第71节
【】n.charles ntiobeahighlypicturesquefigure,awonderfulhero ofroinhisvaiohavehisrevenge,he ruinedhisory.intheyear1718,heally killedorassassinatedknohande adein1721,ioadt,sall ofherforrbalticpossessionsexceptfinland.thenew russianstate,createdbypeter,hadbeetheleadingpower ofnortheeurope.butalreadyanehe ateakingshape. theriseofprussia theextraordinaryriseofalittle stateinadrearypartofnorthe gerny,calledprussia thehistoryofprussiaisthehistoryofafrontierdistrict. ihtury,charlegransferredtheold thediterraothewildregions ofnortheeurope.hisfrankishsoldiershadpushed thefrontierofeuropefurtherandfurthertoheeast. theyhadnquerednylandsfroheheathenishslavsand lithuaniansheplaihebaltic seaandtheinistered thoseoutlyingdistrictsjustastheuatesused toadnisterherterritoriesbeforetheyachievedthedignity ofstatehood. thefroateofbrandenburghadbeeninally foundedbycharlegodefendhiseastepossessions againstraidsoftheribes.the tribeedthatregion,edduringthe teuryandtheirrketplace,bythenaofbrennabor, beetothenee ofbrandenburg. duringtheeleventh,th,thirteenthandfourteenth iliesexercisedthefunsof ierialgoveorinthisfroate.finallyinthe fifteenthadeitsappear aogea sandyandforlofroerritoryintoohesteffit eiresofthedeworld. thesehohenzolles,ovedfrobr> thehistoricalstagebythebinedforcesofeuropeand arisouthegerny.theywere ofveryhulein.ihturyacertainfrederick ofhohenzollehaddealuckyrriageandhadbeen appointedkeeperoftheberg.hisdesdants hadusedeveryprovetheir poerseveralturiesofchfulgrabbing,they hadbeenappoihedignityofeleegivento thosesnprincesperors oftheoldgerneire.duringtherefortion, theyhadtakenthesideoftheprotestantsandtheearly sevehapohe nernprinces. durihirtyyearshprotestantsand shadplunderedbrandenburgandprussiahequal zeal.butunderfrederick,thegreatelector,the dageklyrepairedandbyaarefuluseof alltheenodintelleesoftheuntry,astate hereicallynoe. deprussia,astateinheindividualandhis ionshavebeeirelyabsorbedbythe isofthenityasahisprussiadatesback tothefatheroffrederickthegreat.frederickiwas ahardoniousprussiansergeant,hagreat loveforbarrootoriesandstrongdutchtobaintense dislikeofallfrillsahers,especiallyiftheywereof frenchin,andpossessedofbutohatideawas duty.severeself,hetoleratednoweaknessinhis subjesoldiers.the relatioselfandhissonfrederickordial, tosaytheleast.theboorishnnersofthefatheroffended thefinerspiritoftheson.thesonsloveforfrench nners,literature,philosophyandsicedbythe fatherasaionofsissyherefolloerrible outbreakbetperants.frederick triedtoescapetoengland.heandurt rtialedandforapitationofhisbest friend.thereuponaspartofhis punishnt,theyoungprioalittlefortress soheproviobetaughtthedetailsofhisfuture businessofbeingaking.itprovedablessingindisguise. etothethronein1740,heknewhowhis untryanagedfrohebirthateofapaupers sontothedetailofaplicatedannualbudget. asanauthor,especiallyinhisbookcalledthe``anti hiavelli,frederickhadexpressedhisforthe politireedoftheafloreorian,whohad advisedhisprincelypupilstolieawas necessarytodosoforthebeoftheiruntry.theideal rulerinfrederiehefirstservantofhispeople, theenlighteaftertheexaleoflouisxiv.in prae,hok,whilewforhispeople tasa unsellor.hisnisterslerks.prussiawashis privatepossession,tobetreatedagtohisownwishes. andnothingointerferehtheiofthe state. intheyear1740theeerorcharlesvi,ofaustria, died.hehadtriedtokethepositionofhisonlydaughter, riatheresa,sey,tenblack o.butnosoonerhad theoldeerorbeendepositedinthearalcryptofthe habsburgfaly,thanthearesoffrederickarg toheaustrianfroooupythatpartofsilesiafor osteverythingelseiraleurope prussiaeaandvery doubtfulrightsofclaiinanuerofk nqueredallofsilesia,andalthoughheenverynear defeat,heintainedhielfinhisories againstallaustriaacks. europetookduenoticeofthissuddenappearanceofa verypoans hegreatreligious byanyone.frederick, byaneffortassuddenandquiteasterrificasthatof peterofrussia,ptintoone offear.theintealaffairsofprussiawerearrang ...