On this day 337 years ago, on August 14, 1688 (July 19, 1688 lunar calendar), King Frederick Wilhelm I of Prussia was born. Friedrich Wilhelm I (August 14, 1688 - May 31, 1740), King of Prussia and Elector of Brandenburg (reigned 1713-1740), nicknamed "Soldatenk? nig". Son of Frederick I and father of Frederick II. His father, Frederick I, succeeded in turning Prussia into a kingdom, and he himself greatly strengthened the military power of the kingdom. Frederick Wilhelm I was Elector of Brandenburg and Duke of Prussia Frederick I and Elector of Hanover Ernst? nig Second son of Auguste's eldest daughter Sophie Charlotte. At the age of 13, his father received the title of king, and he became the crown prince of Prussia. He participated in the War of the Spanish Succession. On February 25, 1713, his father Frederick I died and he became king. Frederick William I had just become the throne, and the War of the Spanish Succession ended. April 11 Prussia signed the Peace of Utrecht with France, acquired the Geldstown district, and the two princes of Neuchâtel and Wallenkin near the French and Swiss borders. Frederick William I pursued an extreme militaristic policy. He greatly increased taxes and increased the Prussian army from 38,000 to 83,000 (4% of the population), thus making Prussia the third military power in Europe. During Frederick William's reign, relations with Austria and England were cold, and only allied with France. Frederick William I's Prussia participated in the Great Northern War against Swedish hegemony, but received little. Only because Peter the Great's Russian Empire defeated Sweden, Frederick William I gained Pomerania as far as the mouth of the Oder River. Frederick William I was a severe and militaristic warrior king. He treated his subjects with extremely rough military style, pushed the rigors of military training to the extreme, and created the "Prussian spirit" of "obedience, obedience, re-obedience". This prepared a solid army and economic foundation for Prussia's future expansion. During Frederick Wilhelm I's time, Prussian military discipline was strict, and reviewing the army became his greatest pastime. In 1733, a divisional conscription system was implemented, and farmers were forced to join the army, providing half of the troops and the other half were foreign mercenaries. He also had a giant grenadier regiment: he sent people to kidnap tall giants from all over Europe and organize them into a special grenadier regiment. From the North Sea to the Mediterranean, special giants of height could be deceived or robbed by him. Tall women were not safe either, and were often collected to pair with these giants to produce the next generation of giants. In 1740 Frederick? When William was on his deathbed, when he heard the priest preach that "people come and go naked", he could still struggle from his sickbed and say "how can I be naked, I will put on my military uniform". In 1709, the plague broke out in eastern Prussia, causing the population to drop sharply. Frederick William I re-immigrated and made the east prosperous again. In 1719, he freed all serfs in his territory and abolished the hereditary tenancy system. He advocated mercantilism and developed industry. In 1717, primary education was compulsory nationwide. But Frederick William I despised learning and banned French literature, Latin and music in Prussia. Because of his simple and stingy life and reluctance to spend money on economic and cultural development, he was called "the beggar king". However, although his enthronement ceremony cost only 2,000 silver coins, he spent 80% of the government's revenue on military expenses. Thanks to his efforts, the Prussian army swelled to 85,000 men and was well equipped. The relationship between father and son was strained because Frederick William I was too harsh on Prince Fritz, banning him from French literature, Latin and music, opposing his marriage to the British royal family, and often using corporal punishment on his son. In 1730 Fritz attempted to flee to England, was arrested, Fritz's accomplices were executed, and he almost died. Frederick William I was more than two meters tall, weighed more than 100 kilograms, and was usually an overeat and a heavy smoker. He died in Berlin on May 31, 1740, at the age of 51. His son Fritz became King Frederick II, inheriting the powerful and wealthy kingdom left by William I, and building Prussia into one of the most powerful countries in Europe. Comments: He is an extremely rude king who does not like to play with words and ink, and has a severe and militaristic personality.