Frederick William, the Elector of Brandenburg and…

Frederick William, the Elector of Brandenburg and the Duke of Prussia from 1640, becomes known as the "Great Elector" for his introduction of absolutism (a historiographical term used to describe a form of monarchical power that is unrestrained by any other institutions, such as churches, legislatures, or social elites) into Brandenburg-Prussia.

He emphasizes above all the importance of a powerful military to protect the state's disconnected territories.

A military commander of wide renown, his standing army will later become the model for the Prussian Army.