Frederick II the Great Biography and Timeline

Birth of Frederick II the Great

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

Role range: 1740-1786

Arrest of Frederick II the Great

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

Role range: 1740-1786

Arrest of Frederick II the Great

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

Role range: 1740-1786

Marriage

Marries Elizabeth Christine of Brunswick-Bevern

Role range: 1740-1786

Colonel

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

Prussian Contingent

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

Hosts the exiled King of Poland, Stanislaw I

Hosts the exiled King of Poland, Stanislaw I

Role range: 1733-1735 – 1740-1786

Rheinsberg

Frederick & Elizabeth-Christine take up residence in Rheinsberg

Role range: 1740-1786

Death of Frederick II the Great

Death of Frederick William I of Prussia

Role range: 1740-1786

Coronation

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

Role range: 1740-1786

Pragmatic Sanction, The

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

Role range: 1740-1748 – 1740-1786

Pragmatic Sanction, The

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

Role range: 1740-1748 – 1740-1786

Rule of Silesia

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

Role range: 1740-1748 – 1740-1786

Invasion of Silesia

Orders his generals to invade Silesia

Role range: 1740-1742 – 1740-1786

Invasion of Silesia

Personally leads an army of 40,000

Role range: 1740-1742 – 1740-1786

Invasion of Silesia

1st day of the Prussian invasion of Silesia

Role range: 1740-1748 – 1740-1786

Invasion of Silesia

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

Role range: 1740-1742 – 1740-1786

Opera House

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

Role range: 1740-1786

Censorship

Declares the abolition of censorship for books & periodicals

Role range: 1740-1786

Coronation

Receives formal homage from the provincial deputies

Role range: 1740-1786

Reform of Royal Succession

Declares the right of all religions to practice their beliefs

Role range: 1740-1786

Succession

Succeeds as King of Prussia

Role range: 1740-1786

Torture

Declares the abolition of torture for civilian offenders

Role range: 1740-1786

Visit to Strasburg

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

Role range: 1740-1786

Death of Frederick II the Great

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

Role range: 1740-1742 – 1740-1786

Rule of Silesia

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

Role range: 1740-1742 – 1740-1786

Invasion of Silesia

Questions the female succession of Maria Theresa to Austrian possessions

Role range: 1740-1748 – 1740-1786

Frederick Second Challenges Habsburg Settlement

Frederick II attacked Austrian Silesia, exposing the weakness of diplomatic guarantees for Maria Theresa.

Capture of Silesia

Frederick II the Great captures Silesia from Maria Theresa

Role range: 1740-1742 – 1740-1786

Battle of Mollwitz

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

Role range: 1740-1742 – 1740-1780

Battle of Mollwitz

The Austrians are defeated in their attempt to recapture Silesia

Role range: 1740-1742 – 1740-1786

Departure from Mollwitz

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

Role range: 1740-1742 – 1740-1786

Alliance France and Prussia

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

Role range: 1740-1742 – 1740-1786

Convention of Klein Schnellendorf

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

Role range: 1740-1742 – 1740-1786

Armistice

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

Role range: 1740-1742 – 1740-1786

Occupation of Neisse

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

Role range: 1740-1742 – 1740-1786

Capture of Olmutz

Frederick II the Great captures Olmutz

Role range: 1740-1742 – 1740-1786

Election

Frederick II supports Charles election as Emperor in return for Klodzko

Role range: 1740-1742 – 1740-1786

Election

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

Role range: 1740-1742 – 1740-1786

Invasion of Moravia

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

Role range: 1740-1742 – 1740-1786