Justus Hashagen

“ Frederick William turned for help to the western powers, England and France, and secured it by the treaty of alliance signed at Herrenhausen on the 3rd of September 1725 (League of Hanover) . But since the western powers soon sought to use the military strength of Prussia for their own ends, Frederick again turned towards the east, strengthened above all his relations with Russia, which had continued to be good, and finally, by the treaty of Wüsterhausen (October 12, 1726; ratified at Berlin, December 23, 1728) , even allied himself with his former adversary, the court of Vienna ”

“ The greater part of the beautiful furniture was sold. His importance for Prussia is twofold: in internal politics he laid down principles which continued to be followed long after his death. This was a province peculiarly suited to his genius; he was one of the greatest administrators who have ever worn the Prussian crown. His foreign policy was less successful, though under his rule the kingdom acquired some extension of territory. ”

“ His policy in respect of the towns was motived largely by fiscal considerations, but at the same time he tried also to improve their municipal administration; for example, in the matter of buildings, of the letting of domain lands and of the collection of the excise in towns. Frederick William had many opponents among the nobles because he pressed on the abolition of the old feudal rights, introduced in East Prussia and Lithuania a general land tax (the Generalhufenschoss) , and finally in 1739 attacked in a special edict the Legen, i.e. the expropriation of the peasant proprietors. ”

“ In the administration of the domains he made three innovations: (1) the private estates of the king were turned into domains of the crown (August 13, 1713) ; (2) the freeing of the serfs on the royal domains (March 22, 1719) ; (3) the conversion of the hereditary lease into a short-term lease on the basis of productiveness. ”