The Children of Adam and Eve

Frederick William (1620-88), elector of Brandenburg (1640-88), called the
Great Elector, who laid the foundations for the Strong Prussian state of
the 18th century.

The son of Elector George William (1595-1640), Frederick William was born
on February 12, 1620, in Berlin. He succeeded to the electorate during the
Thirty Years' War, when Swedish forces were occupying Brandenburg.
Concluding an armistice with Sweden, he was able to repair some of the
war's damage to the country. He remained neutral until the Peace of
Westphalia ended the war in 1648; by that treaty he received eastern
Pomerania, along the Baltic Sea, and some smaller territories. Over the
next 30 years, by alliances and wars and systematic strengthening of his
army, Frederick William acquired More lands and power for Brandenburg. In
1656, during the war between Sweden and Poland, he switched his allegiance
from Poland to Sweden and back to Poland in return for the latter's
recognition of his suzerainty over East Prussia, until then a Polish
dependency. In 1675 he defeated invading Swedish forces at Fehrbellin and
conquered western Pomerania, Long coveted for its important seaports, but
at the insistence of France, Sweden's ally, he relinquished the territory
at the Peace of Saint-Germain-en-Laye in 1679.

Frederick William centralized government administration and improved
almost every area of public affairs, especially industry and commerce.
After the Edict of Nantes in 1685 he admitted large numbers of Huguenots,
who, with the technological skills they had acquired in France, aided in
the development of Prussian industry. He also created the Prussian navy,
founded colonies in western Africa, and established the Royal Library in
Berlin. He died in Potsdam on May 9, 1688.