Prussia's Soldier King | The Kingdom without Coronations (1713-1740) | HoP #9

In the previous episodes, we have seen the Great Elector construct the beginnings of both a Prussian state and Army. Through a fortunate change of alliances, he was granted sovereignty over Ducal Prussia by the Polish Crown. It was his son, Frederick III, that managed to secure the title 'King in Prussia', after painstaking negotiations between different stakeholders in the European theatre. This week, we'll look at the second King in Prussia: Frederick Wilhelm I. You might know him by his unofficial title: the Soldier King, and for good reason. Sobering up Prussian court and life near instantly after his ascension, there couldn’t be a larger contrast to his extravagant ceremonial-loving father.
Welcome to the complete history of Prussia.
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Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
0:57 A new King
7:33 Obsession with the Military
13:12 Administrative Reform
16:56 A Great Inner King
19:12 The End (1740)
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►History of Prussia playlist: • History of Prussia
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[@arturomorales966]

Sir, I have to apologize. I am deeply ashamed it took me 2 years to find your channel and this playlist specifically. You are fulfilling my need of knowledge for all things Prussian. Thank you.

[@nicholasbrassard3512]

Loving this series! My mother's family are from East Prussia and i've always been curious of the history of their homeland. Thank you!

[@proof4469]

5:50 Fun Fact: The "Soldier King" hated anyone that was not like himself that he was the first in the world to clone himself and make a whole privy council of himself and his mini-selves (as depicted in this accurate contemporary eyewitness painting).

[@ricardocantero9]

GREAT!!!!! I missed you, I enjoy your videos so MUCH!!!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!

[@catlinferris5970]

Man I literally just let this series roll, had only a little interest in Prussia but this was incredibly insightful and kind of addicting. The soldier king is really when you could say Prussia was modernizing organizationally. He sounds like the one who cemented the state and created a form of centralization to control and moderate a form of justice. Although handed down an already operating state he only expanded internally a fully functioning state. It's very impressive to be honest, you can see a real identity by this point.

[@catlinferris5970]

Oh and the baby died from the crown crushing his head ??!! That's insane man lol

[@HoH]

Prepare for the biography of Frederick the Great and the way he used his dad's army once he became King!

[@FriedrichBarb]

Glad to have you back House of History Hope you continue on this great channel, very informative and formally done, easily understood, definitely worth more subs! 👍🏻

[@yongonine]

You're back!

[@amtmannb.4627]

Nice to get more about that king. In my point of view talking about the aspect that FW I armies didn't saw much of action we have to consider, that his reign just was between the two most important conflicts of the century. FW I knew when to join a war was a good idea. His army participated in the Great Northern war when Sweden's power was lost and the great battles were won. The Swedish army could not send a sufficant army to defend Pommerania. Therefor I would not agree that FW I shared the war without willing it. His father planed to get his role in the war too but the allied leaders of the WSS persuaded F I to not leave the WSS. We don't know what would have been the difference. But the Prussian troops already were excellent in the WSS as they proved it in many battles such aus Turin and Höchstätt. The role of Prussia in the WPS is very interesting. The emperor had signed a treaty and FW I was more than happy to get the money for his troops. However the leaders of the Imperial troops didn't trusted in the Prussian army. FW I used the units from the most far away regions to get them as late as possible in theater of war. Therefore it's characteristic that the Prussian regiments althought of superior quality didn't show any impact in the war. Seckendorff for example even didn't used them in the largest encounter of the war at the river Rhine at Clausen in 1735. It's difficult to rate the foreign politicy of FW I. His undiplomatic behavior had no consequence (as it is the same with his son) because all of his neighbours especially Saxony became weaker and weaker while Prussia became stronger and stronger.

[@FirstLast_Nba]

Very Interesting, I had no idea Prussia had such a rich history.

[@berserker4940]

Best history content on youtube

[@schepvogelk5971]

Intresting statesmanship. Cool video !

[@trueblueclue]

Girls: 5'11'' vs 6 foot Frederick Wilhelm I: 6'2'' vs 6'1''

[@MichaelBrueckner]

It's almost like Friedrich Wilhelm invented deterrence: gather, invest in, and sustain a huge army, but do use it wisely in hot conflicts.

[@Aeyekay0]

Well done video

[@stevenv.surawski1178]

Thank you for an interesting video. Great to have you back, keep up the good work.

[@MrRobfullarton]

Yes, he kidnapped giant men and had them drafted into his dream Potsdamer Giants! Including one from a church!

[@nattygsbord]

The Prussian army basketball team would have kicked ass

[@MrRobfullarton]

@@nattygsbord Good one yeah, absolutely, the Dutch too being tall would be their rivals!!

[@oslonorway547]

20:31 Wait, what? 😂

[@HoH]

It's wild - that video will be up next week!

[@herbert628]

You would never have modern Politician call himself a Servant of the State or Cut down on his own Salary for the Well being of the State. Long live Prussia

[@lisaeaker9064]

I think this is my great grandfather x5 I come from very strict line of German mainly from this Prussia area and this name shows up

[@JamesAce]

Could you maybe do a video about the liberation of Zwolle the provincial capital of Overijssel the Netherlands? I have heard the story’s but I can’t seem to find anyone that split the fiction from the facts and it seems right up your ally many thanks for the great content!

[@cheekysteez]

Seems like a great leader

[@jackray1337]

The sound desynchronized with the video at the end. Example 20:20 ...Otherwise, thanks for the informative video.

[@HoH]

It happens sometimes, I ordered a desktop this week because my old one lagged very often during recordings. Glad you enjoyed the video!

[@na3044]

"Le Roi Sergeant"

[@barrysorento3572]

Where are you from?

[@snakes3425]

Fredrich Willhelm (while his son was young): I HAVE NO SON!!!!! After Fredrich the Great turns Prussia into a global power Fredrich Willhelm: I couldn't be prouder.... that's my boy a chip off the old block.

[@eazygamer8974]

Heavy is the head that wears the crown in this case literally.

[@jamesweikel2594]

So that's why Friedrich Brothers are listed as died in infancy

[@jacobcantrell82]

So in a paradoxical way he was just like his father who favored ceremony by having an essentially pointless army.

[@animationpro1465]

Do more monarchy vids

[@HoH]

Have you watched the previous videos about the first King in Prussia & the Great Elector?

[@kuroazrem5376]

Heil Preussen!

[@MrRobfullarton]

What! He went around in a wheelchair, was he too fat, too lazy, both??

[@M00nsh0t]

Sadly he got the gout which made him fatter and limp. That actually made him sad to the point that he decided to build his own coffin as one last act of strength

[@Franky566]

5:56 the new king came in and said "ENOUGH OF THIS LIMP-WRISTED NONSENSE! BETAS GTFO!"