The Rise of Prussia in the 18th Century

During the 18^th century, Prussia was a prominent power that came into rule along with the other great powers of Britain, Russia, and the continued dominance of France. It would play a significant role in the shaping of the modern world during the time of discovery of the New World.

The first event that occurred in the series of events leading to the increase of power in Prussia was their occupation of the Brandenburg area. The Prussians were a Hohenzollern family and due to the fact that the area lacked any decent natural resources, the rulers had to find other ways to compensate for this void in the Prussian economy.

Frederick William ruled Prussia from 1640 to 1668. He was the first major ruler in the rise of power for Prussia in the 18^th century. His nickname was the “Great Elector”, because he was one of the princes who would determine who was the Holy Roman Emperor. However, this is not what made him such a domineering figure. Frederick William was important to the advancement of Prussia because he was able to get a large standing army for Prussia. It’s important to note that up to this point, Prussia did not have a very large army, so when Sweden and Poland posed a threat to Prussia, Frederick William had to act fast. He did this by gaining money through military force. Frederick William would tax his people in order to get enough money to sustain a strong army. This allowed him to not have to have the approval of nobility (which previously had been necessary) and let him get the Junkers (the nobility) under control.

After the Great Elector’s rule, Frederick William I came into rule (well really after Frederick I, but Frederick I only lived a life of luxury). Not to be mistaken with Frederick William, Frederick William the first is also known as the King of Prussia. During the War of Spanish Succession, he offered his army to the Holy Roman Emperor. In return, the H.R.E. gave him the title of the “King of Prussia”. The King of Prussia was a phenomenal ruler. His goals were to get Prussia to be a great power, and he is greatly credited for doing so. First, he implemented a cabinet system of government. This allowed him to be in control, because all of the lower offices had to tell him what was going on, this resulted in the lessening of power of the nobles and ministers. He also implemented the General Directory, which united all areas of his empire specifically by splitting government into four different departments. This was another action that he took in order to strengthen his own power. Even though he was strengthening his own power, the King of Prussia was able to unite his people. He believed that people lived for two things: God and their ruler. Service to the monarch and nation was incredibly important in his book.

However, what is the most notable accomplishment aside from the cabinet government and the General Directory would have to be the army. The Prussian army doubled in size within around forty years. Prussians had the third largest army in Europe…when they only had the thirteenth largest population in Europe! What Frederick William I was able to do, was get people under him. How? Well, he made the army a highly ranked social class. If you were high up in the army, you were high up. This meant that the sons of Junkers wanted these positions, because the Junkers always wanted power (remember, the Junkers are the nobility and the nobility are losing power this whole time). But it’s not the enormous size of the army that is significant, it is how Frederick William I used his army. Contrary to what others would do, the King of Prussia actually used his army as a symbol of power, and not as a means of dominance. He did not think of aggression as a way to gain power in Europe. While his son Frederick II the Great would not do the same when he gained the throne (he invaded Silesia, thus ending the Pragmatic Sanction), the methods of Frederick William I in handling issues largely accounted for the success of Prussia.

For these reasons, Prussia was able to grow as a significant European power in the 18^th century. The actions of their domineering leaders greatly attributed to the success of the nation as a whole. In the years to come, Frederick William II would lead several wars, some successful and some not as much, but he was only able to do that due to the prior leadership of the Prussian rulers.