Friedrich II. the Great – the homosexual King of Prussia: Personality, Character, Historical Peculiarities

 

Frederick the Great: An Official History and Biography

 

Frederick II, known in history as Frederick the Great, was born on January 24, 1712, in Berlin to a family of significant figures who would later change the course of Prussian history. His father was Frederick William I, known as the "Soldier King," and his mother was Sophia Dorothea of Hanover, the daughter of King George I of Great Britain. At the time of his birth, Prussia was an emerging European state with a solid political and economic foundation, though not yet powerful enough to be considered a major power. His father ruled with an iron fist, creating a centralized, disciplined, and financially stable state that he would later leave to his son.

 

In 1740, following his father's death, the 28-year-old Frederick ascended to the throne. The kingdom he inherited was unique in Europe at the time—it had a large, well-trained, and excellently funded army, the fourth-largest on the continent, even though Prussia ranked only tenth in population. His father also left him a substantial, debt-free state treasury and an efficient, centralized bureaucracy that formed the backbone of the Prussian administration. This created a solid foundation for his future ambitions.

 

Immediately after his coronation, Frederick II took actions that would reshape the political map of Europe. In that same year, 1740, he invaded the wealthy and economically crucial province of Silesia, which belonged to the Austrian Habsburgs. This bold move triggered the War of the Austrian Succession. Thanks to Frederick's military talent and his well-trained army, Prussia not only managed to defeat the Austrian forces but also to secure its rule over Silesia. The conquest of this province doubled the Prussian population and gave the kingdom the economic power that elevated it to the status of a European great power.

 

A second, even greater challenge awaited Frederick in the Seven Years' War (1756–1763), where Prussia was forced to fight against a powerful coalition of Austria, France, and Russia. The war demanded enormous sacrifices and resources, but the king's strategic genius and iron will allowed him to withstand the hostile forces and defend Silesia. After this war, Prussia's status as a major military power became undeniable. Later, in 1772, Frederick played a crucial role in the First Partition of Poland, during which Prussia gained West Prussia, connecting its main territories and further solidifying its geographical and political position in Europe.

 

As a ruler, Frederick the Great was an example of enlightened absolutism. He implemented numerous important internal reforms: he abolished torture, introduced a universal legal code (the General State Law for the Prussian States), promoted religious tolerance, and modernized the state economy. He encouraged agricultural development and established state-owned industries. His reign left behind lasting structures that later allowed Prussia to dominate Germany and form the basis for the German Empire (1871). Frederick II the Great died in 1786, leaving behind a strong, modern, and respected state.

 

The Hidden History of Frederick the Great's Homosexuality: Complicated Relationships with His Father and the State

 

Frederick II was a driving force for the Kingdom of Prussia; he greatly strengthened the country and was an energetic and intelligent ruler, but he was also... homosexual.

 

Frederick the Great’s relationship with his father, Frederick William I, was extremely complex and fraught with conflict, marked by constant abuse and the suppression of his son's personality. Frederick William I, known as the "Soldier King," was a pragmatic and militaristic ruler who demanded that his son become a tough, brave soldier and a worthy heir. The young Frederick II, on the other hand, was interested in art, philosophy, music, and literature, and his sensitive nature and perceived "effeminacy" provoked his father's disgust and fury. The father constantly abused his son, openly humiliating him, calling him a "wimp" and a "failure," which only deepened their mutual hatred.

 

The tension in their relationship reached a critical point in 1730 when the 18-year-old Frederick, unable to bear his father's despotism, decided to flee to England. He planned this with his close friend and, as many historians believe, lover, Hans Hermann von Katte. However, the escape was exposed to his father, who viewed the incident as an act of treason and a blatant disregard for his paternal authority. Frederick William I, wanting to restore his power and demonstrate his absolute will, ordered the arrest of both young men and subjected them to a military court.

 

Although the court refused to sentence Frederick to death, believing the son's punishment was the father's own affair, on November 6, 1730, Frederick William I carried out one of the cruelest and most dramatic punishments on his son. By his command, Frederick was forced to watch as his close friend—and to be blunt, his true beloved and lover, Hans Hermann von Katte—was beheaded right before his eyes. This event deeply shocked the young prince and left a lifelong wound. Afterward, Frederick was imprisoned in the fortress of Küstrin, where he spent a year contemplating his fate and ultimately deciding to submit to his father's will. This tragedy completely changed Frederick: he became more pragmatic, tougher, and dedicated himself to the art of ruling, ready to become the monarch his father had wanted.

Regarding Frederick the Great, the King of Prussia, he is often spoken of as one of the most famous monarchs believed to have been gay. His personal story, especially his tragic experience with his friend Hans von Katte, is an essential part of LGBTQ+ history. It demonstrates the immense challenges faced by same-sex individuals in Europe during that era. Although Frederick's homosexuality was not openly acknowledged during his reign, he left a legacy that inspires the LGBTQ+ community to recognize its historical heritage and the ongoing fight for freedom. To this day, his story reflects the historical presence and importance of LGBTQ+ individuals, even when they were forced to conceal their identities.

 

The Hidden History of Frederick the Great's Homosexuality

 

Although Frederick II became king after his father's death and no longer faced direct violence due to his sexual orientation, his homosexuality was not publicly discussed but remained known within his inner circle. It is documented that he maintained intimate relationships with men, and modern historians, relying on letters, diaries, and other contemporary sources, claim that his sexuality was an open secret within the elite society of the time.

 

The most famous witness who wrote about Frederick's homosexuality in veiled terms was the French philosopher and writer Voltaire. Frederick II and Voltaire were close friends for a time, and Voltaire lived and worked at Sanssouci Palace. In his letters and personal notes, which only became publicly available many years later, Voltaire described the king's intimate relationships with allusions. For example, in a letter to his friend d'Alembert, he wrote about Frederick as a "mixture of the loves of Solomon and Sappho," alluding to the king's inclinations toward both men and women. In other letters, he used subtle but to an educated contemporary, understandable hints that clearly pointed to Frederick's homosexuality.

 

In addition to Voltaire, other contemporary sources and figures also wrote about Frederick's homosexuality, although most used allusions. The king was constantly surrounded by the company of close men, especially after his separation from his wife. Members of his circle, such as Jean-Baptiste de Boyer, Marquis d'Argens, and Francesco Algarotti, were considered his close friends and confidants. It was with them that the king communicated openly toward the end of his life. Modern researchers, such as the British historian Thomas Carlyle, also analyze the king's relationships and his homosexuality in his famous "History of Frederick the Great," emphasizing that it was an important character trait that forever distinguished him from his father.

 

Did Frederick the Great Have a Fetish for Tall Men?

 

The army of tall soldiers, known as the "Potsdam Giants" or Lange Kerls, was not assembled by Frederick II the Great but by his father—King Frederick William I. This ruler had an unusual passion, often described by historians as a fetish, for tall men. He believed that a giant soldier symbolized Prussia's military strength and steadfastness. For this reason, he spent his entire life collecting only exceptionally tall men, which became his greatest passion. Only men with a height of at least 188 cm were admitted into the army, while the king himself was only 160 cm tall.

 

The formation of this unique regiment was extremely extravagant and expensive. Frederick William I spared no expense to acquire tall men from across the continent. His agents traveled through Europe, searching for potential candidates. They used various methods to convince or force men to join the regiment, including large monetary payments and sometimes even kidnappings. This regiment became the king's true showpiece, and he used them mostly for parades rather than on the battlefield.

 

When he inherited this army, Frederick II the Great had a completely different perspective. Although he continued to use the "Potsdam Giants" in his army, he did not appreciate his father's extravagance. Frederick II saw them as an expensive, ceremonial unit and had no fetish for tall men himself. He valued military discipline, strategic thinking, and the army's effectiveness on the battlefield more. He reduced the funds for the regiment and no longer sought new members with the same passion as his father.

 

According to historical sources and letters from the time, Francesco Algarotti was one of Frederick II's closest friends and confidants. Their relationship began even before Frederick II became king and was based on shared interests—art, philosophy, and science. When Frederick II ascended the throne, he invited Algarotti to join his court, and Algarotti lived and worked at Sanssouci Palace. Their connection was close, and the letters they wrote to each other contain clear hints of intimacy and deep friendship. Although the exact nature of this relationship cannot be definitively determined, most historians consider it to be homoerotic and believe that Algarotti was one of the few people with whom the king felt completely free.