HARMONY AND RECONCILIATION? THE POLICIES OF FREDERICK III (I)

The accession in 1688 of Frederick William's son, Frederick III (I), who reigned until 1713, assured that there would be no radical changes in the Great Elector's policies. Like his father, Frederick not only demonstrated from an early age a strong commitment to the Reformed faith but also experienced a personal sense of election from God that he came to regard as the source of the political triumphs that he was to enjoy in his life. The new elector's allegiance to his confession was likewise made manifest by a series of actions that marked him as a late example of a “Second Reformation” German prince. Viewing the Reformed religion as the “true” form of the Christian religion, Frederick worked to expand the network of Reformed churches and clergy in his lands, took in large numbers of Huguenot and other Calvinist immigrants, and charged his successors to continue his work in this respect. Politically, Frederick as a matter of policy favored persons of Reformed background for positions at court and in his administration. In foreign affairs, Frederick adopted the last policy direction his father had taken, allying firmly and loyally with the Protestant powers, the Dutch Republic and Great Britain, against the persecutor of the Huguenots, Louis XIV.