Frederick William I of Prussia
King of Prussia from 1713 to 1740, Frederick William I expanded the army, strengthened the central state, and imposed austere court practices.
Prussian Army: The armed forces of the Kingdom of Prussia, renowned for discipline and organization. Frederick William expanded and reorganized the army as a central instrument of Prussian power.
Canton System: A Prussian military recruitment system that assigned districts to regiments while allowing many recruits to remain at home between campaigns. It supplied soldiers to the enlarged army without keeping every recruit permanently in barracks.
Sophia Dorothea of Hanover: Queen consort of Prussia and daughter of George I of Great Britain. Her dynastic ambitions and courtly tastes often clashed with her husband’s austerity.
Versailles: The French royal palace and court complex that became a model of aristocratic magnificence under Louis XIV. Its splendor contrasts with Frederick William’s austere court and rejection of costly display.
Prussian General Directory: The central administrative body established in 1723 to oversee Prussia’s finances, military affairs, and domestic administration. Its creation concentrated authority and linked civil administration with military needs.
Prussian military reforms: Changes to Prussia’s military organization, recruitment, training, and command structures. Frederick William developed the army’s size, discipline, and administrative support.
Leopold I, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau: A Prussian field marshal who introduced major infantry training and organizational reforms. His military innovations complemented Frederick William’s expansion of the Prussian army.
Louis XIV: King of France from 1643 to 1715, associated with royal centralization and court magnificence. Frederick William pursued centralization without reproducing Louis XIV’s lavish court culture.
Frederick the Great: King of Prussia from 1740 to 1786, known for military victories and reforms. He inherited the army and state apparatus his father had built.
Prussian Treasury: The government institution responsible for managing Prussia’s public revenues and expenditures. Frugal spending and regularized revenue helped finance the army and royal administration.