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Why did Frederick William welcome Huguenot refugees into Brandenburg-Prussia?

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Frederick William, the Great Elector of Brandenburg, welcomed Huguenot refugees into his territories primarily to benefit the state. Following the revocation of the Edict of Nantes by King Louis XIV of France in 1685, Frederick William issued the Edict of Potsdam on November 8, 1685, granting asylum to these persecuted Protestants.12

The decision was driven by a strategic desire to strengthen Brandenburg-Prussia. The Huguenots were often skilled urban professionals, and their arrival was instrumental in stimulating intellectual life, reclaiming land, and creating new industries. By providing a haven for these refugees, the Elector sought to bolster the economic and cultural development of his domains. Additionally, this move aligned with his shifting foreign policy, as he moved closer to the Netherlands and his nephew, William of Orange, in opposition to Louis XIV.312