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Frederick William I
Portrait by Antoine Pesne, c. 1733
King in Prussia Elector of Brandenburg
Reign
25 February 1713 – 31 May 1740
Predecessor
Frederick I
Successor
Frederick II
Born
(1688-08-14)14 August 1688 Berlin, Brandenburg-Prussia
Died
31 May 1740(1740-05-31) (aged 51) Berlin, Kingdom of Prussia
Burial
Friedenskirche, Sanssouci Park, Potsdam
Spouse
Sophia Dorothea of Hanover
(m. 1706)
Issue more...
Wilhelmine, Margravine of Brandenburg-Bayreuth
Frederick II of Prussia
Frederica Louise, Margravine of Brandenburg-Ansbach
Philippine Charlotte, Duchess of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel
Sophia Dorothea, Margravine of Brandenburg-Schwedt
Louisa Ulrika, Queen of Sweden
Prince Augustus William
Princess Anna Amalia
Prince Henry
Prince Augustus Ferdinand
House
Hohenzollern
Father
Frederick I
Mother
Sophia Charlotte of Hanover
Religion
Calvinist
Signature
Prussian Royalty
House of Hohenzollern
Frederick William I
Children
Prince Frederick Louis
Wilhelmine, Margravine of Brandenburg-Bayreuth
Prince Friedrich William
Princess Charlotte Albertine
Frederick II
Friederike Luise, Margravine of Brandenburg-Ansbach
Philippine Charlotte, Duchess of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel
Prince Ludwig Karl Wilhelm
Sophia Dorothea, Margravine of Brandenburg-Schwedt
Louisa Ulrika, Queen of Sweden
Prince Augustus William
Anna Amalie, Princess-Abbess of Quedlinburg
Prince Henry
Prince Augustus Ferdinand
v
t
e
Frederick William I (German: Friedrich Wilhelm I.; 14 August 1688 – 31 May 1740), known as the Soldier King (German: Soldatenkönig[1]), was King in Prussia and Elector of Brandenburg from 1713 till his death in 1740, as well as Prince of Neuchâtel.
Born in Berlin, he was raised by the Huguenot governess Marthe de Roucoulle. His political awakening occurred during the Great Northern War's plague outbreak in Prussia, leading to his challenge against corruption and inefficiency in government. He initiated reforms, especially in the military, growing the Prussian Army significantly. A believer in absolute monarchy, he focused on state development and financial reorganization, imposing taxes and stringent regulations on public servants. He made efforts to reduce crime and centralized his authority during his 27 years reign, cementing Prussia as a regional power.
Despite his effective rule, he had a harsh nature, exacerbated by his health issues. He engaged in colonial affairs, but prioritized military expansion over colonial investments. His notable decisions included selling Prussian overseas colonies and the foundation of the Canton system, as well as the conquest of the port of Stettin.
His death in 1740 marked the end of a reign characterized by military and administrative reform. He was succeeded by his son, Frederick the Great.
^Taylor, Ronald (1997). Berlin and Its Culture: A Historical Portrait. New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Press. p. 51.
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