What does anyone know about Fredrick the Great?

Question:

What does anyone know about Fredrick the Great?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: Fredrick II, (Fredrick the Great) was a Reformed or Enlightened Monarch. He was a military genius, he refined the Prussian system of government, introduced civil servants, considered himself first servant of the State, eliminated torture refined the criminal coded then removed the influence of the crown in the criminal code. By limiting the powers of the church in the state Fredrick made Prussia a safe haven from religious persecution and many thousands immigrated to Prussia for that reason. He reformed the education systems and introduced secondary education to the common people. Part of the systems still exists today in the German education system.

Fredrick II laid the foundation for the 2nd Reich of Germany.

Fredrick I was a brutal tyrant and his son suffered under his tyranny, which may explain his enlightenment. Fredrick the First had no love for Art, Philosophy or Science and sent his son to a military academy for his education. He left his son was weak and sickly and had the desire to beat him into a man. At one time Fredrick II fled the Academy with a friend but was caught. His farther had his friend hung in front of him as a lesson.

When Fredrick II became King of Prussia in 1740, Prussia was a small Kingdon near Berlin. Brandenburg-Prussia. What is present day German consisted of various small kingdoms, Bavaria, Hessen, Saxony, etc. Being surrounded by powerful empires France, England, Russia, and the Hapsburgs Austria, these kingdoms were often subjected to powerful foreign influence. Fredrick set about to secure the independence of Prussia, from Austria and Russia and the result was the expansion of Prussia. In the Seven years war Fredrick successfully defended Prussia against Austria Russia and France.

Despite the numerous wars Prussia grew and prospered. The Prussian military was feared and respected through out Europe. It was a one Prussian Captain Von Steuben who later built the Army of the United States.

Personal recounts of Fredrick II describe him as hard working, determined, demanding, forgiving, and above all fair & just to others. Voltaire Described Fredricks II Court as "Sparta in the morning, Athens in the evening."