The Tree of Europe · Person
Frederick William II of Prussia
Nephew and successor of Frederick II the Great, King of Prussia from 1786. He took part in the partitions of Poland in 1793 and 1795 and in the First Coalition against revolutionary France.
This complete profile is available in English. Bibliographic titles retain their original language. Links marked ES open the Spanish edition.
Key details
Birth: 25 September 1744 Documented
Death: 16 November 1797 Documented
Role: King
Dynasty: Hohenzollern · ES
Territories: Prussia (ES) · Brandenburg (ES) · Silesia (ES) · Cleves (ES)
Recorded governments and reigns
King · Prussia · Reign Pending review1786–1797Effective rule
Elector · Brandenburg · Electorate Pending review1786–1797Effective rule
Sovereign · Silesia · Government Inferred1786–1797Effective rulePrussian sovereignty after the cession of 1742. Teschen/Bielsko and the southern Austrian parts of Opava, Krnov and Nysa are excluded. Frontier cells are approximate.
Duke · Cleves · Duchy Documented1786–1794Effective ruleHohenzollern duchy from the partition of 1614; the left bank of the Rhine was ceded to France in 1795.
Recorded relationships
Parents
Partners
Frederica Louisa of Hesse-Darmstadt · ESDocumented
Their titles over time
Follow the changing territories and offices of Frederick William II of Prussia. Each title retains its own status.
Governments in 1786
- Prussian monarchy4 titles and offices
View titles and jurisdictions
- Prussia · ESKing · Effective rule1786–1797
- Brandenburg · ESElector · Effective rule1786–1797
- Silesia · ESSovereign · Effective rule · Prussian part of Silesia and the County of Glatz; Austrian remnant excluded1786–1797 · Prussian sovereignty after the cession of 1742. Teschen/Bielsko and the southern Austrian parts of Opava, Krnov and Nysa are excluded. Frontier cells are approximate.
- Cleves · ESDuke · Effective rule1786–1794 · Hohenzollern duchy from the partition of 1614; the left bank of the Rhine was ceded to France in 1795.
From 1701 the electors of Brandenburg were kings in Prussia; their lands, including Silesia, conquered in 1742, shared a sovereign and an administration. Each territory retains its own title. 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.
Sources for this profile
- Deutsche Nationalbibliothek · GND authority record · Friedrich Wilhelm II., Preußen, König
- Encyclopaedia Britannica
Biographical and contextual references in their original language. Sources and methodology.
Evidence for this profile
9 recorded claims · 2 without a claim-specific source. Context references do not by themselves verify every fact.
Dates (2/2 with a precise source)
- BirthDocumented
25 September 1744
The authority record gives the birth as 1744-09-25. - DeathDocumented
16 November 1797
The authority record gives the death as 1797-11-16.
Family and relationships (3/3 with a precise source)
- FatherDocumented
Prince Augustus William of Prussia
The authority record identifies Prince Augustus William of Prussia (GND 118505106) as father. - MotherDocumented
Louise Amalia of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel
The authority record identifies Louise Amalia of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel (GND 104201401) as mother. - Marriage or partnershipDocumented
Frederica Louisa of Hesse-Darmstadt
The authority record identifies Frederica Louisa of Hesse-Darmstadt (GND 121733394) as spouse.
Governments (2/4 with a precise source)
- GovernmentPending review
King · Prussia · 1786–1797
A precise source has not yet been added. - GovernmentPending review
Elector · Brandenburg · 1786–1797
A precise source has not yet been added. - GovernmentInferred
Sovereign · Silesia · 1786–1797
Prussian sovereignty after the cession of 1742. Teschen/Bielsko and the southern Austrian parts of Opava, Krnov and Nysa are excluded. Frontier cells are approximate.City of Opava · history of the city · Treaty of Breslau (Wrocław), 11 June 1742: division of Silesia between Prussia and Austria. The River Opava separates the jurisdictions; whole cells of Opava, Hlučín or Krnov are not assigned to the Austrian remnant.Głogów County · institutional history · A fief of the Crown from 1329–1331; a hereditary territory of the Crown de facto in 1488 and formally in 1508; Habsburg from 1526; Prussian from 1742. The record begins in 1508 to exclude the earlier Jagiellonian princely governments.Geheimes Staatsarchiv Preußischer Kulturbesitz · homage documents of 1741 · I. HA GR Rep. 46 B, Nr. 94–98: homage of Lower Silesia to Frederick II in October and November 1741. Occupation in 1741; legal territorial cession in 1742.City of Opava · history of the city · Partition of 1742: Opava, capital of Austrian Silesia. The outlines of Opava, Krnov and Jeseník/Fryvaldov approximate the southern parts that Austria retained, not the exact river frontier.German Historical Institute · Administrative Divisions, 1780 · Areas of the hereditary provinces, Hungary and the Austrian remnant of Silesia. - GovernmentDocumented
Duke · Cleves · 1786–1794
Cleves remains in the King of Prussia’s hands until the cession of the left bank of the Rhine to France (1795).
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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Family
Prince Augustus William of Prussia · ESPrince1722 – 1758Louise Amalia of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel · ESConsort1722 – 1780Frederica Louisa of Hesse-Darmstadt · ESConsort1751 – 1805Frederick William III of Prussia · ESKing1770 – 1840Same dynasty
Wilhelmina of Prussia, Princess of Orange · ESPrincess of Orange1751 – 1820Louisa Ulrika of Prussia · ESConsort1720 – 1782
Frederick II of Prussia“the Great”King of Prussia · Elector of Brandenburg1712 – 1786Sophie Magdalene of Brandenburg-Kulmbach · ESConsort1700 – 1770Frederick William I of Prussia · ESKing1688 – 1740Frederick William IV of Prussia · ESKing1795 – 1861In their lifetime
Frederick II of Prussia“the Great”King of Prussia · Elector of Brandenburg1712 – 1786
Leopold II of the Holy Roman EmpireEmperor1747 – 1792
Joseph II of the Holy Roman EmpireEmperor1741 – 1790
Maria Theresa of AustriaQueen / Archduchess1717 – 1780
Francis II of the Holy Roman EmpireEmperor1768 – 1835William I of Prussia · ESKing / Emperor1797 – 1888