Frederick William died in 1740. Within months of coming to the throne, Frederick invaded Silesia-then a part of the Austrian Empire, now part of Poland. With characteristic humor, ...

POTSDAM, Germany — Margit Lichtenberger glowed yesterday after she walked by the coffin holding the body of Frederick the Great, one of Germany’s most famous historical figures. “A great man.

After Frederick William I’s death in 1740, his son and successor took the throne and surprisingly went on to achieve stunning military victories, consolidating Prussia’s role as a great ...

Myth 1: Frederick William of Brandenburg is the founding father of Prussia. After his father's death, the 20-year-old took over the government of Brandenburg as Elector in the Holy Roman Empire.

In 1723, Peter asked Frederick William to send back at least 152 of the “tall fellows,” and promised to replace them with “simple” recruits. Frederick, however, was reluctant to do this.

On May 31, 1740, Frederick William I of Prussia died and was succeeded by Frederick II, who became known as Frederick the Great.In 1889 floods killed 2,200 people in Johnstown, Pa., after a dam ...

Frederick "declared that he would,” reports Blanning, “always follow the Epicurean gospel.” Epicurus’s term for this one pleasure is ataraxia , a pleasant, untroubled state of mind.