HIST 106 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Westernizer, Calvinism, Habsburg Monarchy
Document Summary
Significantly bigger than it was at end of middle ages. Also more willing than others to go to war to get territory, took what they wanted. Lucky in sense that it was a dynasty that had competent serious rulers one after the other. Fredrick william, duke of prussia & elector of brandenburg (r. 1640-88) Under him brandenburg prussia really successful esp militarism. Started to make deals with the nobility in his kingdom. Nobles and kings usually always fighting for power and the issue was rarely settled. Prussian nobles known as junkers hohenzallers let nobles control their lands, people etc. without much intervention in turn for loyalty to state which they were. Arguably first prussian ruler to really love his army, kind of obsessed. First to wear military uniform all the time eventually became the norm. Liked to walk around capital (berlin) and find beggars, prostitutes and whack em and tell them to get their act together.