Frederic-Guillaume Ier of Prussia

Frederic-Guillaume Ier of Prussia (in German: Friedrich Wilhelm I ), of the House of Hohenzollern, (August 14th 1688 - May 31st 1740), called “the King-Sergeant” ( der Soldatenkönig in German, literally “the King-Soldier” nickname given by George II of Great Britain, his/her cousin and brother-in-law) was king in Prussia of the February 25th 1713 with its death.

Considered for its avarice, its contempt of the things of the spirit, its brutality and its will all to direct in the least detail, it confirmed nevertheless the growing influence of Prussia within the European powers and increased the importance of the army within the Prussian company. It was pious, had the direction of the duty, and was a faithful but jealous husband.

Biography

Frederic-Guillaume was born with Berlin on August 14th, 1688. He is the son of Frederic Ier of Prussia and Sophie Charlotte of Hanover. It is his/her father who had obtained the hereditary title of king in Prussia for the Margrave S of Brandebourg.

It expressed its violent and despotic character very early not hesitating to distribute kicks and blows of stick not taking account neither of the age nor of the row. His/her children were the first victims of these crises of fury. It was very coarse in spite of the influence of his mother the queen philosophizes . He refused to learn French and spoke German badly. He scorned the writers whom he called the pisseurs of ink . Nevertheless it had an extraordinary memory. Only the physical-activity interested it and especially hunting. The military inspections and reviews was its passion. Its way of life was modest. He ate much but simply drinking wine of the Rhine or beer (He weighed 125 kilos for 1,75 meter at the end of his life). He took the practice to permanently carry the uniform reducing his clothing expenditure thus. Giving up its castle, L lived in two country residences very simply furnished one with Wusterhausen and the other with Potsdam which was going to become its true capital. Its life of king and private was regulated perfectly.

His/her son, the future Frederic II, made the expenses of his violent and authoritative temperament, as well as his contempt for art and the letters. He prohibits the training of Latin to him, treated with contempt his interest in poetry, the literature and the music, struck it and humiliated it in public. At 18 years, Frederic tried to flee in England. The plan fails and his/her father makes it stop for treason. Imprisoned with the fortress of Küstrin, it is forced to attend the execution of his friend and accessory Hans Hermann von Katte.

Become king at the 25 years age, it attempts to rectify the public purses, being opposed to any expenditure superfluous and imposing with him even and its court a strict budgetary policy. it made pass the number of the loads of the court from 142 to 47 and decreased by half the remaining ones. He laid off the artists of the Court and the expenditure dropped by 80% in one year. It made sell all the luxury articles and fit with body them of his/her father as well as the fine wines. On the economic plan, it adopted a policy mercantilist.

Militarization of the state

It had a considerable military experiment, having followed his father during many years. It fought in the Netherlands under the orders of the prince Eugene and took part directly in the Bataille of Malplaquet.

It reinforced considerably the Prussian army, which passed to 40.000 to 80.000 men, and by giving him a dominating place in the company, thus modelling militarist Prussia whose reputation of discipline, organization and rigor always persists aujourd'hui.
Cherishing its army over all, it recruited in all Europe of the men of big size to incorporate them in its personal guard, the famous " Lange Kerle" (" large types").
Having made Prussian army one of most powerful of Europe, it however made it fight only once, at the time of the Guerre of North.

Foreign policy

Qualified larger interior king of Prussia , the assessment of his foreign policy is however not negligible especially in term of profit territorial which was done at the beginning of its reign. Then, it was very careful refusing to serve as allied of circumstances with the quadrilleurs (four European great powers). There remained a good subject of the emperor of Austria but was badly rewarded for its fidelity. He refused to engage his beautiful army. the king of Prussia is not that a wolf in its sheep-fold said one.

At the beginning of its reign, it breaks alliance with Austria and signed a treaty with Utrech enabling him to be quiet in the West and to devote themselves towards the Baltic. Sweden was in one critical moment of its history: Following the demolished of Poltava, the king Charles XII takes refuge in Turkey leaving the defense of the kingdom to his generals. Several places fell. The return of king Charles revives the coalition against Sweden and leads to the defeat of Sweden. The Russo-Swedish Paix of Nystad confirms the Swedish losses with the profit of Russia and Prussia. Prussia poured nevertheless two million Thaler S in Sweden. (See War of North).

Having extended his possessions to North, Frederic-Guillaume wanted to acquire the duchies of Berg and Juliers. he was combined in 1725 with France and England by the Traité of Herrenhausen but was turned over at once towards Austria which promised to him the duchies in exchange of the support of Prussia for the Pragmatic Sanction. There remained the ferroaluminium of the emperor Charles VI and in spite of a military aid of Prussia to this one, the duchies of Berg and Juliers still did not belong to him. Humiliated, Frederic-Guillaume wanted some especially in Austria and refused to help this one in his war against the Turks. He finally approached France by the Traité $the Hague of 1739: Voici that which will avenge me would have it says by designating his/her son a few months before his death.

Family

Frederic-Guillaume and his wife Sophie-Dorothée of Hanover (1687 - 1757), (girl of Georges Ier of Great Britain and Sophie-Dorothée of Brunswick-Lunebourg) fourteen children had whose eight children survived:

Genealogy

Frederic-Guillaume Ier of Prussia belongs to the first branch of the Maison of Hohenzollern. This line gave voters, kings, emperors with the Prussia, the Germany. Frederic-Guillaume Ier of Prussia is ascending current chief of the imperial House of Germany, the prince Georges Frederic of Prussia.

Internal bonds

  • Frederic-Guillaume Ier de Brandebourg (paternal grandfather)

Sources

  • History of Prussia, Michel Kerautret, the historical Universe, Threshold IBSN 9782020416986

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