Why did Thomas Carlyle write a six-volume history of Frederick the Great?

Thomas Carlyle wrote his six-volume work, The History of Friedrich II of Prussia, Called Frederick the Great (1858–65), as a continuation of his lifelong fascination with "heroic" figures in history.1

Carlyle’s interest in Frederick the Great was rooted in his philosophy of "hero-worship," which he had previously explored in works such as On Heroes, Hero-Worship, and the Heroic in History. Throughout his career, Carlyle sought to identify and document individuals who possessed a "God-given mission" and the strength to lead, often contrasting these powerful figures against what he perceived as the "muddled softness and chaos" of his own 19th-century society.1

By the time he began his study of Frederick in 1857, Carlyle had become increasingly disillusioned with democratic processes, such as "Universal Suffrage" and "Parliamentary eloquence," which he viewed as forms of anarchy. Consequently, he turned to historical subjects like Frederick the Great to illustrate his belief in the necessity of strong, decisive leadership.1