True, Frederick the Great (1712-1786) was a patron of the arts, of the sciences, and of culture in general, and true, he was an able administrator. But what he is remembered for most is the fact that he was one of the greatest military geniuses of history. His father, Frederick Wilhelm, was the prince of Bradenburg, but wanted to be king, and so, gained Prussia so that he might claim the title. His father wanted him trained as a soldier and administrator, but Frederick preferred the pomp and circumstance of courtly life. Soon, his father developed an open dislike of him. At 18, Frederick decided to escape to England; when his father found out, he was arrested, imprisoned, stripped of his title as crown prince, and forced to watch the execution of his friends.

After diligently applying himself to military and administrative affairs and agreeing to marry Elizabeth Christine, the daughter of Ferdinand Albert II of Brunswick, he was reinstated as heir. For the next seven years, he led a leisurely life, engaging in such fields as philosophy, history, and poetry, and corresponding with Voltaire. During this time, he wrote Antimachiavell, in which he denounced the views of Niccolò Machiavelli, who wrote in "The Prince" that a ruler must sometimes do things which would be damnable for anyone else for the good of his country.

However, in 1740, Frederick's father died, and he became King of Prussia. The same year, Maria Theresa became the archduchess of Austria, and Frederick challenged her for control of Silesia. The War of Austrian Succession followed, in which Frederick was victorious, and by 1742 had captured the territory. In 1744, he siezed East Friesland (now part of Germany) when its ruler died heirless, and in 1745 he defeated Austria again, beating back an attempt to regain Silesia. The Seven Years' War followed, in which Prussia's only aid came in the form of British pounds, and Frederick faced the combined armies of Austria, Russia, Sweden, Saxony, and France. In 1763, the Peace of Hubertusburg placed Prussia's boundaries at the same location as seven years before, an enormous victory, considering the odds. However, it made Prussia one of Europe's greatest powers, and Austria's central rival for control of the German states. In 1764, Frederick concluded a treaty with Catherine II of Russia (who was of German descent), and in 1772, recieved Prussian Poland, thus uniting Bradenburg and Pomerania. The War of Bavarian Succession won Frederick parts of Lower Bavaria, and in 1785, Frederick formed the Fürstenbund, a union of princes brought together to preserve the constitution of the Holy Roman Empire.

Frederick is best remembered as the one who introduced the idea of discipline to the army - regimenting the men, having them march in unison, and so on. But, he also rewrote the Prussian laws and advanced culture. Ironically, Frederick, though king of a German realm, abhorred the German language and culture, and would only allow French to be spoken in his court. He died at Sans Souci on August 17, 1786.