From Electorate to Kingdom
The title of Elector of Brandenburg was replaced during the reign of Elector Frederick William III (The Ostentatious). This ruler did little for Prussia except gain the title of King of Prussia as Frederick I. The first truly powerful king of Prussia was Frederick William I (r.1713-1740), known as “The Soldiers King.” This crude, violent psycho-neurotic leader was also an extremely talented reformer. He was responsible for creating the best army in Europe, making some call Prussia the “Sparta of the North.”
The Soldier King
Frederick William I loved the military. He preferred sleeping in the barracks than in a palace, and spent most of his career building up the Prussian military. According to the third addition of A History of World Societies (Houghton-Mifflin) scouts were sent throughout Prussia to recruit (kidnap) young men who would make top soldiers. Indeed, mothers often scolded their sons, “Stop growing or the recruiting agents will get you!” Neighboring rulers would send Frederick William their tallest, most strapping young men as “gifts” for the Prussian army.
Frederick William understood that his power and the power of Prussia to defend itself from greedy neighbors lay with the army. Based on this idea, he worked to build up the biggest, most well trained force that Europe had ever seen. The Prussian army was famed for its skill, precision and discipline. Unquestioning obedience was the first rule for all soldiers. For the next 200 years, the Prussian army, which would later become the German army, rarely lost a battle.
Frederick William I & The Junkers
Frederick William I used his authority to create a strong centralized government, erasing all remaining traces of the old parliamentary estates. The absolute authority that Frederick William I held over his subjects did not sit well with the local aristocracy. Prussian nobles, called Junkers, had long been in charge of their own estates, serfs and local laws. They resented interference in traditional politics. However, Frederick William had no intention in backing down. He had the entire army at his beck and call and was not going to be intimidated by his nobles. In the end, perhaps out of self-preservation more than anything, the Junkers joined Frederick William’s army, enlisting as officers. This created an entire new social caste of noble military officers, that would further shape the Prussian identity.
Legacy of Frederick William I
Frederick William was coarse and crude, but he got results. He furthered the foundation of Absolutism in Prussia and was instrumental in creating one of the most powerful armies of the 18th Century. His son, Frederick William II (history would call him Frederick the Great), would continue to expand on his father’s success, making Prussia not only a military power, but also a place of culture and learning.
Sources:
Mckay, Hill, Buckler. A History of World Societies: Volume II Since 1500. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company. 1992
Mitford, Nancy. Frederick the Great. New York: Harper & Row, 1970.
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