FRIEDRICH I

Frederick I (1657-1713) - King of Prussia from the Hohenzollern dynasty, who ruled in 1701-1713 he.
Spouses:

1) from 1679 g. Elizabeth Henrietta, daughter of Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel Wilhelm VI (genus. 1661 g. + 1683);

2) with 1684 g. Sophia Charlotte, daughter of the Elector of Hanover, Ernst August (genus. 1668 g. + 1705);

3) since 1708 Mr. Sophia Louise, the daughter of the Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin Friedrich (genus. 1685 g. + 1735).

Genus. July 12, 1657, Mr.. + 25 February 1713

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Elector of Brandenburg Frederick III, named after the royal title Frederick 1, born in Koenigsberg. He was short and the addition of a weak, but differed passionate character, showed a child a lot of curiosity and industriousness. My father did little for. His upbringing, but he still received a good education thanks to the dedication of his mentor Dankelmana, donated to the bulk of his estate. From early youth, Frederick was very fond of splendor, grandeur and court etiquette. Independently, he began to reign in 1688, Mr.. and soon announced his desire to take the royal title. Achieving this goal has become the cornerstone of its policy. Emperor Leopold has long opposed the claims of the Elector of Brandenburg, but he badly needs the money because of the expected war of the Spanish Succession, and the rich Hohenzollern very handy offered him 6 million gold. This led Leopold throw hesitation. In July 1700 g. He gave Frederick the royal dignity, and January 18, 1701, Mr.. new king was crowned in KцІnigsberg. They write that Frederick have spent 300 thousand thalers to bribe the imperial ministers and officials, but with the acquisition of higher status, he won the infinitely more. The value of Prussia in Germany, then became much more significant. This became evident already in the immediate descendants of Frederick. The very first thing he was concerned about the satisfaction of his vanity and spared nothing to increase the brightness of his Berlin court, which became for him the focus of grandeur and luxury.

. The new king, unlike his father, was not very industrious, but he was surrounded by these statesmen who have made at that time very much for the prosperity of Prussia
. In foreign policy, Frederick until the end of his reign was devoted to the imperial course. Since the beginning of the War of Spanish Succession, he joined the grand coalition, made in Europe against France and Spain, and for twelve years, contains a significant military detachment, which has rendered great assistance to the Duke of Marlborough and Prince Eugene. In his religious policy, King remained an ardent defender of Protestantism, and had a most cordial reception by the French Huguenots, by hosting over 25 thousand refugees and giving them equal rights with other subjects. Much has been done with it and for the development of education: in 1694, Mr.. in Halle, the university was founded, in 1695, Mr.. established by the Berlin Academy of Painting, and in 1700, Mr.. announced the establishment of the Berlin Academy of Sciences. King went for it on the high cost, but the general opinion, agreed they were not out of love for art or science, but rather from vanity, to look like Louis XIV.