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Frederick the Great

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Monarch

The Resume

    (January 24, 1712-August 17, 1786)
    Birth name Frederick William II
    Hohenzollern king of Prussia (1740-1986)
    Led the Prussians during the War of the Austrian Succession and the Seven Years' War

Why he might be annoying:

    He started and volunteered his small country into many wars during his reign, including the Seven Years' War, considered to be the first actual World War.
    After violating many treaties by invading the Austiran province of Silesia, he argued that it was no longer beneficial for Prussia for Silesia to exist.
    He spoke French rather than German, which was really odd considering the traditional feud between France and Germany.
    He played the flute.
    His tomb was entered by the Nazis and he was used as a model for their eugenics dogma.

Why he might not be annoying:

    Though heralded by Nazis as being an example of the ideal Aryan, his policy was quite different from Nazi policy and probably would have been disgusted by Hitler's actions.
    He was one of the so-called 'enlightened despots.'
    He inherited a small Germanic principality and turned it into the strongest Germanic state in Europe.
    He dreamed of a Germany united under Prussia, which would come to play years later after Chancellor Bismarck won several wars for Prussia.
    He is considered a great military leader who used limited resources to fight against both rival Germanic states and the giant empires of Europe.
    By the time he had died, he had doubled the area of his country.
    He wrote and composed music.
    He was a literary writer.
    He was given absolute power, yet ruled according to what was best for his country.
    He established a code of law and his courtrooms were considered the most honest in Europe.
    He established universal religious toleration and freedom of the press.
    He was personal friends with many great artists, including Mozart and Voltaire.
    He is one of the most celebrated German rulers of all time.

Credit: Captain Howdy


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 170 Votes: 69.41% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 107 Votes: 47.66% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 161 Votes: 53.42% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 43 Votes: 48.84% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 304 Votes: 53.62% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 105 Votes: 50.48% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 114 Votes: 50.88% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 14 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 114 Votes: 54.39% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 102 Votes: 49.02% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 45 Votes: 84.44% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 16 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 22 Votes: 54.55% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 42 Votes: 61.90% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 33 Votes: 42.42% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 54 Votes: 57.41% Annoying
    In 2007, Out of 74 Votes: 48.65% Annoying
    In 2006, Out of 122 Votes: 50.82% Annoying
    In 2005, Out of 187 Votes: 49.20% Annoying
    In 2004, Out of 239 Votes: 53.97% Annoying