Frederick the Great was born on January 24, 1712, in Berlin, Prussia. His father was Frederick Wilhelm I of Prussia, and his mother was Sophia Dorothea of Hanover. Since he was young he demonstrated his passion and talent for the music and the languages, but instead of had the support of his father, he ordered him to take lessons of military training.
At the age of 18 Frederick tried to escape to England in search of personal freedom and a new Prussian alliance with the British, but he was caught and forced by his father to watch how his best friend was decapitated.
Back under his father’s sway, Frederick continued his military lessons, and started writing flute sonatas and letters with Voltaire. In 1733 he married Elizabeth of Brunswick-Bevern in a political union, but he never had children with her, and later when Frederick’s father died they separated.
At the age of 18 Frederick tried to escape to England in search of personal freedom and a new Prussian alliance with the British, but he was caught and forced by his father to watch how his best friend was decapitated.
Back under his father’s sway, Frederick continued his military lessons, and started writing flute sonatas and letters with Voltaire. In 1733 he married Elizabeth of Brunswick-Bevern in a political union, but he never had children with her, and later when Frederick’s father died they separated.