Who was the Enlightened despot who enlarged Prussia by gaining land from Austria, ruling from 1740 to 1786?

Who was the Enlightened despot who enlarged Prussia by gaining land from Austria, ruling from 1740 to 1786?

• A. Frederick the Great
• B. Otto von Bismarck
• C. Catherine the Great
• D. Maria Theresa

Answer: (A)

This question focuses on a ruler who combined strong, centralized authority with Enlightenment-inspired reforms and expanded Prussia by gaining territory from Austria in the mid-18th century. Frederick the Great, who ruled Prussia from 1740 to 1786, did just that by winning the province of Silesia from the Habsburgs during the War of Austrian Succession, greatly enlarging Prussia’s power. He is remembered as an Enlightened despot for promoting administrative efficiency, legal and educational reforms, and religious toleration, all while maintaining tight control and a powerful military. The other figures mentioned were not the Prussian ruler of that era who expanded Prussia—Bismarck came later and unified Germany in the 19th century, Catherine the Great ruled Russia, and Maria Theresa was the Austrian ruler whom Frederick challenged.

This question focuses on a ruler who combined strong, centralized authority with Enlightenment-inspired reforms and expanded Prussia by gaining territory from Austria in the mid-18th century. Frederick the Great, who ruled Prussia from 1740 to 1786, did just that by winning the province of Silesia from the Habsburgs during the War of Austrian Succession, greatly enlarging Prussia’s power. He is remembered as an Enlightened despot for promoting administrative efficiency, legal and educational reforms, and religious toleration, all while maintaining tight control and a powerful military. The other figures mentioned were not the Prussian ruler of that era who expanded Prussia—Bismarck came later and unified Germany in the 19th century, Catherine the Great ruled Russia, and Maria Theresa was the Austrian ruler whom Frederick challenged.