The Tree of Europe · Person

Frederick I of Prussia

Elector of Brandenburg who obtained the title King in Prussia in 1701. His coronation raised the rank of the Hohenzollerns and prepared the rise of the Prussian kingdom.

1657 – 1713Elector / KingHohenzollern · ES

Explore this family · Spanish Atlas Back to people

Historical portraitFrederick I of PrussiaAntoine Pesne · Before 1713Public domain · PD-Art / PDM 1.0 · Source

This complete profile is available in English. Bibliographic titles retain their original language. Links marked ES open the Spanish edition.

Historical profile

Key details

Birth: 11 July 1657 Documented

Death: 25 February 1713 Documented

Role: Elector / King

Dynasty: Hohenzollern · ES

Territories: Brandenburg (ES) · Prussia (ES) · Cleves (ES) · Mark (ES) · Ravensberg (ES)

Recorded governments and reigns

Elector · Brandenburg · Electorate Pending review1688–1713Effective rule

Duke · Prussia · Duchy Documented1688–1700Effective ruleSovereign Duke of Prussia as Elector Frederick III; King in Prussia from his coronation at Königsberg on 18 January 1701.

King · Prussia · Reign Pending review1701–1713Effective rule

Duke · Cleves · Duchy Inferred1688–1713Effective rule

Count · Mark · County Inferred1688–1713Effective rule

Count · Ravensberg · County Inferred1688–1713Effective rule

Family network

Recorded relationships

Parents

Frederick William of Brandenburg · ESDocumentedLouise Henriette of Orange-Nassau · ESPending review

Partners

Sophia Charlotte of Hanover · ESDocumented

Children

Frederick William I of Prussia · ES

Crowns and unions

Their titles over time

Follow the changing territories and offices of Frederick I of Prussia. Each title retains its own status.

Period

Governments in 1688

Brandenburg-Prussia5 titles and offices
View titles and jurisdictions
- Brandenburg · ESElector · Effective rule1688–1713
- Prussia · ESDuke · Effective rule1688–1700 · Sovereign Duke of Prussia as Elector Frederick III; King in Prussia from his coronation at Königsberg on 18 January 1701.
- Cleves · ESDuke · Effective rule1688–1713
- Mark · ESCount · Effective rule1688–1713
- Ravensberg · ESCount · Effective rule1688–1713
From 1618 the Electors of Brandenburg were also Dukes of Prussia, and from 1614 held Cleves, Mark and Ravensberg. Each territory retained its title; Ducal Prussia was a Polish fief until 1657. Source for this grouping

Annual dates: overlap within one year does not prove that two offices were held on the same day. Regencies and co-rulerships retain their labels.

Documentation

Sources for this profile

Biographical and contextual references in their original language. Sources and methodology.

Evidence for this profile

11 recorded claims · 3 without a claim-specific source. Context references do not by themselves verify every fact.

Dates (2/2 with a precise source)

BirthDocumented
11 July 1657
The authority record gives the birth as 1657-07-11.
Deutsche Nationalbibliothek · GND · Friedrich I., Preußen, König · Vital data: birth date
Reviewed on 2026-10-17 by El Árbol de Europa ·
DeathDocumented
25 February 1713
The authority record gives the death as 1713-02-25.
Deutsche Nationalbibliothek · GND · Friedrich I., Preußen, König · Vital data: death date
Reviewed on 2026-10-17 by El Árbol de Europa ·

Family and relationships (2/3 with a precise source)

FatherDocumented
Frederick William of Brandenburg
The authority record identifies Frederick William of Brandenburg (GND 11853596X) as father.
Deutsche Nationalbibliothek · GND · Friedrich I., Preußen, König · Relationships: father → GND 11853596X
Reviewed on 2026-10-17 by El Árbol de Europa ·
MotherPending review
Louise Henriette of Orange-Nassau
A precise source has not yet been added.
No individual review recorded ·
Marriage or partnershipDocumented
Sophia Charlotte of Hanover
The authority record identifies Sophia Charlotte of Hanover (GND 118751530) as spouse.
Deutsche Nationalbibliothek · GND · Friedrich I., Preußen, König · Relationships: spouse → GND 118751530
Reviewed on 2026-10-17 by El Árbol de Europa ·

Governments (4/6 with a precise source)

GovernmentPending review
Elector · Brandenburg · 1688–1713
A precise source has not yet been added.
No individual review recorded ·
GovernmentDocumented
Duke · Prussia · 1688–1700
Sovereign Duke of Prussia from 1688; King in Prussia from January 1701.
Neue Deutsche Biographie · Friedrich I., König in Preußen · Königsberg, 11 July 1657–Berlin, 25 February 1713; Elector Frederick III of Brandenburg; sought a royal title for sovereign Prussia outside the Empire; coronation at Königsberg on 18 January 1701.
Reviewed on 2026-10-19 by El Árbol de Europa ·
GovernmentPending review
King · Prussia · 1701–1713
A precise source has not yet been added.
No individual review recorded ·
GovernmentInferred
Duke · Cleves · 1688–1713
The duchies and counties retained separate institutions. Possession in 1614 was provisional and the definitive partition followed in 1666; Mark and Ravensberg have no separate geometry.
LVR · Herzogtum Kleve · Union of 1511/1521 and partition of 1614/1666.LVR · Erbfolgestreit 1609–1794 · Treaty of Xanten, 1614.
Reviewed on 2026-10-04 by El Árbol de Europa ·
GovernmentInferred
Count · Mark · 1688–1713
The duchies and counties retained separate institutions. Possession in 1614 was provisional and the definitive partition followed in 1666; Mark and Ravensberg have no separate geometry.
LVR · Herzogtum Kleve · Union of 1511/1521 and partition of 1614/1666.LVR · Erbfolgestreit 1609–1794 · Treaty of Xanten, 1614.
Reviewed on 2026-10-04 by El Árbol de Europa ·
GovernmentInferred
Count · Ravensberg · 1688–1713
The duchies and counties retained separate institutions. Possession in 1614 was provisional and the definitive partition followed in 1666; Mark and Ravensberg have no separate geometry.
LVR · Herzogtum Kleve · Union of 1511/1521 and partition of 1614/1666.LVR · Erbfolgestreit 1609–1794 · Treaty of Xanten, 1614.
Reviewed on 2026-10-04 by El Árbol de Europa ·

Biographical and contextual references (2)

Editorial history

2026-10-12 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
2026-10-08 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
2026-10-04 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
2026-10-04 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
2026-10-03 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
2026-09-30 · The duchy is limited to Dijon and Autun; each other fief now enters the map only under its dated ruler. John III of Namur and the Nevers/Rethel branch were added. The previous shape combined later counties and unrelated lands as if all belonged to the duchy from 1363.
2026-09-28 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.

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