Re: Frederick the Great. How great was he really?
I've always thought his military exploits have managed to overshadow many his greater achievements. He managed to reform Prussia and give it highly efficient bureaucracy, revolutionized the economy and introuduced many enlightenment principles into the country.
Russia's withdrawal from the 7YW does not lessen his sucess at all. He managed to last against three major powers of Europe for seven years with little aid. No matter the outcome, the amount of time he lasted is a vestment to his skill.
When it occurs to a man that nature does not regard him as important and that she feels she would not maim the universe by disposing of him, he at first wishes to throw bricks at the temple, and he hates deeply the fact that there are no bricks and no temples
-Stephen Crane
Re: Frederick the Great. How great was he really?
What's funny is I got a big old biography of Frederick the Great out of the library but only got maybe a quarter of the way in.But I'd echo EMM's comment in saying that his cultural and political contributions are at least as much as why he is labeled "Great" as his military accomplishments.
And Napoleon thought he was awesome, for what it's worth. :P
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