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Frederick William II is born.
Frederick the Great was born as Frederick William II in Berlin. -
Frederick's grandfather dies
In 1713 Frederick I passes away making Frederick the crown prince of Prussia and Frederick the Great's father king . -
Frederick the Great is sent away.
At the age of sixteen Frederick the Great develops a sexual relationship with the king's thirteen year old page, Peter Karl Christoph Keith. When his father finds out he sends young Frederick to his hunting lodge in order to repent for his sins. -
Frederick watches his friend's execution.
At age 18 Frederick the Great attempts to flee Prussia with Hans Hermann von Katte. He is caught and pardoned but Frederick is forced to watch h Hans Hermann von Katte's beheading. -
Frederick the Great is married.
Frederick the Great's father arranges a marriage between Frederick and Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick-Bevern. Frederick was so miserable with the arrangement that he considered suicide. -
Frederick the Great becomes sterile
Frederick's doctor Johann Georg Ritter von Zimmermann claimed that the king had a complication to an operation to cure gonorrhea that made him sterile. Some believe that this was a cover for Frederick's homosexuality. -
Frederick Publishes Anti-Machiavel.
Frederick anonymously publishes Anti-Machiavel which is Frederick's refutation of the Prince by Machiavelli. Frederick believes that a leader should be more like a father to his people than a calculating tyrant. -
Frederick the Great's father dies.
Frederick the Great's father dies leaving sole control of Prussia to the 28 year old Frederick. Frederick admitted that despite their constant conflict, his had been a good ruler. -
Frederick improves the Berlin Academy.
Frederick turned the Berlin Academy into an internationally acclaimed institution. He changed the official language to French at the academy and made philosophy the most important topic of study. -
Frederick the Great meets Johann Sebastian Bach.
Frederick the Great was a prolific musician. He wrote 100 sonatas in his lifetime as well as 4 symphonies. In 1747 Frederick the Great met with Johann Sebastian Bach inspiring Bach to write The Musical Offering. -
Frederick's Reclusion
Towards the end of his life Frederick the Great became increasingly reclusive. Frederick began preferring the company of his Italian greyhounds over his friends. Even with his poor health Frederick rose before dawn and drank six cups of coffee per day. -
Frederick the Great dies.
In the palace of Sanssouci at age 74, Frederick the Great died. Frederick's will stated that he wanted to be buried in the vineyard of the palace next to his dogs but his nephew instead buried him next to his father. -
Frederick reaches his final resting place.
During WWII Hitler ordered Frederick's body to be taken to a salt mine for protection. After the war American soldiers moved Frederick's remains to Marburg. Then in 1991 Frederick was placed in the vineyard next to his dogs like he always wanted.
