Editing Frederick III, German Emperor (section)

===Early life and education===
[[File:Friedrich Wilhelm Nikolaus Karl von Preußen, ca 1841.jpg|thumb|left|Frederick William, ca. 1841]]
Frederick William was born in the [[New Palace (Potsdam)|New Palace]] at [[Potsdam]] in Prussia on 18 October 1831.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie|publisher=Historical Commission|year=1875|location=Bavaria}}</ref> He was a scion of the [[House of Hohenzollern]], rulers of Prussia, then the most powerful of the German states. Frederick's father, [[William I, German Emperor|Prince Wilhelm]], was the second son of [[Frederick William III of Prussia|King Frederick Wilhelm III]] and, having been raised in the military traditions of the Hohenzollerns, developed into a strict disciplinarian. William fell in love with his cousin [[Elisa Radziwill]], a princess of the [[Polish nobility]], but the court felt Elisa's rank was not suitable for the bride of a Prussian prince and forced a more suitable match.<ref name="VdK-10">Van der Kiste, p. 10.</ref> The woman selected to be his wife, Princess [[Augusta of Saxe-Weimar]], had been raised in the more intellectual and artistic atmosphere of [[Weimar]], which gave its citizens greater participation in politics and limited the powers of its rulers through a [[constitution]];{{Sfn|Dorpalen|1948|p=2}}{{Sfn|Kollander|1995|p=1}} Augusta was well known across Europe for her liberal views.<ref name="VdK-11">Van der Kiste, p. 11.</ref> Because of their differences, the couple did not have a happy marriage and,{{Sfn|Dorpalen|1948|p=2}}{{Sfn|Kollander|1995|p=1}} as a result, Frederick grew up in a troubled household, which left him with memories of a lonely childhood.{{Sfn|Dorpalen|1948|p=2}}<ref name="VdK-12">Van der Kiste, p. 12.</ref> He had one sister, [[Princess Louise of Prussia|Louise]] (later Grand Duchess of [[Grand Duchy of Baden|Baden]]), who was six years his junior and very close to him. Frederick also had a very good relationship with his uncle, the future King Frederick William IV, who has been called "the romantic on the throne".{{Sfn|Oster|2013|pp=60–65}}

Known informally as "Fritz",<ref name="MacDonogh-17">MacDonogh, p. 17.</ref> Frederick grew up during a tumultuous political period as the concept of [[liberalism in Germany]], which evolved during the 1840s, was gaining widespread and enthusiastic support.<ref name="Palmowski-43">Palmowski, p. 43.</ref> The liberals sought a unified Germany and were [[constitutional monarchists]] who desired a constitution to ensure equal protection under the law, the protection of property, and the safeguarding of basic civil rights.<ref name="Sperber-64">Sperber, p. 64.</ref> Overall, the liberals desired a government ruled by popular representation.<ref name="Kollander-1">Kollander, p. 1.</ref> When Frederick was 17, these emergent [[nationalistic]] and liberal sentiments sparked a [[Revolutions of 1848 in the German states|series of political uprisings]] across the German states and elsewhere in Europe. In Germany, their goal was to protect freedoms, such as the [[freedom of assembly]] and [[freedom of the press]], and to create a German [[parliament]] and constitution.<ref name="Palmowski-43" /><ref name="Sperber-128-129">Sperber, pp. 128–129.</ref> Although the uprisings ultimately brought about no lasting changes, liberal sentiments remained an influential force in German politics throughout Frederick's life.<ref name="Röhl-554">Röhl 1998, p. 554.</ref>
[[File:Oskar Begas Kronprinz Friedrich Wilhelm von Preußen 1867.jpg|thumb|right|Crown Prince Frederick William of Prussia, 1867, by [[Oskar Begas]]]]
Despite the value placed by the Hohenzollern family on a traditional military education, Augusta insisted that her son also receive a classical education.<ref name="VdK-12" /> Accordingly, Frederick was thoroughly tutored in both military traditions and the [[liberal arts]]. His private tutor was [[Ernst Curtius]], a famous archaeologist.<ref name="Fred">Oster, pp. 60–65.</ref> Frederick was a talented student, particularly good at foreign languages, becoming fluent in English and French, and studying Latin. He also studied history, geography, physics, music and religion, and excelled at gymnastics; as required of a Prussian prince, he became a very good rider.<ref name="M-B-44">Mueller-Bohn, p. 44.</ref> Hohenzollern princes were made familiar with the military traditions of their dynasty at an early age; Frederick was ten when he was commissioned as a second lieutenant into the First Guard Infantry Regiment of Foot. As he grew older, he was expected to maintain an active involvement in military affairs.<ref name="M-B-14">Mueller-Bohn, p. 14.</ref> However, at the age of 18, he broke with family tradition and entered the [[University of Bonn]] where he studied history, law and governance, and public policy. During his time at Bonn (1850–1852), his teachers included [[Ernst Moritz Arndt]] and [[Friedrich Christoph Dahlmann]].<ref name="Fred" /> His time spent at the university, coupled with the influence of less conservative family members, were instrumental in his embrace of liberal beliefs.<ref name="Nichols-7">Nichols, p. 7.</ref>

The Prince was slightly injured in the [[1851 Avenwedde rail accident]].{{Citation needed|date=February 2025}}

In 1853, Frederick was initiated into [[Freemasonry]] by his father, then [[William I, German Emperor|Prince William of Prussia]], and would later become Master of the Order of the [[Grand Landlodge of the Freemasons of Germany]].<ref name="speth">Speth, George William. ''[https://archive.org/stream/Royal_Freemasons_-_G_W_Speth#page/n0/mode/2up Royal Freemasons]''. Masonic Publishing Company, 1885, pp. 24–29.</ref> During his brief reign, he would serve as the patron of the [[Freemasonry in Germany|German Freemasons]].