1. Frederick the Great

2. Background Frederick was born in Berlin
Was a member of the Hohenzollern dynasty
Was a rebellious teen and tried to escape his father’s tyrannical rule
Had to watch his friend get beheaded

3. House of
Hohenzollern

4. Frederick assumed the throne in 1740 and became king of Prussia
From , Frederick fought the war of Austrian Sucession to gain Silesia from Austria
Prussia won and gained Silesia

5. Maria Theresa, Habsburg Empress (Austria)

7. Seven Years War
By 1756, an alliance of Austria, Russia, Sweden and France was forming against Prussia
The Seven Years War began as Prussia invaded Saxony
Prussia was getting invaded frequently
Some consider this the 1st world war

8. Frederick would lead his men into battle

9. Prussia was close to losing but was saved when Empress Elizabeth of Russia died in 1762
This allowed the anti-Prussian coalition to break up
Prussia did not gain territory, but kept Silesia

10. Later Achievements Frederick was considered an enlightened despot
This is an absolute monarch in which a ruler uses power to make positive social and political changes
He was a patron of Bach and Voltaire

11. Frederick also split up Poland with other powers

12. Abolished torture
Built canals
Grew new crops (potato and turnip)
Religious toleration

13. Frederick’s summer palace in Sans Souci (just outside Berlin)