Frederick William, Elector of Brandenburg
Elector of Brandenburg from 1640 to 1688 / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Frederick William (German: Friedrich Wilhelm; 16 February 1620 – 29 April 1688) was Elector of Brandenburg and Duke of Prussia, thus ruler of Brandenburg-Prussia, from 1640 until his death in 1688. A member of the House of Hohenzollern, he is popularly known as "the Great Elector"[1] (der Große Kurfürst) because of his military and political achievements. Frederick William was a staunch pillar of the Calvinist faith, associated with the rising commercial class. He saw the importance of trade and promoted it vigorously. His shrewd domestic reforms gave Prussia a strong position in the post-Westphalian political order of Northern-Central Europe, setting Prussia up for elevation from duchy to kingdom, achieved under his son and successor.
Frederick William | |
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Elector of Brandenburg Duke of Prussia | |
Reign | 1 December 1640 – 29 April 1688 |
Predecessor | George William |
Successor | Frederick III |
Born | (1620-02-16)16 February 1620 Stadtschloss, Berlin, Brandenburg-Prussia, Holy Roman Empire |
Died | 29 April 1688(1688-04-29) (aged 68) Stadtschloss, Potsdam, Brandenburg-Prussia, Holy Roman Empire |
Burial | |
Spouse | |
Issue Detail | |
House | Hohenzollern |
Father | George William, Elector of Brandenburg |
Mother | Elisabeth Charlotte of the Palatinate |
Religion | Calvinist |
Signature |