Editing Frederick the Great (section)

=== Marriage and War of the Polish Succession ===
[[File:Arolsen Klebeband 15 259.jpg|thumb|alt=Engraving of a royal wedding with courtiers|upright=1.3|Frederick's marriage to Elisabeth Christine  at [[Schloss Salzdahlum]] by {{ill|J. G. Schmidt|de|Johann Georg Schmidt (Kupferstecher)}} (1733)]]
Frederick William considered marrying Frederick to [[Anna Leopoldovna|Elisabeth of Mecklenburg-Schwerin]], the niece of [[Anna of Russia|Empress Anna of Russia]], but this plan was ardently opposed by [[Prince Eugene of Savoy]]. Frederick himself proposed marrying [[Maria Theresa of Austria]] in return for renouncing the succession.{{sfn|Reddaway|1904|p=[https://archive.org/details/frederickgreatri00redd/page/44 44]}} Instead, Eugene persuaded Frederick William, through Seckendorff, that the crown prince should marry [[Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel-Bevern|Elisabeth Christine]], a Protestant relative of the Austrian [[House of Habsburg|Habsburgs]].{{sfn|Reiners|1960|p=[https://archive.org/details/frederickgreatbi0000rein/page/63 63]}} Frederick wrote to his sister that, "There can be neither love nor friendship between us",{{sfn|Crompton|2003|p=[https://archive.org/details/homosexualityciv0000crom/page/508 508]}} and he threatened suicide,{{sfnm|MacDonogh|2000|1p=[https://archive.org/details/frederickgreatli00macd/page/88 88]|Mitford|1970|2p=[https://archive.org/details/frederickgreat00mitf_0/page/71 71]}} but he went along with the wedding on 12 June 1733. He had little in common with his bride, and the marriage was resented as an example of the Austrian political interference that had plagued Prussia.{{sfn|Reddaway|1904|pp=[https://archive.org/details/frederickgreatri00redd/page/44 44–46]}} Nevertheless, during their early married life, the royal couple resided at the [[Kronprinzenpalais]] in Berlin. Later, Elisabeth Christine accompanied Frederick to Schloss Rheinsberg, where at this time she played an active role in his social life.{{sfn|Kugler|1840|pp=[https://archive.org/details/pictorialhistor00menzgoog/page/n137 119–122]}} After his father died and he ascended the throne, Frederick separated from Elisabeth. He granted her the [[Schönhausen Palace]] and apartments at the [[Berliner Stadtschloss]], but he prohibited her from visiting his court in [[Potsdam]]. They had no children, and Frederick bestowed the title of the heir to the throne, "Prince of Prussia", on his brother Augustus William. Nevertheless, Elisabeth Christine remained devoted to him. Frederick gave her all the honours befitting her station, but never displayed any affection. After their separation, he would only see her on state occasions.{{sfn|Reiners|1960|p=[https://archive.org/details/frederickgreatbi0000rein/page/69 69]}} These included visits to her on her birthday, among the rare occasions when Frederick did not wear military uniform.{{sfn|Locke|1999|p=8}}

[[File:Rheinsberg Castle.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|left|alt=Photograph of the front elevation of a palace|[[Rheinsberg Palace]], Frederick's residence from 1736 to 1740]]
In 1732, Frederick was restored to the [[Prussian Army]] as Colonel of the Regiment von der Goltz, stationed near [[Nauen]] and [[Neuruppin]].{{sfn|Kugler|1840|p=[https://archive.org/details/pictorialhistor00menzgoog/page/n114 96]}} When Prussia provided a contingent of troops to aid the [[Army of the Holy Roman Empire]] during the [[War of the Polish Succession]], Frederick studied under Prince Eugene of Savoy during the campaign against [[Kingdom of France#Dissent and revolution|France]] on the [[Rhine]];{{sfn|Kugler|1840|pp=[https://archive.org/details/pictorialhistor00menzgoog/page/n126 108–113]}} he noted the weakness of the [[Imperial Army of the Holy Roman Emperor|Imperial Army]] under Eugene's command, something that he would capitalise on at Austria's expense when he took the throne.{{sfn|Reiners|1960|p=[https://archive.org/details/frederickgreatbi0000rein/page/71 71]}} Frederick William, weakened by [[gout]] and seeking to reconcile, granted Frederick [[Schloss Rheinsberg]] in [[Rheinsberg]], north of Neuruppin. At Rheinsberg, Frederick assembled musicians, actors and other artists. He spent his time reading, watching and acting in dramatic plays, and composing and playing music.{{sfn|Kugler|1840|p=[https://archive.org/details/pictorialhistor00menzgoog/page/n140 122]}} Frederick formed the Bayard Order to discuss warfare with his friends; [[Heinrich August de la Motte Fouqué]] was made the grand master of the gatherings.{{sfn|Kugler|1840|p=[https://archive.org/details/pictorialhistor00menzgoog/page/n141 123]}} Later, Frederick regarded this time as one of the happiest of his life.{{sfn|Hamilton|1880|p=[https://archive.org/details/rheinsbergmemor06hamigoog/page/n336 316]}}

Studying the works of [[Niccolò Machiavelli]], such as ''[[The Prince]]'', was considered necessary for any king in Europe to rule effectively. In 1739, Frederick finished his ''[[Anti-Machiavel]]'', an idealistic rebuttal of Machiavelli. It was written in French—as were all of Frederick's works—and published anonymously in 1740, but [[Voltaire]] distributed it in Amsterdam to great popularity.{{sfn|MacDonogh|2000|p=[https://archive.org/details/frederickgreatli00macd/page/125 125]}} Frederick's years dedicated to the arts instead of politics ended upon the 1740 death of Frederick William and his inheritance of the Kingdom of Prussia. Frederick and his father were reconciled at the latter's death, and Frederick later admitted, despite their constant conflict, that Frederick William had been an effective ruler: "What a terrible man he was. But he was just, intelligent, and skilled in the management of affairs... it was through his efforts, through his tireless labour, that I have been able to accomplish everything that I have done since."{{sfn|Duffy|1985|p=[https://archive.org/details/frederickgreatmi00duff/page/n28 20]}}