Frederick William III
The King of Prussia who lived through crushing defeat and revival in the Napoleonic Wars.
Life
The hesitant king
Frederick William III came to the throne in 1797, a cautious and hesitant man. Prussia long remained neutral and did not declare war on France until 1806, when it was immediately routed at Jena and Auerstedt, and the royal family fled to East Prussia.
Jena and Tilsit
Under the 1807 Treaty of Tilsit Prussia lost nearly half its territory. He then employed Stein, Hardenberg, Scharnhorst and others to carry out reforms, abolishing serfdom and reforming the army and education. In 1813 he declared war on France and instituted the Iron Cross, and Prussia rose again in the War of Liberation.
War of Liberation
After 1815 he turned conservative and kept putting off his promise of a constitution. He died in 1840.
Legacy
Under Frederick William III, Prussia went from near extinction to being among the victors, its territory expanding to the Rhineland and laying the groundwork for the later unification of Germany.
Did you know? His marriage to Queen Louise was regarded at the time as a model of royal devotion.
Key dates
- 1797Accession
- 1806Disastrous defeat at Jena
- 1807Treaty of Tilsit; reforms begin
- 1813Declared war on France; instituted the Iron Cross
- 1815Attended the Congress of Vienna
- 1840Died