Frederick William III of Prussia

Frederick William III, the future King of Prussia, was born in Potsdam on August 3, 1770. He was known for his shy and reserved nature from a young age.

In 1785, Frederick William III obtained a Lieutenancy in the Prussian Army, marking the beginning of his military career.

In 1790, Frederick William III achieved the rank of Colonel, showcasing his advancement within the military hierarchy.

On December 24, 1793, Frederick William married Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, and they had ten children. Their marriage was problem-free and greatly admired by the Prussian people, enhancing the popularity of the House of Hohenzollern.

In 1795, Frederick William purchased the Paretz estate from his boyhood friend and transformed it into a significant royal country retreat. This estate held sentimental value for him as he had spent a happy part of his childhood there.

Frederick William III ascended to the throne as the King of Prussia on 16 November 1797. He ruled until his death in 1840.

Frederick William became the King of Prussia on 16 November 1802 after the death of his great uncle Frederick Henry I. He immediately started implementing reforms and cutting down expenses.

Initially, Frederick William and his advisors attempted to pursue a neutrality policy in the Revolutionary Wars, successfully staying out of the Third Coalition in 1805.

In October 1806, Frederick William of Prussia was swayed by the queen's pro-war stance and decided to enter the war, abandoning the neutrality policy initially pursued in the Revolutionary Wars.

After the military collapse of 1806–07, Prussia lost all provinces west of the Elbe River, leading to a realization that decisive changes were necessary.

Queen Louise of Prussia passed away in 1810, causing great mourning in the country.

In 1813, after Napoleon's defeat in Russia, Frederick William III of Prussia changed his stance towards France and formed an alliance with Russia.

At the Congress of Vienna in 1815, Frederick William III of Prussia's ministers successfully secured significant territorial expansions for Prussia.

Frederick William III aimed to centralize royal control over all Protestant churches in Prussia through the establishment of the Prussian Union of Churches.

Around 1820, the Preussischer Präsentiermarsch occurred. It was a ceremonial presentation march associated with the Prussian military.

In 1824, Beethoven dedicated his Ninth Symphony to Frederick William III, showcasing the king's influence and importance in the cultural sphere.

Frederick William III aimed to unify the Protestant churches in Prussia, resulting in the merging of Lutheran and Calvinist confessions to form the United Church of Prussia. This move faced significant opposition, leading to coercive measures against the Lutheran minority.

In 1838, King Frederick William III distributed farmland to 422 Protestant refugees from the Austrian Zillertal at Erdmannsdorf Estate. The refugees built Tyrolean style farmhouses in the Silesian village.

Frederick William III passed away on June 7, 1840, in Berlin due to a fever. His death marked the succession of his eldest son, Frederick William IV.

The article on Frederick William III was last updated on March 4, 2024, by the editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica.