Frederick II

The year that Frederick ascended to the Prussian throne, he invaded Austria's province of Silesia, beginning a series of military adventures thereby stirring up the alliances of the European powers and culminating in world war (Seven Years War), which included the Americas.

Though he did not directly attach Russia, his actions with regard to Poland and his influence in the Baltic States caused the Russians to fear and dread him. Eventually Frederic was seen as the mortal enemy of Russia, which in turn brought on a coup d’état in St. Petersburg. Fredrick's policies and military actions laid the foundation for the future German Reich.