Frederick the Great Timeline

(1712 - 1786)

Frederick the Great (Frederick II) ruled Prussia from 1740 to 1786. A brilliant military commander and enlightened absolutist, he expanded Prussian territory through the Silesian Wars and the Partitions of Poland, modernized the bureaucracy and economy, promoted religious tolerance, and cultivated arts and sciences at his court, transforming Prussia into a leading European power. More Less

Go to: Timeline | Event List | Key Facts | Directory

Early Life and Rise

Birth of Frederick the Great

Jan 24, 1712

Frederick II was born in Berlin, the son of King Frederick William I of Prussia and Sophia Dorothea of Hanover. He would become one of the most influential monarchs of the 18th century, transforming Prussia into a major European power.

Image source: Frederick the Great

Frederick's strict upbringing under his father

1713 - 1730

Frederick's father subjected him to a harsh Spartan education focused on military discipline, which clashed with Frederick's love of music, philosophy, and literature, straining their relationship throughout his youth.

Image source: Frederick William I of Prussia

Attempted flight from Prussian court

Aug 5, 1730

The young crown prince attempted to flee to England with his friend Hans Hermann von Katte. The plan failed, and Katte was executed while Frederick was forced to watch, an experience that haunted him for life.

Image source: Frederick V of the Palatinate

Marriage to Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick-Bevern

Jun 12, 1733

Under pressure from his father, Frederick married Elisabeth Christine, a union that produced no children. The couple largely lived apart after Frederick became king, though she remained a loyal consort.

Image source: Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel-Bevern

Military service in the War of Polish Succession

1734 - 1735

Frederick served under Prince Eugene of Savoy in the Rhine campaign, gaining practical military experience despite seeing little combat, which informed his later military reforms.

Image source: War of the Polish Succession

Frederick becomes King of Prussia

May 31, 1740

Upon the death of his father, Frederick ascended the throne at age 28. He inherited a well-drilled army and full treasury, which he immediately used to pursue ambitious foreign policy goals.

Silesian Wars

Frederick invades Silesia

Dec 16, 1740

Exploiting the death of Emperor Charles VI, Frederick invaded Silesia, a wealthy Habsburg province, violating international law but doubling Prussia's population and economic resources.

Image source: First Silesian War

Battle of Mollwitz

Apr 10, 1741

Frederick's first battle ended in a Prussian victory over Austria, though Frederick fled the field early. The win secured Silesian conquests and established Prussia as a formidable military power.

Image source: Battle of Mollwitz

Battle of Chotusitz

May 17, 1742

A hard-fought Prussian victory over the Austrians in Bohemia led to the Peace of Breslau, by which Maria Theresa ceded most of Silesia to Prussia.

Image source: Battle of Chotusitz

Peace of Breslau ends First Silesian War

Jun 11, 1742

Austria formally ceded nearly all of Silesia to Prussia, confirming Frederick's first great territorial acquisition and marking his emergence as a leading European statesman.

Image source: Treaty of Breslau

Battle of Hohenfriedberg

Jun 4, 1745

Frederick won a brilliant victory over combined Austrian and Saxon forces during the Second Silesian War, cementing his reputation as a masterful battlefield commander.

Image source: Battle of Hohenfriedberg

Peace of Dresden concludes Second Silesian War

Dec 25, 1745

Maria Theresa again recognized Prussia's possession of Silesia. Frederick had successfully defended his gains and Prussia was now firmly established among Europe's great powers.

Image source: Treaty of Dresden

Reign and Legacy

Frederick founds the Berlin Academy opera and cultural patronage

1742

Frederick established the Royal Court Opera in Berlin and invited musicians like Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach and flutist Johann Joachim Quantz, reflecting his deep personal passion for music.

Image source: Berlin State Opera

Completion of Sanssouci Palace

1747

Frederick completed his beloved summer palace at Potsdam, designed in Rococo style as a private retreat where he could escape court ceremony and enjoy philosophy and music.

Image source: Sanssouci

Voltaire visits Frederick at Sanssouci

Jul 1750 - 1753

The famous French philosopher Voltaire lived at Frederick's court in Potsdam, engaging in intellectual exchanges before their relationship soured amid disputes, ending with Voltaire's dramatic departure.

Peasants' revival and reconstruction of Prussia

1763 - 1778

Frederick rebuilt his devastated country through agricultural reforms, drainage of marshes, resettlement programs, and promotion of potato cultivation, earning him the nickname 'the Potato King'.

Frederick publishes works on statecraft

1769 - 1775

Writing in French, Frederick composed political testaments and essays on government, articulating Enlightenment ideals of the monarch as 'first servant of the state'.

First Partition of Poland

Aug 5, 1772

Frederick engineered the first partition of Poland-Lithuania with Russia and Austria, acquiring West Prussia and linking Brandenburg with East Prussia, unifying his realm geographically.

Image source: First Partition of Poland

Formation of the League of Princes

1785

Frederick organized German princes into a defensive league to counter Austrian expansionism, demonstrating his continued political influence late in life.

Image source: Fürstenbund

Death of Frederick the Great

Aug 17, 1786

Frederick died alone at Sanssouci at age 74, seated in his armchair. He was succeeded by his nephew Frederick William II, leaving behind a transformed Prussia respected across Europe.

Napoleon visits Frederick's tomb

Oct 1806

After defeating Prussia at Jena, Napoleon paid tribute to Frederick by visiting his crypt at Potsdam, remarking to his officers that if Frederick were still alive, they would not be there — testament to his enduring legend.

Seven Years' War

Diplomatic Revolution reshapes European alliances

1756

Austria allied with its former enemy France against Prussia, while Britain allied with Prussia. Frederick faced encirclement by powerful neighbors determined to partition his kingdom.

Image source: Diplomatic Revolution

Frederick invades Saxony, starting Seven Years' War in Europe

Aug 29, 1756

Striking preemptively, Frederick invaded Saxony to disrupt the coalition forming against him. The bold gambit opened a continental conflict that became the global Seven Years' War.

Image source: Third Silesian War

Battle of Rossbach

Nov 5, 1757

Frederick crushed a Franco-Austrian army in just 90 minutes using innovative oblique tactics, achieving one of the most famous victories in Prussian military history.

Image source: Battle of Rossbach

Battle of Leuthen

Dec 5, 1757

Outnumbered nearly two to one, Frederick decisively defeated the Austrian army in Silesia using a masterful flanking maneuver, restoring Prussian fortunes after early setbacks.

Image source: Battle of Leuthen

Battle of Zorndorf against Russia

Aug 25, 1758

Frederick fought the Russian army to a bloody stalemate in one of the war's most brutal engagements, with enormous casualties on both sides but no decisive outcome.

Image source: Battle of Zorndorf

Battle of Kunersdorf defeat

Aug 12, 1759

Frederick suffered his worst defeat against Russo-Austrian forces, losing half his army. He reportedly contemplated suicide, and Prussia's survival seemed doubtful.

Image source: Battle of Kunersdorf

Miracle of the House of Brandenburg

Jan 1762

The death of Empress Elizabeth of Russia brought her admirer Peter III to the throne, who withdrew Russia from the war and saved Prussia from seemingly certain collapse.

Image source: Miracle of the House of Brandenburg

Treaty of Hubertusburg ends Seven Years' War

Feb 15, 1763

The treaty restored prewar borders, leaving Prussia in control of Silesia. Though exhausted and depopulated, Frederick emerged having survived a coalition of Europe's greatest powers.

Image source: Treaty of Hubertusburg

War of the Bavarian Succession (Potato War)

Jul 1778 - May 13, 1779

Frederick fought Austria over the Bavarian succession in a mostly bloodless conflict marked by maneuvers and food shortages rather than major battles, securing limited gains via the Peace of Teschen.

Image source: War of the Bavarian Succession

Key Facts

Frederick II was born on January 24, 1712, in Berlin and became King of Prussia in 1740 upon the death of his father, Frederick William I.
He seized Silesia from Austria shortly after taking the throne, sparking the War of Austrian Succession (1740-1748) and later defending it during the Seven Years' War (1756-1763).
Known as an 'enlightened absolutist,' Frederick promoted religious tolerance, reformed the justice system, encouraged education, and welcomed Voltaire to his court.
Through the First Partition of Poland in 1772, he gained West Prussia, connecting Brandenburg with East Prussia and greatly expanding Prussian territory.
A talented flute player and patron of the arts, he also built Sanssouci Palace in Potsdam, which became a symbol of his cultural legacy; he died on August 17, 1786.

Source

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