Chapter 17
Part 2
Eastern European Absolutism
Prussia
Prussia (the Hohenzollerns)
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Brandenburg: Ruler of Brandenburg was designated
as one of the 7 electors for the Holy Roman Emperor
in 1417
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Was once called, “The Sandbox of Europe”
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But over time, strategic marriages gave the
Hohenzollerns control over much of central and
western Germany
BUT the prince of Brandenburg had little power over
the Nobility: Junkers
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Frederick William (1640-1688)
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Called “The Great Elector” (could not be king
or emperor because Brandenburg was inside of
the HRE
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Nephew of Gustavus Adolphus
Wife was granddaughter of William the Silent
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Was well-educated…spoke 5 languages
The Great Elector
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Was a strict Calvinist BUT much religious
toleration: Jews, Catholics and settled 20,000
Huguenots after Louis XIV revoked the Edict
of Nantes
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Encouraged Industry, Trade, settled Dutch
farmers and foreign craftsmen
New industries: wool, cotton, velvet, lace, silk,
soap, paper
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The Great Elector
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The only one before Kaiser Wilhelm II to be
interested in foreign trade
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Built a canal linking the Elbe and Oder Rivers
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Local governments in each province
Central government in Berlin
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Centralization
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State of permanent crisis due to :
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Ongoing struggle between Poland and Sweden over
control of the Baltic states
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Wars of Louis XIV
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1656-1657 Invasions by Tartars of southern Russia
who carried off or killed 50,000
Nobles were vulnerable so…
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Nobles gave $ and power to the Elector for
defense
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Prussian nobles did not join the townsmen
resisting royal power

The Great Elector: 2 times the taxes of France
for standing army…Nobility taxed too
The Great Elector
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Believed he was guided by God (but not exactly
divine right)
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Oversaw Prussian militarism
Created the most efficient army in Europe
Soldiers were also tax collectors and policemen
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Unified Brandenburg, Prussia, Rhine holdings
into a single state
Junkers
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Dominated the Prussian military officer corps
Dominated the estates of Brandenburg and
Prussia
1653: hereditary subjugation of the serfs to
compensate the Junkers for their support of the
crown
The Great Elector
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Valued education
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Built the Berlin Library
The University of Pufendorf
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Established Berlin as the capital
Elector Frederick III (1688-1713)
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aka first “King” of Prussia (so Frederick I)
Aka “The Ostentatious”
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Was the most popular of the Hohenzollerns
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Emulated the court of Louis XIV:

Dinner announced by 24 trumpeters
 White satin and gold trim for soldiers’ uniforms
 Built elaborate palace, servants: blue satin uniforms

Frederick I
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Was at war throughout most of his reign
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Fought in the War of the League of Augsburg
Fought in War of the Spanish Succession
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Both against Louis XIV
Reward: “King” of Prussia in Treaty of Utrecht
Frederick I
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Encouraged higher education
Founded Halle University
Welcomed immigrant scholars
Founded an academy of science
Frederick William I (1713-1740)
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aka “The Soldiers’ King
Was most important of the Hohenzollerns in terms of
building absolutism
Army went from 45,000 to 80,000
Military cost 80% of royal revenue
Was obsessed with finding very tall soldiers
Avoided war
Was nephew and son-in-law of George I (England)
Frederick William I
(the Soldiers’ King)
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Militarism was part of Prussian society
Prussia called, “The Sparta of the North”
Highest virtue: Unquestioning obedience
The most militaristic society of modern times
But avoided military conflict through deterrence
Prussia
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Had the most efficient bureaucracy in all of Europe
Local self-government and parliamentary estates
forced out
Demanded absolute obedience and discipline from
civil servants
Fiscals: King’s spies on civil servants
Promotions based on merit
Some commoners COULD rise to positions of power
Prussia
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High levels of taxation
Junkers still the backbone of the army
More control over the peasants given to the
Junkers in exchange for support of King’s
absolutism
DID establish 1,000 schools for peasant
children (educated masses could better serve the
state
Frederick II (the Great)
1740-1786
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The most powerful and famous of all the
Prussian Kings
Was considered an “Enlightened Despot” (later)
for incorporating ideas of the Enlightenment
into his reign
Will institute many reforms
Will increase Prussia’s territory at the expense of
the Hapsburgs (Maria Theresa) and Poland
Frederick the Great

Will nearly destroy Prussia in the War of the
Austrian Succession
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Will only be saved by actions of Peter III
(Russia)
Frederick the Great
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Childhood a nightmare
Father (Soldiers’ King) micromanaged his son’s
time

Frederick the Great’s day as a child was closely
supervised from 6:00am) am to 10:30 pm
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At age 5 he knew all 54 movements of the
army’s drill
Frederick the Great
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As a young man, he and his best friend ran away
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His father’s agents found them and brought
them back
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Frederick was forced to watch as his friend was
tortured and killed.