Frederick the Great Autograph

Profession:
(1712-1786) King of Prussia from 1740 until 1786, the longest reign of any Hohenzollern king

Year of Birth: 1712

Frederick II was born in 1712 in Prussia. He was the son of Frederick William I and his wife, Sophia Dorothea of Hanover. He was the second of their eleven children. He was born into a privileged family, with his father being the ruler of Prussia and his mother being a member of the royal family of Hanover.

He was raised in a strict military environment and was expected to follow in the footsteps of his father. He was educated by a number of prominent tutors, including the philosopher and mathematician Gottfried Leibniz. He was also tutored in French, Italian, and Latin. He was also trained in fencing, horsemanship, and military tactics.

In 1730, he succeeded his father as the King of Prussia. He immediately set out on a series of reforms and projects to modernize and strengthen Prussia. He abolished serfdom, reformed the judiciary and education systems, and improved Prussia's military. He also established the first public library in Prussia.

In 1740, he declared the Prussian Kingdom as a unified state, abolishing the old feudal system. He also issued a number of decrees which improved the rights of women and the poor. He also established a number of cultural institutions, such as the Prussian Academy of Sciences and the Prussian National Theatre.

In 1756, he declared war on Austria and France, which led to the Seven Years' War. Despite the fact that the Prussian army was greatly outnumbered, Frederick managed to win a number of decisive battles and ultimately emerged victorious. He was known as the “Great Captive” for his victories in the war.

In 1763, he issued the Edict of Emancipation, which abolished serfdom in Prussia. He also issued the General Law Code, which established a unified legal system for all people in Prussia. He was also a patron of the arts and sciences, and founded the Berlin Academy of Sciences in 1780.