Prussia

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Historical map showing the unification of Germany by Prussia in the late 19th century. The map highlights in green the Kingdom of Prussia as of 1866, and in yellow the additional territories that formed the German Empire by 1871-1918, encompassing most of north-central Europe. Neighboring countries such as France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Russia, Austria-Hungary, and Switzerland are labeled, with major regions and states within the empire clearly marked.

flag of Prussia

Painting by Antoine Pesne showing King Frederick I seated on an ornate silver throne, wearing elaborate royal robes and holding a scepter, with a crown on a table beside him.

Frederick William I

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.

First Partition of Poland

Frederick William II

Karl August, Fürst von Hardenberg

Map of Europe in 1812 showing the greatest territorial extent of the Napoleonic Empire. The French Empire is highlighted in brown, surrounded by green areas representing states under Napoleon's control, purple for states allied with Napoleon, and orange for states opposed to Napoleon. Major countries and regions, including the United Kingdom, Russian Empire, Austrian Empire, Kingdom of Prussia, and Spain, are labeled with color coding to indicate their alignment or control.

At a Glance

William I of Prussia

Prussia summary

Prussia: Media

historic region, Europe

Videos

Experience a trip to the Hohenzollern Castle in Swabia, Germany

Experience a trip to the Hohenzollern Castle in Swabia, Germany

Overview of Hohenzollern Castle, Hechingen, Germany.

Video: Contunico © ZDF Studios GmbH, Mainz

Images

Historical map showing the unification of Germany by Prussia in the late 19th century. The map highlights in green the Kingdom of Prussia as of 1866, and in yellow the additional territories that formed the German Empire by 1871-1918, encompassing most of north-central Europe. Neighboring countries such as France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Russia, Austria-Hungary, and Switzerland are labeled, with major regions and states within the empire clearly marked.

Map of the unification of Germany by Prussia

The unification of Germany by Prussia, which brought most of north-central Europe...

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

flag of Prussia

flag of Prussia

Kingdom of Prussia state flag, 1892–1918.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Albert

Albert

Albert, statue by Rudolf Siemering in Malbork, Poland.

Jan Jerszyñski

Painting by Antoine Pesne showing King Frederick I seated on an ornate silver throne, wearing elaborate royal robes and holding a scepter, with a crown on a table beside him.

Frederick I

Frederick I, oil painting by Antoine Pesne, c. 1712.

© Fine Art Images/Heritage Images—Hulton Fine Art Collection/Getty Images

Frederick William I

Frederick William I

Frederick William I, detail from a portrait by Antoine Pesne, c. 1733; in Sanssouci...

Foto Marburg/Art Resource, New York

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.

© DeAgostini/Getty Images

First Partition of Poland

First Partition of Poland

Cartoon depicting the monarchs of Europe—notably Catherine II of Russia, Holy Roman...

British Cartoon Prints Collection/Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. (digital file no. 3g06750)

Frederick William II

Frederick William II

Frederick William II.

© Heritage Images—Hulton Fine Art Collection/Getty Images

Karl August, Fürst von Hardenberg

Karl August, Fürst von Hardenberg

Karl August, Fürst (prince) von Hardenberg, engraving, 1820.

Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin—Preussischer Kulturbesitz

Map of Europe in 1812 showing the greatest territorial extent of the Napoleonic Empire. The French Empire is highlighted in brown, surrounded by green areas representing states under Napoleon's control, purple for states allied with Napoleon, and orange for states opposed to Napoleon. Major countries and regions, including the United Kingdom, Russian Empire, Austrian Empire, Kingdom of Prussia, and Spain, are labeled with color coding to indicate their alignment or control.

Greatest extent of Napoleon I's empire, 1812

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Gerhard Johann David von Scharnhorst

Gerhard Johann David von Scharnhorst

Gerhard Johann David von Scharnhorst, detail from a portrait by Friedrich Bury; in...

Courtesy of the Niedersachsisches Landesmuseum, Hannover, Ger.

Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher

Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher

Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher, Fürst (prince) von Wahlstatt.

© Photos.com/Thinkstock

August, Graf Neidhardt von Gneisenau

August, Graf Neidhardt von Gneisenau

August, Graf (count) Neidhardt von Gneisenau.

James Steakley

Map of Europe in 1815 showing national boundaries established after the Congress of Vienna. The map highlights major kingdoms, empires, and states of the period, including the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Kingdom of France, Austrian Empire, Russian Empire, Kingdom of Prussia, and Ottoman Empire. The boundary of the German Confederation is outlined in red, encompassing regions such as Prussia, Bavaria, Saxony, and others in central Europe.

Europe in 1815

Map showing Europe after the Congress of Vienna (1815).

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Frederick William IV of Prussia stands in full military uniform with epaulets, holding a plumed hat, next to a table draped with a patterned cloth.

Frederick William IV

Frederick William IV, c. 1860.

© Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Portrait of William I, Emperor of Germany and King of Prussia, with thick sideburns, wearing a military uniform adorned with medals, circa 1880.

William I

William I, c. 1880.

© Photos.com/Getty Images

Otto von Bismarck in military uniform and cap, with a mustache, facing slightly to the side in a black-and-white portrait taken around 1880.

German Empire founder Otto von Bismarck

Otto von Bismarck, c. 1880.

© Everett Historical/Shutterstock.com

William I of Prussia

William I of Prussia

Crowning of King William I of Prussia as the German emperor, Versailles, France,...

Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. (digital. id. ggbain 27988)

A set of four historical maps showing changes in Germany's territory and internal status from 1914 to 1990. Each map highlights Germany in yellow, illustrating its larger borders in 1914, reduced and redefined borders between 1920 and 1938, division into East and West Germany from 1945 to 1990, and reunified Germany in 1990, with surrounding European countries labeled for context.

Map of changes in Germany's territory and internal status, 1914–90

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Battle of Waterloo

Battle of Waterloo

A collection of significant facts about the Battle of Waterloo.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc./Kenny Chmielewski

Historic map showing the partitions of Poland from 1772 to 1795, with color-coded regions indicating territories annexed by Prussia, Austria, and Russia during the first, second, and third partitions. The map labels key cities and regions, and outlines the shifting borders that led to the disappearance of Poland as an independent state during this period.

Partitions of Poland, 1772–95

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

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