Frederick II of Prussia adopts a successor

[Max Sinister]

IMO, the most successful time of the Roman Empire was when the adoptive emperors reigned. When Marcus Aurelius broke the rule and made Commodus the successor... well, we know the result.

Now, Fredrick II of Prussia had no kids of his own. He had a brother, Frederick "the Fat" Wilhelm, who wasn't what you could call very competent. WI he had decided that Prussia should do like the Roman Empire, and the kings have to adopt their successor from now on? Whom would he have chosen (Stein, Scharnhorst and so on aren't old enough yet...)? How would his successor deal with the French Revolution?

[stevep]

Originally Posted by Max Sinister

IMO, the most successful time of the Roman Empire was when the adoptive emperors reigned. When Marcus Aurelius broke the rule and made Commodus the successor... well, we know the result.

Now, Fredrick II of Prussia had no kids of his own. He had a brother, Frederick "the Fat" Wilhelm, who wasn't what you could call very competent. WI he had decided that Prussia should do like the Roman Empire, and the kings have to adopt their successor from now on? Whom would he have chosen (Stein, Scharnhorst and so on aren't old enough yet...)? How would his successor deal with the French Revolution?

Max

I think the premises is unlikely but might be possible. Apart from anything else that would sound a little like an elective monarchy and that was showing its weakness in Poland just to the east. [True not an exact equivalent but I would expect a lot of opposition from the aristocracy and other vested interests.] As well as the age question most of the reformers were actually non-Prussians by birth, which might make the local aristocracy even more hostile. Interesting idea however.

However would still expect Prussia to lose heavily in 1806 or some equivalent. The change to popular warfare under the early revolutionary period meant major changes to the way wars were waged and the older systems couldn't cope without changes. Prussia seemed to have become the most ossified of the major powers.

Steve

[MerryPrankster]

Frederick the Fat might complain about getting shafted, but owing to his incompetence, is he really capable of doing anything about it?

[Rattenfänger von Memphis]

Originally Posted by Max Sinister

IMO, the most successful time of the Roman Empire was when the adoptive emperors reigned. When Marcus Aurelius broke the rule and made Commodus the successor... well, we know the result.

Now, Fredrick II of Prussia had no kids of his own. He had a brother, Frederick "the Fat" Wilhelm, who wasn't what you could call very competent. WI he had decided that Prussia should do like the Roman Empire, and the kings have to adopt their successor from now on? Whom would he have chosen (Stein, Scharnhorst and so on aren't old enough yet...)? How would his successor deal with the French Revolution?

If Frederick the Great could have picked a successor who objectively analyzed whatever situation he found himself in, just as Frederick did, there is no reason why he couldn't have been successful.

After all, Napoleon himself, the heir of the French Revolution, when visiting Frederick's tomb in 1806 after conquering Prussia, just 20 years after Frederick's death, said: ""Hats off, gentlemen. If he were still alive, we would not be here."

At the every least, Napoleon's words assume that something could have been effectively done by a Frederick-like successor.

Presumably such a successor would have heeded Frederick's words: "Prussia will never lack allies. In order to select them it is necessary to cast off all personal hatred and prejudice, be it contrary, be it favorable. The interest of the state is the sole motive that should rule in the council of Princes." ---from Robert B. Asprey's "Frederick the Great: The Magnificent Enigma", p. 407