Frederick the Great and the Rise of Prussia

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

56387

Title

Frederick the Great and the Rise of Prussia

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

This book is a biographical study of Frederick the Great, King of Prussia, and his role in the rise of Prussia. The author, William Fiddian Reddaway, explores Frederick's life and reign, including his military campaigns and diplomatic efforts.

Summary up to 500 words

Frederick the Great and the Rise of Prussia by William Fiddian Reddaway is a historical account of Frederick II's reign as King of Prussia in the 18th century. The book explores Frederick's military victories, particularly at Mollwitz and Rossbach, which established Prussia as a major European power. Reddaway also discusses Frederick's diplomatic efforts, including his alliance with France and attempts to expand Prussian territory. Throughout the book, Reddaway provides detailed descriptions of key events and battles, as well as insights into Frederick's personality and motivations. The author draws on various sources, including Frederick's own writings and the Politische Correspondenz of his reign. Reddaway also acknowledges the influence of other historians, such as Carlyle and Koser, whose works provided valuable information for his narrative. The book covers significant events in Prussian history, including the Battle of Mollwitz, where Frederick's army suffered heavy losses but ultimately emerged victorious. This battle marked a turning point in Frederick's career, as he began to consolidate his power and establish Prussia as a major player on the European stage. Reddaway also discusses Frederick's alliance with France, which was secured through the Treaty of Breslau in 1741. This alliance allowed Frederick to focus on expanding Prussian territory, particularly in Silesia. However, Frederick's ambitions were soon thwarted by the Austrian army, led by Prince Charles, who defeated him at the Battle of Kolin in 1757. Despite this setback, Frederick continued to pursue his goals, and his military campaigns eventually led to the Battle of Leuthen in December 1757. This battle was a decisive victory for Frederick's forces, as they were able to defeat the Austrian army and secure control over Silesia. The book concludes with an account of Frederick's later years, during which he continued to consolidate his power and establish Prussia as a major European power. Throughout the narrative, Reddaway provides detailed descriptions of key events and battles, as well as insights into Frederick's personality and motivations. He also acknowledges the influence of other historians whose works provided valuable information for his narrative. The book is part of the 'Heroes of the Nations' series, which aims to present biographical studies of representative historical characters who have been accepted as types of national ideals. The series covers a range of topics, including ancient and modern history, and features contributions from recognized authorities in their respective fields.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

Download URL

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/56387.epub.noimages

Local file path

data/epubs/pg56387.epub

Download EPUB

Downloaded at

2026-07-11 12:42 UTC

Categories

• Biography
• European History