# Friedrich Wilhelm II of Prussia

> King of Prussia from 1786 to 1797 (1744–1797)

**Wikidata**: [Q152229](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q152229)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_William_II_of_Prussia)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/friedrich-wilhelm-ii-of-prussia

## Summary
Friedrich Wilhelm II was the King of Prussia from 1786 until his death in 1797. A member of the House of Hohenzollern, he ruled the Kingdom of Prussia during a pivotal period in European history and was a recipient of the era's highest chivalric honors.

## Biography
- **Born:** September 25, 1744
- **Died:** November 16, 1797
- **Nationality:** Kingdom of Prussia
- **Occupation:** Monarch (King of Prussia)
- **Citizenship:** Kingdom of Prussia
- **Member of:** House of Hohenzollern
- **Awards:** Order of the Black Eagle, Order of St. Andrew

## Contributions
Friedrich Wilhelm II served as the head of state for the Kingdom of Prussia, a former European state established in 1701. His reign lasted from 1786 to 1797, during which he held the title of monarch and led the nation through the late 18th century. He was recognized with the Kingdom of Prussia's highest order of chivalry, the Order of the Black Eagle, and received the Order of St. Andrew, the highest order of the Russian Empire.

## FAQs
**When did Friedrich Wilhelm II reign?**
Friedrich Wilhelm II reigned as King of Prussia from 1786 until his death in 1797.

**What honors was Friedrich Wilhelm II awarded?**
He received the Order of the Black Eagle, the highest order of chivalry in the Kingdom of Prussia, and the Order of St. Andrew, the highest order of the Russian Empire.

**What entity did Friedrich Wilhelm II govern?**
He governed the Kingdom of Prussia, a European state that existed from 1701 to 1918 and later became part of the German Empire.

## Why They Matter
Friedrich Wilhelm II matters as a central political figure in late 18th-century Europe who led the Kingdom of Prussia during the years leading up to the Napoleonic Wars. His rule preceded the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire in 1806, a geopolitical shift that fundamentally altered the map of Central Europe. As a monarch holding the highest Prussian and Russian chivalric orders, he represented the entrenched royal power structures that would soon face the upheavals of the modern era.

## Notable For
*   Serving as King of Prussia from 1786 to 1797.
*   Membership in the House of Hohenzollern.
*   Receiving the Order of the Black Eagle (Prussia's highest order of chivalry).
*   Receiving the Order of St. Andrew (Russian Empire's highest order).
*   Ruling the Kingdom of Prussia prior to its incorporation into the German Empire.

## Body

### Early Life and Identity
Friedrich Wilhelm II was born on September 25, 1744. He was a human instance of the species Homo sapiens and held citizenship in the Kingdom of Prussia. He was a member of the House of Hohenzollern, a prominent European dynasty. His identity is recorded under various aliases, including Frederick-William II and Friedrich Wilhelm II.

### Reign as Monarch
Friedrich Wilhelm II ascended to the throne in 1786, assuming the role of monarch. He governed the Kingdom of Prussia, a former European state that had been established in 1701. His reign lasted 11 years, concluding with his death on November 16, 1797. During this period, the Kingdom of Prussia was a significant power in Western and Central Europe.

### Historical Context of the State
The Kingdom of Prussia, which Friedrich Wilhelm II ruled, was formally established on January 18, 1701. It existed as a sovereign entity until 1918, after which it became part of the German Empire following 1871. The state played a central role in the region's history, eventually being replaced by entities such as the German Confederation and the North German Confederation. The broader historical context of his reign occurred during the existence of the Holy Roman Empire, a multi-ethnic complex of territories in Western and Central Europe that functionally ended in 1806, just years after his death.

### Honors and Recognition
Throughout his life, Friedrich Wilhelm II received significant accolades. He was a recipient of the Order of the Black Eagle, which was established on January 17, 1701, and served as the highest order of chivalry in the Kingdom of Prussia. Additionally, he was awarded the Order of St. Andrew, the highest order of the Russian Empire, which was established in 1698.

### Educational and Cultural Connections
Friedrich Wilhelm II has historical connections to several institutions. He is associated with the Friedrich-Wilhelms-Gymnasium, a high school located in Berlin. Furthermore, he is linked to the Saint Petersburg Academy of Sciences, a historical academy that existed from 1724 to 1917.

### Records and Identifiers
Friedrich Wilhelm II is extensively documented across various knowledge bases. His Wikidata description identifies him explicitly as the "King of Prussia from 1786 to 1797 (1744–1797)." He holds numerous identifiers in library and academic systems, including the Library of Congress (n84019519), VIAF (5007), and GND (11869362X). His biographical data is preserved through structured properties confirming his birth and death dates, and images of his likeness, such as "Frederick William II (1744-1797).jpg," are part of the historical record. His final resting place is noted in files such as "Friedrich Wilhelm II. von Preußen, Ruhestätte.JPG," and his royal monogram is recorded as "Royal Monogram of King Frederick William II of Prussia.svg."

## References

1. Integrated Authority File
2. Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie
3. [Source](http://emp-web-84.zetcom.ch/eMP/eMuseumPlus?service=ExternalInterface&module=artist&objectId=6389)
4. The Peerage
5. Great Russian Encyclopedia
6. [Source](http://www.preussen.de/de/geschichte/galerie_der_koenige.html)
7. International Standard Name Identifier
8. BnF authorities
9. MusicBrainz
10. SNAC
11. Find a Grave
12. Encyclopædia Britannica Online
13. Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana
14. Proleksis Encyclopedia
15. Croatian Encyclopedia
16. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
17. Virtual International Authority File
18. IdRef
19. CERL Thesaurus
20. LIBRIS. 2012
21. Sejm-Wielki.pl
22. Bibliography of the History of the Czech Lands
23. Provenio
24. HMML Authority File