Frederick William III
King of Prussia from 1797 to 1840
Biography
Frederick William III (German: Friedrich Wilhelm III.; 3 August 1770 – 7 June 1840) was King of Prussia from 16 November 1797 until his death in 1840. He was concurrently Elector of Brandenburg in the Holy Roman Empire until 6 August 1806, when the empire was dissolved.
Frederick William III ruled Prussia during the times of the Napoleonic Wars. The king reluctantly joined the Sixth Coalition against Napoleon in the German campaign of 1813. Following Napoleon's defeat, he took part in the Congress of Vienna, which assembled to settle the political questions arising from the new, post-Napoleonic order in Europe. His primary interests were internal – the reform of Prussia's Protestant churches. He was determined to unify the Protestant churches to homogenize their liturgy, organization, and architecture. The long-term goal was to have fully centralized royal control of all the Protestant churches in the Prussian Union of Churches.
The king was said to be extremely shy and indecisive. His wife Queen Louise (1776–1810) was his most important political advisor. She led a powerful group that included Baron Heinrich Friedrich Karl vom und zum Stein, Prince Karl August von Hardenberg, Gerhard von Scharnhorst, and Count August Neidhardt von Gneisenau. They set about reforming Prussia's administration, churches, finance, and military. He was the dedicatee of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony in 1824.
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Career highlights
Career & roles
- Prince-Elector
- King of Prussia
- margrave
Family
- Children
- Frederick William IV of PrussiaWilhelm IAlexandra FeodorovnaPrince Charles of PrussiaPrincess Alexandrine of PrussiaPrincess Louise of PrussiaPrince Albert of Prussiastillborn daughter von HohenzollernPrincess Frederica of PrussiaPrince Ferdinand of Prussia
- Siblings
- Princess Frederica Charlotte of PrussiaPrince Louis Charles of PrussiaWilhelmine of Prussia, Queen of the NetherlandsPrincess Augusta of PrussiaPrince Henry of PrussiaPrince Wilhelm of Prussiaunnamed daughter von HohenzollernUlrike Sophie von Berckholzen
Awards & honours (16)
- Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour
- Knight of the Order of the Holy Spirit
- Knight of the Order of Saint Michael
- Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece
- Order of the Black Eagle
- Order of St. Andrew
- Order of St. George, 4th class
- Knight Grand Cross of the Military Order of William
- Grand Cross of the Sash of the Three Orders
- Military Order of Maria Theresa
- Royal Order of the Seraphim
- Knight of the Order of the Elephant
- Order of St. George
- Order of the Golden Fleece
- Legion of Honour
- Order of the Elephant
Quick answers about Frederick William III
- How old was Frederick William III?
- Frederick William III died on June 7, 1840 at the age of 69.
- When is Frederick William III's birthday?
- Frederick William III was born on August 3, 1770.
- Where was Frederick William III born?
- Frederick William III was born in Potsdam.
- What is Frederick William III's zodiac sign?
- Frederick William III's zodiac sign is Leo.
- What is Frederick William III's nationality?
- Frederick William III is a citizen of Kingdom of Prussia.
- What does Frederick William III do?
- Frederick William III is known as composer, monarch.
- Who has Frederick William III been married to?
- According to Wikidata, Frederick William III's spouses include Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Auguste von Harrach.
- How many children did Frederick William III have?
- Wikidata lists 10 children of Frederick William III.
