Frederick II the Great Biography

Birth of Frederick II the Great, 3rd eldest son of Frederick William I of Prussia

Placed under suspended sentence of death by his father, Frederick William I of Prussia

Fails to escape from the captivity of his father, Frederick William I of Prussia

Appointed Colonel of the Nueruppin infantry regiment by Frederick William I of Prussia

Marries Elizabeth Christine of Brunswick-Bevern

Serves in the Prussian contingent in the Rhineland under Prince Eugene of Savoy

Hosts the exiled King of Poland, Stanislaw I

Frederick & Elizabeth-Christine take up residence in Rheinsberg

Declares the abolition of censorship for books & periodicals

Receives formal homage from the provincial deputies

Summons Count von Podewils & General von Schweri to see how Prussia can benefit

Questions the female succession of Maria Theresa to Austrian possessions

Invites Knobelsdorf to draw up plans for an Opera House in Berlin

Declares the right of all religions to practice their beliefs

Offers to vote for Maria Theresas husband if Silesia is handed over to Prussia

Succeeds as King of Prussia

Declares the abolition of torture for civilian offenders

Visits Strasburg, the only time Frederick II the Great stepped foot of French soil

Death of Frederick William I of Prussia

Crowned King of Prussia, says "a crown is merely a hat that lets the rain in"

Frederick disputed the succession of the 23-year-old Maria Theresa to the Habsburg lands, while simultaneously making his own claim on Silesia

Upon succeeding to the throne and desiring the prosperous Austrian province of Silesia Frederick declines to endorse the Pragmatic Sanction of 1713

Upon succeeding to the throne and desiring the prosperous Austrian province of Silesia Frederick declines to endorse the Pragmatic Sanction of 1713

Offers to vote for Maria Theresas husband if Silesia is handed over to Prussia. Decides to make a preemptive strike against Maria Therasa & her ally the Russians

Orders his generals to invade Silesia

Personally leads an army of 40,000

1st day of the Prussian invasion of Silesia

Frederick II the Great captures Olmutz

Frederick II supports Charles election as Emperor in return for Klodzko

Frederick II supports Charles election as Emperor in return to invade Moravia

Frederick II supports Charles election as Emperor in return to invade Moravia

Frederick II supports Charles election as Emperor in return for Klodzko

Frederick II the Great captures Silesia from Maria Theresa

Marshal Neipperg is defeated by Marshal Schwerin after Frederick fled the field

The Austrians are defeated in their attempt to recapture Silesia

Frederick left Mollwitz when defeat seemed likely, before Schwerin’s infantry secured a Prussian victory.

France prepares to invade Austria in support of Charles Albert of Bavaria. France makes n alliance with Prussia within 5 weeks of Prussia's victory at Mollwitz

Prussia is allowed to capture Neisse. Neipperg is allowed to counterattack the French & Bavarian invaders along the Danube. Frederick II the Great agrees a secret armistice with Neipperg

Frederick II concluded a secret convention with Austria allowing Prussia to retain its Silesian gains temporarily.

Prussian forces occupied Neisse after the fortress completed its staged resistance under the secret convention.

French & Bavarian armies fail to assist Prussia. 1st day of the invasion of Bohemia

Prussian victory over Austria, Charles of Lorraine is defeated by Frederick II

Prussia is awarded Upper & Lower Silesia in the Treaty of Breslau

Treaty signed by Frederick & Maria Theresa, Prussia gains upper & lower Silesia. A peace Treaty is signed after Prussian victory over Austria at Chotusitz

Signs the Treaty of Berlin confirming the Treaty of Breslau and Prussian possession of most of Silesia.

Prompted by Allied victories of 1743 & Maria Theresas wish to regain Silesia. Allies with Louis XV

Leads 80,000 men through Saxony & Silesia into Bohemia

Captures Prague then moves south to the Danube where he threatens Vienna

Prussia extends its territories in Silesia

Prussia offers Charles VII 80,000 troops "to restore liberty to the Empire". Frederick II invades Bohemia

Invades Bohemia & renews the war with Austria, in alliance with France & Bavaria

Frederick II the Great marches into Prague

Frederick II the Great captures Prague

Forced to retreat after the non-arrival of the French due to the illness of Louis XV

Death of Charles VII, his son gives up claims to the Empire & supports the Habsburgs

Prussia recognizes Francis, Duke of Lorraine, as Holy Roman Emperor

Frederick is rewarded with the Duchy of Glatz

Frederick is rewarded with the Duchies of Upper & Lower Silesia

Prussia recognizes Francis, Duke of Lorraine, as Holy Roman Emperor

Austria, Saxony, England & Holland unite against France, Bavaria & Prussia

Frederick II the Great surprises & defeats Charles of Lorraines Austrian Army

Frederick II the Great defeats Charles of Lorraines Austrian Army

Frederick II the Great defeats Charles of Lorraines Austrian Army

Frederick II the Great defeats Charles of Lorraines Austrian Army

Frederick II the Great defeats Charles of Lorraines Austrian Army

Prussia recognizes Francis, the Duke of Lorraine, as the Holy Roman Emperor. At the peace of Dresden Frederick is rewarded with the County of Glatz. At the peace of Dresden Frederick gains the Duchies of Upper & Lower Silesia

At the peace of Dresden Frederick is rewarded with the County of Glatz

At the peace of Dresden Frederick is rewarded with Upper & Lower Silesia

Ends Prussian involvement in the Bohemian War on favourable term

Ends Prussian involvement in the War of Austrian Succession on favourable term

Publication of "The Instruction of Frederick the Great for His Generals"

Publication of "The Instruction of Frederick the Great for His Generals"

Prussia retains Silesia & Glatz. Maria Theresas Hapsburg succession is confirmed. France repudiates Charles Stuart & recognizes the Hanoverian succession

Forma an alliance with England, offset by the Austro-French alliance

England allies with Prussia. An anti-Prussian alliance is formed of Austria, France, Russia, Sweden & Saxony

Begins the Seven Years War by launching a pre-emptive invasion of Saxony

Begins the Seven Years War by launching a pre-emptive invasion of Saxony

Captures Dresden

Incorporates the Saxons into the Prussian Army. Captures Saxony after the Battle of Lobositz

Frederick the Great defeats an Austrian force under Marshal von Browne. A Prussian victory but too late to decide the war

Defeats the French forces of Louis XV

Lanches an invasion of Bohemia with a force of 175,000 troops

The French, who were allied with Austria, Russia, Sweden and Saxony, invaded Germany with two armies, altogether about 100,000 soldiers

Frederick II the Great defeats the Austrians & lays siege to Prague

Marshal Daun goes to the relief of Prague with 60,000 troops. Frederick II the Great defeats the Austrians & lays siege to Prague

Frederick II the Great is defeated by the Austrians at the Battle of Kolin & forced to evacuate Bohemia & Prague

Frederick II the Great is defeated by the Austrians at the Battle of Kolin & forced to evacuate Bohemia & Prague. Defeated by the Austrians at the Battle of Kolin & forced to evacuate Bohemia & Prague

Frederick II the Great is defeated by the Austrians at the Battle of Kolin & forced to evacuate Bohemia & Prague

The Battle of Hastenbeck results in the Convention of Klosterzeven and the occupation of Hanover. The Battle of Hastenbeck

The Battle of Hastenbeck results in the Convention of Klosterzeven and the occupation of Hanover. Following the defeat at Hastenbeck, the allied army withdraws north and Cumberland signs the humiliating Convention of Klosterzeven, ending the war in Germany

The Battle of Hastenbeck results in the Convention of Klosterzeven and the occupation of Hanover

The Battle of Gros Jagersdorf

The Battle of Moys

The Convention of Kloster-Zeven

Ends hopes of a quick war but the Saxons capitulate. Encounters stronger resistance than expected at Pirna

An Allied force plunders Berlin

While Frederick is away, 3,500 Austrians under Hadik raid Berlin and ransom the city

With Fredericks decisive victory over the French at Rossbach, the British renege on the Convention of Klosterzeven and continue the war. The Allied Army is routed with the loss of 10,000 men to Fredericks loss of about 500. A French army, under Soubise, advances through Germany eastward toward Saxony, but Frederick defeats it with an army half its size at Rossbach

With Fredericks decisive victory over the French at Rossbach, the British renege on the Convention of Klosterzeven and continue the war. Frederick defeats the Austrians at Leuthen and recovers Silesia

With Fredericks decisive victory over the French at Rossbach, the British renege on the Convention of Klosterzeven and continue the war

Joins up with the remnants of Brunswicks troops, takes the offensives & marches east

Defeats the Austrians, suffering 5,000 casualties to Austrias 21,000

Destroys 1/2 the Austrian Army, captures Breslau & Silesia

Prussian victory at Leuthen ensures Prussian control of Silesia and Breslau during the Third Silesian War (part of the Seven Years' War)

Prussian victory at Leuthen ensures Prussian control of Silesia and Breslau during the Third Silesian War (part of the Seven Years' War)

Captures Breslau after the Battle of Leuthen

Prussia captures Schweidnitz

1st day of the siege of Olmutz

A supply convoy is wiped out by General Loudon, his troops retreat to Konigratz

The Battle of Krefeld

Russia takes East Prussia & makes Konigsberg swear loyalty to Empress Elizabeth. Only problems of supply force the Russians back to Russia. Frederick wins an inconclusive victory

Frefericks Army is forced to escape via a route opened up by von Ziethenss cavalry. Austria wins the Battle of Hochkirk & Frederick keeps Saxony & Silesia

Frederick II the Great is repulsed by the Austrn Army under Laudon & Soltikov

Austria captures the Prussian army

Frederick prevents the Russians & Austrians linking up by defeating the Austrians

A Russian army burns Berlin but retreats when Frederick the Great relieves it

Victory gives Frederick II the Great command of Saxony. Frederick II the Great forces Dauns Austrian Army to retreat

Gains control of Saxony after the Battle of Torgau

Fredericks army is defeated by an Austron Army led by Daun

Tsarina Elizabet dies & is succeeded by the pro-Prussian Peter III

Captures Silesia after victory at the Battle of Burkersdorf

Tsar Peter III loans Frederick a Russian army corps. Ends the war between Prussia & Russia, saves Frederick from almost total defeat

Frederick can now concentrate his forces against Austria. Ends the war between Prussia & Sweden

Frederick II the Great defeats the Austrian Army under Daun

Under the Treaty of Paris Prussia retains Silesia

Prussia makes peace with Austria & retains Silesia. Britain & France withdraw from the European war

Peace is concluded by the Treaty of Hubertusburg

Frederick II takes west Prussia from Poland

Frederick the Great takes over territories west of the River Vistula, west Prussia

Death of Frederick II the Great, succeeded by his nephew Friedrich Wilhelm II