Frederick II was the monarch of Prussia from 1740 until his death in 1786. He was the last Hohenzollern monarch titled King in Prussia, declaring himself King of Prussia after annexing Royal Prussia from the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1772. His most significant accomplishments include military successes in the Silesian wars, reorganisation of the Prussian Army, the First Partition of Poland, and patronage of the arts and the Enlightenment. Prussia greatly increased its territories and became a major military power in Europe under his rule. He became known as Frederick the Great and was nicknamed "Old Fritz".
Frederick the Great, Prussian king (born 1712)
On August 17, in the year 1786, Frederick the Great, Prussian king (born 1712). This event is recorded as a Notable Deaths event in the history of August 17, one of 414 recorded events on this date across all of history.
1 notable person is associated with this event, including Frederick the Great. Learn more below.
Key Facts
- This event took place on August 17, 1786 (AD era).
- It is categorised as a Notable Deaths event in recorded history.
- Referenced in 1 Wikipedia article.
- 1 notable person is recorded as involved in or associated with this event.
- Wikipedia source last updated on 1 August 2026.
On This Date in History 414
This article draws on content from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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