Who was King Frederic II?

Frederic II (1712-1786) was the king of Prussia during 1740-1786. During his reign, Prussia prospered greatly and doubled in area. His countrymen called him Frederic the Great. He was the son of Frederic William-I and Sophie Dorothia von Hannover. He won many wars against neighbouring countries like Austria, Russia and France. Declaring himself to be the first servant of his people, he achieved economic and social development of Prussia. He believed in enlightened absolutism, showed religious tolerance, and fostered the arts, sciences, and education. He befriended intellectuals like D�Alembert, Voltaire, and Lagrange. As he was childless, he chose his nephew, Frederic William-II, as his successor.