Friedrich Wilhelm Kurfürst
von Brandenburg
(16.02.1620 - 29.04.1688)
place of birth: Coelln-Meissen
(Berlin)
Königreich Preußen:
Seine Majestät der König, Chef der
Armee
Friedrich Wilhelm, der große Kurfürst von Brandenburg,
was the son and successor of Georg Wilhelm, ruling as
Brandenburg's Great Elector from
1640 to 1688. At his
accession to the throne, the scattered lands of the Hohenzollerns were
devastated and depopulated by the Thirty Years War
and occupied by Swedish troops. Friedrich Wilhelm immediately
negotiated an armistice with Sweden and then turned to building his
military strength. Beginning with few resources and no dependable
troops, he raised an efficient army.
At the Peace of Westphalia, which ended
the Thirty Years War, Friedrich Wilhelm received
Eastern Pomerania and several other territories. He joined Sweden in
its war against Poland (1655–60) but deserted the Swedes after Russia
and Denmark entered the war. In a treaty with Poland (1657) he obtained
recognition of his sovereignty over Prussia, previously held as a fief
of the Polish crown. Now allied against Sweden, he gained Western
Pomerania, but was deprived of it by the Peace of Oliva
(1660).
In the succeeding years, Friedrich Wilhelm
continued in his attempt to consolidate his widely scattered lands, at
the same time trying to avoid French or Hapsburg domination. In the Dutch
War of 1672–78 he achieved his objective of uniting all of
Pomerania, but was forced to give up his conquest as a result of the
peace between France and the Holy Roman Empire. His prestige was
nevertheless enormously enhanced by his brilliant victory at Fehrbellin
(1675) over France’s Swedish allies. He laid the foundation of the
Prussian state by repressing the estates, strengthening central
administration, husbanding the resources of his lands, improving
communication, and building the army. His son Friedrich I became the
first king of Prussia in 1701.
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Kurfürst
von Brandenburg |
01.12.1640
- 29.04.1688 |
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Generallieutenant |
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