3276 x 5669 px | 27,7 x 48 cm | 10,9 x 18,9 inches | 300dpi
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Frederick William I (German: Friedrich Wilhelm I) (August 14, 1688 – May 31, 1740) of the House of Hohenzollern, was the King in Prussia from 1713 until his death. He is popularly known as "the Soldier-King" (der Soldatenkönig). The King acquired a reputation for his fondness for military display — leading to his special efforts to hire the tallest men he could find in all of Europe for a special regiment nicknamed Potsdam Giants (Lange Kerls). He was born in Berlin to Frederick I of Prussia and Sophia Charlotte of Hanover. His father had successfully acquired the title King for the margraves of Brandenburg. Frederick William's contributions to the state of Prussia primarily consisted of civil service reforms, developing the international reputation of the Prussian military, and increasing the overall efficiency and discipline of his military, which in turn placed Prussia as an entity on a par with Early Modern France, the Kingdom of Great Britain, and other politically dominant states in Europe during the 18th century. During his reign, Frederick William I did much to centralize and improve Prussia. He replaced mandatory military service among the middle class with an annual tax, established primary schools, and resettled East Prussia (which had been devastated by the plague in 1709).
