| Hohenzollern Prussia and How it Came to Be |
The capital was moved from the town of Brandenburg to Potsdam as the Hohenzollern dukes and
electors became Kings of Prussia, steadily attaining great prestige and power, starting with the
reforms of the administration and the army undertaken by Friedrich Wilhelm, the Great Elector of
Brandenburg, and continued by his son and grandson, the first two Prussian kings. With connections
to Frankish Nurnberg, Ansbach and the southern German Hohenzollerns, as well as to eastern
Europe, the Hohenzollerns were one of the most important and oldest royal families of Europe.
electors became Kings of Prussia, steadily attaining great prestige and power, starting with the
reforms of the administration and the army undertaken by Friedrich Wilhelm, the Great Elector of
Brandenburg, and continued by his son and grandson, the first two Prussian kings. With connections
to Frankish Nurnberg, Ansbach and the southern German Hohenzollerns, as well as to eastern
Europe, the Hohenzollerns were one of the most important and oldest royal families of Europe.
East Prussia had been destroyed by plague and famine when Friedrich Wilhelm I, the Soldier King,
took the throne. He bequeathed a strong economy with a cash surplus and Europe's best-trained
army to his son, the future Friedrich the Great.
took the throne. He bequeathed a strong economy with a cash surplus and Europe's best-trained
army to his son, the future Friedrich the Great.
One should probably begin the story of Friedrich the Great and his
family with a brief background of the Kingdom of Prussia and how
it came into their hands. Brandenburg was one of the seven
Electorships of the Holy Roman Empire from the late medieval
period and controlled by the Bavarian royal Wittelsbach family
from 1323 until 1415, when Emperor Sigismund granted it to the
royal House of Hohenzollern. From the year 1442, Berlin became
the residence of their family. In 1525, Hochmeister of the Teutonic
Order, Albrecht Hohenzollern of Brandenburg-Anspach, became
Lutheran and secularized the Order's Prussian holdings into the
duchy of Prussia. He resigned from the order and gave homage to
the Polish king for the duchy . In 1530, the seat of the Order was
transferred from Marienburg to Mergentheim.
family with a brief background of the Kingdom of Prussia and how
it came into their hands. Brandenburg was one of the seven
Electorships of the Holy Roman Empire from the late medieval
period and controlled by the Bavarian royal Wittelsbach family
from 1323 until 1415, when Emperor Sigismund granted it to the
royal House of Hohenzollern. From the year 1442, Berlin became
the residence of their family. In 1525, Hochmeister of the Teutonic
Order, Albrecht Hohenzollern of Brandenburg-Anspach, became
Lutheran and secularized the Order's Prussian holdings into the
duchy of Prussia. He resigned from the order and gave homage to
the Polish king for the duchy . In 1530, the seat of the Order was
transferred from Marienburg to Mergentheim.
This achievement enabled Friedrich Wilhelm's son, Friedrich III of Brandenburg,
to achieve prominence in 1700 when the Austrian emperor Leopold I needed his
help in the War of the Spanish Succession. Since there were no German kings
within the Holy Roman empire apart from the Habsburg kingdom of Bohemia,
Leopold allowed Friedrich to become the King of Prussia.
to achieve prominence in 1700 when the Austrian emperor Leopold I needed his
help in the War of the Spanish Succession. Since there were no German kings
within the Holy Roman empire apart from the Habsburg kingdom of Bohemia,
Leopold allowed Friedrich to become the King of Prussia.
In prehistory, the east of "east Prussia" was inhabited by the Eastern Balts. In time, the Western
Balts consolidated into the Old Prussian nation, while the Eastern Balts, including the "Curonians",
consolidated into part of Latvia and Lithuania. Parts of the Baltic region remained wilderness for
longer than anywhere else in Europe. About 350 BC Pytheas called the territory Mentenomon and
the inhabitants Guttones, neighbors of the Teutones. The territory was called "Brus" ("Prus") on an
8th century German map. Vikings travelling across the Baltic Sea penetrated into the area in the 7th
and 8th centuries and many were absorbed into the local population, especially in the bigger trade
areas such as Truso and Kaup, although these areas were among those destroyed by Vikings and
Danes later. The old Prussian language belonged to the Western branch of the Baltic language group,
but old Prussians spoke a variety of tongues, including German, and some related to those of modern
Latvian and Lithuanian.
Balts consolidated into the Old Prussian nation, while the Eastern Balts, including the "Curonians",
consolidated into part of Latvia and Lithuania. Parts of the Baltic region remained wilderness for
longer than anywhere else in Europe. About 350 BC Pytheas called the territory Mentenomon and
the inhabitants Guttones, neighbors of the Teutones. The territory was called "Brus" ("Prus") on an
8th century German map. Vikings travelling across the Baltic Sea penetrated into the area in the 7th
and 8th centuries and many were absorbed into the local population, especially in the bigger trade
areas such as Truso and Kaup, although these areas were among those destroyed by Vikings and
Danes later. The old Prussian language belonged to the Western branch of the Baltic language group,
but old Prussians spoke a variety of tongues, including German, and some related to those of modern
Latvian and Lithuanian.
The Grand Master (Hochmeister) went to Venice after the fall of Acre in 1291, and then, after
conquering Pomerelia in 1309, to Marienburg in Prussia, absorbing the Sword-Brethren in Livonia
whose expansion had taken place further east. The knights administered their lands from Marienburg
and granted considerable freedom to the cities, many of which joined the Hanseatic League. The
Order was defeated in 1410 at Tannenberg by Poland and Lithuania, and after a revolt in its own
territories it became a vassal of Poland.
conquering Pomerelia in 1309, to Marienburg in Prussia, absorbing the Sword-Brethren in Livonia
whose expansion had taken place further east. The knights administered their lands from Marienburg
and granted considerable freedom to the cities, many of which joined the Hanseatic League. The
Order was defeated in 1410 at Tannenberg by Poland and Lithuania, and after a revolt in its own
territories it became a vassal of Poland.
In the 13th century, more German emigrants arrived to settle the Prussian lands, and the Order was
now an independently formed, noble political entity, and in 1243 and in 1263, the Pope allowed the
knights to monopolize the grain trade.
now an independently formed, noble political entity, and in 1243 and in 1263, the Pope allowed the
knights to monopolize the grain trade.
Eastern Prussia from the 13th century on was almost entirely German as a result
of German settlers. During the siege of Acre in 1190, the Teutonic Order began as
a hospital brotherhood to care for the many sick German crusaders who were
denied medical care from others. It was turned into a military-monastic order in
1198, reflecting the involvement of the Hohenstaufen dynasty in the Holy Land.
The order conquered territory in the Holy Land, and then, under grandmaster
Hermann von Salza, Eastern Europe, where they rose to prominence. They were
in Hungary by 1211-25. After 50 years of war, the knights had subdued the pagan
Prussians, who had risen in revolt repeatedly and were now reduced to serfdom.
The Order allied themselves with the Polish dukes of Masovia and Silesia to both
subjugate the Prussians and fight against Novgorod.
of German settlers. During the siege of Acre in 1190, the Teutonic Order began as
a hospital brotherhood to care for the many sick German crusaders who were
denied medical care from others. It was turned into a military-monastic order in
1198, reflecting the involvement of the Hohenstaufen dynasty in the Holy Land.
The order conquered territory in the Holy Land, and then, under grandmaster
Hermann von Salza, Eastern Europe, where they rose to prominence. They were
in Hungary by 1211-25. After 50 years of war, the knights had subdued the pagan
Prussians, who had risen in revolt repeatedly and were now reduced to serfdom.
The Order allied themselves with the Polish dukes of Masovia and Silesia to both
subjugate the Prussians and fight against Novgorod.
The main feature of Friedrich Wilhelm's internal policy was the establishment
of a system of permanent taxation, the revenue from which funded a strong,
standing army. By the time the Great Elector's grandson Friedrich Wilhelm I
took power, the Prussian army amounted to 80,000 men, a whole 4% of the
population, in a system which kept many armed men as a highly trained citizen
army without damage to the economy. Half of the army was made up of foreign
mercenaries, and half were drafted from peasants throughout Prussia and
Brandenburg. After training, they could return to their homes and regular jobs
for ten months a year. Nobles served as well, but merchants were exempt.
of a system of permanent taxation, the revenue from which funded a strong,
standing army. By the time the Great Elector's grandson Friedrich Wilhelm I
took power, the Prussian army amounted to 80,000 men, a whole 4% of the
population, in a system which kept many armed men as a highly trained citizen
army without damage to the economy. Half of the army was made up of foreign
mercenaries, and half were drafted from peasants throughout Prussia and
Brandenburg. After training, they could return to their homes and regular jobs
for ten months a year. Nobles served as well, but merchants were exempt.
East Prussia, along the southeastern coast of the Baltic Sea where
it enclosed the bulk of lands of the now-extinct old Prussians, was
once ruled by the Teutonic Order who since 1220 dotted the
landscape with castles at a distance of 20 miles from one another
throughout the area (click on map, left) and founded numerous
towns and fortresses, including Königsberg. Eastern, or "Ducal
Prussia", was almost entirely German as a result of German settlers
from the 13th century on. The Knights eventually faced conflict
with the newly reunited Kingdom of Poland, and after several wars
were defeated at the Battle of Grunwald in 1410. Although it
remained under the control of the Knights, it was a fief of Poland.
it enclosed the bulk of lands of the now-extinct old Prussians, was
once ruled by the Teutonic Order who since 1220 dotted the
landscape with castles at a distance of 20 miles from one another
throughout the area (click on map, left) and founded numerous
towns and fortresses, including Königsberg. Eastern, or "Ducal
Prussia", was almost entirely German as a result of German settlers
from the 13th century on. The Knights eventually faced conflict
with the newly reunited Kingdom of Poland, and after several wars
were defeated at the Battle of Grunwald in 1410. Although it
remained under the control of the Knights, it was a fief of Poland.
Problematically, there was that Polish region between the two German regions,
and Brandenburg acquired another stretch of Baltic coast in eastern Pomerania in
1648, bridging the territorial gap between Brandenburg and ducal Prussia. In
1657, the Great Elector Friedrich Wilhelm of Brandenburg succeeded, through
minor warfare and diplomacy, in severing the feudal link between his duchy and
the Polish kingdom. Poland conceded its loss of ducal Prussia in the treaty of
Wehlau in 1657. With the peace of Oliva in 1660, the international community
recognized Prussia as an independent duchy belonging to Brandenburg.
and Brandenburg acquired another stretch of Baltic coast in eastern Pomerania in
1648, bridging the territorial gap between Brandenburg and ducal Prussia. In
1657, the Great Elector Friedrich Wilhelm of Brandenburg succeeded, through
minor warfare and diplomacy, in severing the feudal link between his duchy and
the Polish kingdom. Poland conceded its loss of ducal Prussia in the treaty of
Wehlau in 1657. With the peace of Oliva in 1660, the international community
recognized Prussia as an independent duchy belonging to Brandenburg.
In 1618, the Hohenzollern line in Prussia died out and the duchy passed to a Hohenzollern cousin,
the Elector of Brandenburg. Brandenburg then further expanded its lands to include, among other
territories, the Duchy of Prussia in 1618 and the Duchy of Cleves in 1614. Since 1618, both
Brandenburg and Prussia (Brandenburg- Prussia) were ruled by the Hohenzollerns. Brandenburg
was too widespread to defend itself properly during the Thirty Years' War, but after the devastation,
its brilliant leaders, the first being the Great Elector Friedrich Wilhelm I, managed to take backwater
Brandenburg to a pinnacle of power and prosperity in Europe.
the Elector of Brandenburg. Brandenburg then further expanded its lands to include, among other
territories, the Duchy of Prussia in 1618 and the Duchy of Cleves in 1614. Since 1618, both
Brandenburg and Prussia (Brandenburg- Prussia) were ruled by the Hohenzollerns. Brandenburg
was too widespread to defend itself properly during the Thirty Years' War, but after the devastation,
its brilliant leaders, the first being the Great Elector Friedrich Wilhelm I, managed to take backwater
Brandenburg to a pinnacle of power and prosperity in Europe.
In Livonia, the Ordenmeister Livlands Gotthard von Ketteler followed suit in 1561 and turned the
Order's remaining estates into the Duchy of Kurland. Western, or "Royal Prussia" was left under
Polish control and provided with a corridor to the Baltic Sea. It was at this time that the port city of
Danzig was designated a "free city." The portion of Prussia on the Baltic Sea became a hereditary
duchy belonging to the Hohenzollern family and remained almost exclusively German.
Order's remaining estates into the Duchy of Kurland. Western, or "Royal Prussia" was left under
Polish control and provided with a corridor to the Baltic Sea. It was at this time that the port city of
Danzig was designated a "free city." The portion of Prussia on the Baltic Sea became a hereditary
duchy belonging to the Hohenzollern family and remained almost exclusively German.
Friedrich III, pictured above, is crowned King Friedrich I of Prussia at the royal
palace in Königsberg, East Prussia in 1701, below
palace in Königsberg, East Prussia in 1701, below
