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Half-length portrait to the left within oval of Frederick II the Great (1712-1786). The oval is surrounded by allegorical decorations. Frederick II managed to transform Brandenburg-Prussia into a European great power. He waged wars against Austria and expanded his principality during the War of the Austrian Succession (1740-1748) to include Silesia and the county of East Frisia (1744). In the Seven Years' War (1756-1763) he attacked France, Russia, Bohemia and the Electorate of Saxony. By means of clever diplomacy he managed to obtain West Prussia in 1772 by annexation. In 1778-1779 he was involved in the War of the Bavarian Succession to prevent Austria from taking part of Bavaria. In 1785 he founded the Vorstenbond to counterbalance the plans of Joseph II. Frederick was a great military strategist who was admired by many later generations after his death, including Napoleon Bonaparte. Etching by Johannes Esaias Nilson (1721-1788), after the painting by Antoine Pesne (1683-1757). Made in Augsburg, ca. 1760. Source: British Museum, 2015.
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