was not going to limit his activities only to domestic affairs. Prussia, which had become a strong military state under Frederick Wilhelm, had, as he believed, to oust the old European powers, and first of all Austria, in order to take its rightful place among them. Circumstances favored Frederick's plans of conquest.
1740, October - died, leaving no male offspring, Emperor Charles VI. He was succeeded by his daughter Maria Theresia. In December, Frederick announced to the Austrian envoy that Austria was illegally holding Silesia, although this province rightfully belongs to Prussia. Without waiting for an answer from Vienna, the monarch moved his army to Silesia. The blow was delivered so unexpectedly that almost the entire area was surrendered to the Prussians without resistance. A stubborn war (it went down in history as the War of the Austrian Succession) lasted until 1748. Despite all efforts, the Austrians were never able to recapture Silesia. According to the Peace of Aachen in 1748, this rich province remained with Prussia.
Frederick II and Voltaire
After the successful end of the war, Frederick returned to state affairs and his favorite literary pursuits. War deeds could not destroy his love for art and philosophy. 1750 - the king persuaded the idol of his youth Voltaire to settle in Potsdam, granting him a chamberlain's key and 5 thousand thalers of annual maintenance. The entire position of the discharged celebrity was to correct the royal verses.
At first, Voltaire really liked this life, but then he began to feel weary about it, and the further, the more. Frederick was naturally sarcastic. Even his closest friends were forced to endure caustic ridicule from him. With such a character, he, of course, could not attract sincere love to himself. Voltaire, who was also an evil scoffer, was not used to being in debt. The jokes exchanged between the monarch and his guest became more and more angry. In the end, Voltaire left Potsdam with such haste that his departure was very much like an escape.
Frederick II plays the flute
Character. Habits. Personal life
Like all great men, Frederick had his own quirks. He was intemperate in food: he ate a lot and greedily, did not use forks and took food with his hands, from which the sauce dripped down his uniform. He put meat for his beloved dog in order to cool it right on the tablecloth. He often spilled wine, poured tobacco, so that the place where the monarch sat was always easy to distinguish from others. He covered his clothes to the point of indecency. His pants were with holes, his shirt was torn. When he died, they could not find a single decent shirt in his wardrobe to decently put him in a coffin. The sovereign did not have a nightcap, shoes, or a dressing gown. Instead of a cap, he used a pillow, tying it with a scarf around his head. He did not even take off his uniform and boots even at home. The dressing gown was replaced by a half-jacket. Frederick usually slept on a very thin short bed with a thin mattress and got up at 5 or 6 in the morning.
Immediately after breakfast, the minister came to him with large bundles of papers. Looking through them, the emperor made notes in two or three words. Based on these notes, the secretaries then drew up full answers and resolutions. At 11 o'clock, the king went to the parade ground and examined his regiment. At this time, all over Prussia, the colonels were reviewing their regiments. Then Frederick II went to dinner with his brothers, two generals and chamberlains, and again went to his office. Until five or six hours, he worked on his literary compositions.
If the sovereign got tired, he called the reader, who would read a book until seven. As a rule, the day ended with a small concert, while Frederick II personally played the flute and often the little things of his composition. He was a big fan of music. The evening table was served in a small room, decorated with a painting by Peon, painted from a drawing by the monarch. It had such a frivolous content that it seemed almost obscene. At this hour, the sovereign from time to time began a philosophical conversation with the guests, and, according to the evil-speaking Voltaire, an outside observer might think that he was listening to the conversation of seven Greek wise men sitting in a brothel. Neither women nor priests were ever allowed into the court. The monarch lived without courtiers, without counsel and without worship. Holidays were held only a few times a year.
Seven Years War
The measured course of life in 1756 was interrupted by the fierce Seven Years' War. The main burden of it was borne by Prussia, which at the same time had a chance to fight against France, Austria, Saxony, Poland, Sweden and Russia. By joining all together, they could put about 500 thousand soldiers against Frederick. But the allies acted inconsistently, apart from each other on a wide front. Quickly transferring troops from one place to another and inflicting swift blows, Frederick not only at first repelled all their attacks, but also won a number of brilliant victories that amazed the whole of Europe.
1757 - the monarch, at the head of an army of 56 thousand, entered Saxony and easily occupied Leipzig. The Saxon army of August III was surrounded by the Prussians in its camp. Having made several unsuccessful attempts to break through, the Saxons surrendered to the mercy of the victor. Then the king moved against Austria, in May approached Prague and in a stubborn battle near its walls inflicted a complete defeat on the Austrians. But a new battle in June at Colin ended in failure for the Prussians. Frederick II lost up to 14 thousand of his best soldiers and was forced to end the siege of Prague.
The defeat was partly mitigated by the brilliant victory over the French army, which the monarch won in November at Rosbach, and no less remarkable success in the battle with the Austrians near the village of Leuthen in December of the same year. The French lost 17 thousand killed, the Austrians - 6 thousand killed, as well as 21 thousand prisoners and all the artillery. Soon Breslavl was captured, where another 18 thousand Austrians surrendered.
Frederick II's Prussian Infantry
Leaving the Austrian front, the king hastened to East Prussia, in which the Russian army was deployed. 1758, August - there was a bloody battle at Zorndorf. The Russians were defeated in many places, but stubbornly refused to retreat. Only darkness put an end to the battle. The Prussians lost up to 13 thousand people, the Russians - about 19 thousand. A year later, in August 1759, a new battle took place near the village of Kunersdorf, which ended this time with the complete defeat of Frederick. 20 thousand of his soldiers remained on the battlefield. In October 1760 the Russians took Berlin with a surprise blow. However, they did not even think to keep this city behind them. A few days later, taking 2 million thalers of indemnity, the Russians retreated. Frederick the Great, meanwhile, waged a difficult war in Saxony against the Austrians and won a very difficult victory over them on the banks of the Elbe.
1761 - the king with 50 thousandth corps retreated to the fortified camp at Bunzelwitz. The 135,000-strong Russian-Austrian army surrounded the Prussian camp from all sides, trying to stop the supply of food. The position of the Prussians was very difficult, but Frederick stubbornly defended himself. To cheer up the troops, he was with his soldiers day and night, ate the same food with them and often slept by the bivouac fire.
Fortunately for him, the allies fought with each other all the time and could not do anything wonderful. Meanwhile, in January 1761 the Russian Empress Elizaveta Petrovna died. Peter III ascended the Russian throne, who never concealed his ardent sympathy for Prussia and its monarch. Having barely accepted power, he hastened to conclude a truce. The peace itself was signed in April. Sweden followed Russia's example the following month. Frederick pulled all his forces against the Austrians and drove them out of Silesia.
In the fall, peace was concluded between Great Britain and France. Maria Theresia was unable to continue the war alone and also inclined to negotiate. 1763, February 16 - the Treaty of Hubertusburg was signed, ending the Seven Years War. All powers agreed to preserve pre-war borders in Europe. Silesia remained with Prussia. Although the war did not bring territorial gains to Frederick the Great, it gave him resounding fame throughout Europe. Even in France and Austria he had many enthusiastic supporters who deservedly considered the Prussian king the best military leader of his time.
Aftermath of the war
Frederick II the Great spent the last quarter of a century of his reign in peace. He had to work hard to establish order and prosperity in a kingdom upset by war. During these 7 years, the population decreased by half a million people, many cities and villages lay in ruins. The sovereign actively took up the restoration of the country. The devastated provinces received financial assistance, all the grain from the army stores was distributed to the peasants, he also ordered them to give 35 thousand transport horses. To strengthen finances, the monarch at the age of three withdrew from circulation all the spoiled coin, which he had to issue during the war, and ordered to re-mint it into full-weight thalers.
The decline in population was partially replenished by attracting colonists from other lands. In foreign relations, Frederick tried to maintain a friendly alliance with Russia, supported her in the war with Poland, but at the same time did not forget about his own interests. 1772 - he very cleverly raised the question of the partition of Poland, offering Catherine II to reward herself in this way for the costs of the Turkish war. During the first partition, he himself received West Prussia with the mouth of the Vistula.
Death of the king
Gradually, the forces began to leave the king. He suffered from insomnia, hemorrhoids and asthma. He had gout for a long time. The great king died from 16 to 17 August 1786. When he passed away, the clock in the bedroom stopped. Later, this watch will be at Napoleon Bonaparte. It is them that he will take with him to the island of St. Helena.
Frederick II bequeathed to bury himself in his beloved Sanssouci. But his nephew and successor Frederick Wilhelm II did not fulfill the will of the deceased and ordered to be buried in the Potsdam garrison church, next to his father.
K. Ryzhov