The Formation of Prussia 5.25

Sweden  Strong leadership and innovative military strategies  Rises under Gustavus Adolphus – Invades HRE during Thirty Years War – Controlled Baltic territory – Brilliant military commander  Falls under Charles XII – Defends against Denmark, Poland, Russia – Defeated by Russia, loses territory

The Growth of Brandenburg- Prussia  Centered on Berlin  Hohenzollern family rules  Receive scattered territory due to inheritance  Connecting the territories becomes the goal

Fredrick William the Great Elector  Establishes a militaristic culture  Uses military to achieve political/diplomatic ends  Expands Prussian territory

The Prussian Military State  Militarism becomes the characteristic of the country: duty, obedience, service, discipline  Small country, great army  Support of the army drove governmental policy – Taxes – Simple lifestyles of rulers (resources go to military, not fancy palaces) – Imported talented people from the west – The Junkers (landed aristocracy) became officers, usually in exchange for greater control over the peasants

Frederick William I  Example of Prussian characteristics – Spartan lifestyle – Increased social status of the military – Strict economic policy = large “war chest”

Frederick II (The Great)  Expands holdings in the War of Austrian Succession by invading Silesia – Increases population, industry and army – One of the “Enlightened Despots”