Friedrich I of Prussia (1657-1713) - Find a Grave Memorial

King of Prussia. Born in Königsberg, Prussia, the son of Louise Henriëtte von Nassau-Dillenburg, Princess of Orange and Friedrich Wilhelm Kurfürst von Brandenburg. In 1688, he succeeded to the Electorate of Brandenburg. He immediately set about to increase the size and grandeur of his court and his army, well out of proportion to his holdings and relative position. He allied himself with Austria, England, and Holland against France in the War of the Grand Alliance, where his troops continually distinguished themselves, although they gained almost nothing at the Treaty of Rijswijk in 1697. In 1700, Austria and Prussia reached an agreement that permitted Frederick to crown himself the first king in Prussia. The new kingdom benefited in territorial cohesion, increased revenues, and a massive influx of refugee French Protestants who proved instrumental in the creation of new industries. He was noted as a patron of the arts, the University of Halle was founded in 1694, the Academy of the Arts in 1696, and the Academy of the Sciences in 1700. During the War of Spanish Succession beginning in 1701, Frederick remained loyal to Austria, and his troops again distinguished themselves, the genesis of the legendary Prussian military reputation. He was again all but ignored at the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713. Despite the fact that his extravagance came close to exhausting the national treasury, burdened his people with heavy taxes, and his obligations to the emperor drained resources, Frederick was a popular ruler. He had made Prussia into a kingdom and set them up for future success. He died at age 55 leaving a kingdom which was considered one of Europe's formidable powers.

Bio by: Iola