Britannica
Sources used in this answer
When did Frederick William serve as elector of Brandenburg?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Frederick William
Frederick William, undated engraving.
Frederick William, often known as the Great Elector, served as the elector of Brandenburg from 1640 to 1688.1
During his reign, he successfully freed the electorate from Swedish occupation following the Thirty Yearsâ War and established Brandenburg-Prussia as a significant European power through military, fiscal, and bureaucratic reforms.1