The Rise and Fall of Prussia

Prussia started as a small, insignificant territory on the edge of the Holy Roman Empire

and transformed into one of the most powerful military states in European history before disappearing

entirely from the map. This is how it happened. In the early 1600s, Prussia was just

a duchy on the Baltic coast, barely noticed by the great powers of Europe.

The region was poor, underpopulated, and had terrible soil for farming. But the rulers of

Brandenburg inherited this land and saw an opportunity. They unified Brandenburg and Prussia under

one crown, and in 1701, Frederick the first crowned himself King in Prussia.

This was a bold move that announced their arrival on the European stage. What made Prussia