How did Calvinist beliefs shape Frederick William’s view of a ruler’s duties?

For Frederick William, the Great Elector, royal power was viewed as a God-given duty. His Calvinist beliefs provided a specific moral framework that profoundly shaped his approach to governance, binding the ruler—just as it did the least of his subjects—to prove himself visibly through his daily duties.1

This religious conviction served as the foundation for his immense energy and his ambition for political power. Rather than viewing his position as a source of personal privilege, he interpreted his role as a mandate to demonstrate his worth through active, diligent service to the state. This sense of duty drove his efforts to centralize administration, reorganize state finances, and develop a standing army, as he sought to fulfill his responsibilities as a sovereign through tangible, systematic improvements to his lands.12