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| 1. The Hohenzollern Dynasty |
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| HOUSE OF HOHENZOLLERN (1701-1918) |
| Prussian Rulers: Frederick William the Great Elector (1640–88), Frederick I (1688–1713, crowned king of Prussia 1701), Frederick William I, elector and king (1713–40), Frederick II the Great of Prussia (1740–86). | 1 |
| Rise of Brandenburg-Prussia dominated the period. Prussia became a military and political power within Europe, demonstrating its strength in many European wars. It also practiced mercantilism and religious toleration. | 2 |
| Pietism: Pietists emphasized personal commitment, Bible reading, and spiritualism over liturgical rituals and deeds. Frederick William I undermined Lutheran strength in Brandenburg-Prussia by sponsoring Pietism as a state religion and adopting policies of religious toleration. The latter encouraged Huguenots to emigrate from France (See 1685, Oct. 18). | 3 |
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| 1653 |
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| Recess of Brandenburg Estates. Frederick William recognized serfdom where it existed, rights of lords, and the continued right of the estates to participate in foreign policy (a right generally conceded by the estates to the elector in practice). In exchange, the recess granted Frederick William taxes that enabled him to maintain a standing army. Prussian electors built upon this base, using European wars to demand more funds for the army. | 4 |
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| 1666 |
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| Succession in Cleve-Jülich settled. Brandenburg ultimately received Cleve, Mark, and Revensberg. | 5 |
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| 1667 |
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| Taxes reorganized. Towns now subjected to an excise tax and rural areas to a direct tax. The taxes technically set out to eliminate hardship in the cities but also provided the elector with a more flexible tax base. | 6 |
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| 1682 |
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| The African Company founded in Prussia. Frederick William was the first shareholder. He also established military forts in Guinea (1684). | 7 |
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| 1686 |
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| Frederick William renounced his claims to the Silesian duchies in return for the cession of Schwiebus. | 8 |
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| 1701, Jan. 18 |
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| FREDERICK III, elector of Brandenburg (1688–1713), with the consent of the emperor assumed the title of king in Prussia and crowned himself in Königsberg. | 9 |
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| 1713–40 |
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| FREDERICK WILLIAM I laid the foundation of the future power of Prussia. Maintenance of a standing army of 83,000 men, with a population of 2.5 million inhabitants. | 10 |
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| 1713 |
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| Table of Ranks revised. It established military ranks that gave precedence to military officers over civilian officers. | 11 |
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| 1718 |
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| Export of raw wool prohibited in Brandenburg-Prussia. | 12 |
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| 1722 |
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| Creation of General Directory to supervise royal fiscal, judicial, and military policies throughout the kingdom. | 13 |
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| 1723 |
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| Frederick William I created a state administrative apparatus that combined the General War Commissary and General Finance Directory. | 14 |
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