Friedrich Wilhelm Elector of Brandenburg
- Category : Notable-Famous-Royal-family
- Type : ME
- Profile : 4/6 - Opportunistic / Role Model
- Definition : Split - Small (12,36)
- Incarnation Cross : RAX Contagion 1
Categories
Biography
Elector of Brandenburg and Duke of Prussia – and thus ruler of Brandenburg-Prussia – from 1640 until his death. A member of the House of Hohenzollern, he is popularly known as "The Great Elector" (German: Der Große Kurfürst) because of his military and political prowess.
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-Westphalia political order of north-central Europe, setting Prussia up for elevation from duchy to kingdom, achieved under his son and successor.
He died 29 April 1688.