Leopold I

Leopold I (born July 3, 1676, Dessau, Prussia—died April 7, 1747, Dessau) was a prince of Anhalt-Dessau, Prussian field marshal and reformer and inventor of the iron ramrod; he founded the old Prussian military system that, generally unchanged until 1806, enabled Frederick II the Great to propel Prussia to the position of a European power. Beginning his military career serving against the French in 1695, Leopold commanded the Prussian contingent in the allied forces during...