How did Frederick William’s financial reforms strengthen the Brandenburg government?

Frederick William, known as the Great Elector, strengthened the Brandenburg government by centralizing financial control and reducing the influence of provincial estates.

His reforms were instrumental in transforming Brandenburg-Prussia into a significant European power through the following actions:

• Bypassing the Estates: Frederick William successfully forced provincial estates to fund a standing military independently of traditional tax appropriations by the diets.1
• Centralizing Authority: During the latter half of his reign, he removed the control of taxation and finances from the estates entirely. This shift allowed him to establish a fiscal basis independent of local noble influence.12
• Building a Bureaucracy: By securing fixed taxes and removing financial oversight from the estates, he laid the foundation for a powerful, centralized bureaucracy. This system created an officialdom that was dependent solely on the sovereign, which became a hallmark of later Prussian absolutism.1

These financial measures provided the necessary resources to maintain a professional standing army, which served as the core of the state's power and enabled Frederick William to pursue a more independent political agenda.12