Why was West Prussia important to Frederick II’s kingdom?

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Portrait painting of Frederick II of Brandenburg, King of Prussia, wearing a dark coat with a star medal, yellow gloves, and holding a cane, with the inscription Fridericus II Rex Prussiae. — Frederick II Frederick II, painting in the Castello di Miramare, Trieste, Italy.

West Prussia, historically known as Polish Royal Prussia, was of significant importance to Frederick II (the Great) because it provided a vital territorial link between his eastern domains—East Prussia—and the rest of his kingdom to the west.1

Prior to its acquisition during the First Partition of Poland in 1772, this region had been under Polish sovereignty, creating a geographic separation between Frederick’s territories. By securing this province, Frederick successfully consolidated his lands, enhancing the territorial integrity and administrative cohesion of the Prussian state. Additionally, the province was considered economically valuable to the kingdom.123