Clad in military uniform and an ermine-trimmed cloak, Frederick the Great surveys Unter den Linden. This is the equestrian statue of Frederick the Great. It stands as a testament to Prussian power.
King Frederick William III commissioned this monument in 1839. He wanted to honor Frederick II of Prussia. Christian Daniel Rauch created this masterpiece. He worked on it from 1839 to 1851. Karl Ludwig Friebel cast the bronze statue. Rauch brought Friebel from Lauchhammer for this task.
The Frederick II of Prussia Statue marks a shift in sculpture. It moves from neoclassicism to realism. The statue shows “The Old Fritz” on horseback. He wears his tricorne hat. The statue also features leading figures from his time. These include generals, statesmen, artists, and scientists.
The unusually large plinth has reliefs. These depict the four cardinal virtues. They also show important scenes from Frederick’s life. Depictions of 74 notable men from his reign are present. Bronze plaques list military men, philosophers, and engineers. They also list mathematicians, poets, and statesmen. These men were important in Prussia’s rise. Prussia became a great power in the mid-18th century thanks to them.
During World War II, workers encased the monument in concrete. This was to protect it from damage. In 1950, East Berlin decided to move it to Sanssouci Park in Potsdam. Metal thieves damaged it. The statue was dismantled. It was almost melted down.
By 1962, the Frederick II of Prussia Statue was re-erected. It stood in the hippodrome at Charlottenhof Palace. In the 1980s, East Germany changed its view of Prussia. Erich Honecker praised Frederick “the Great.” The statue was restored. It returned to Unter den Linden in 1980. It was approximately 6 metres east of its original spot.
After German reunification, the statue was scientifically restored. It was placed in its original position. Workers recreated the wrought-iron fence and 19th-century lamp posts. In 2006, someone threw paint at the Frederick II of Prussia Statue. It was restored again. A wax coating now protects it from graffiti.
The Frederick II of Prussia Statue is 13.5 metres tall. The equestrian statue itself is 5.66 metres high. Frederick holds the reins in his left hand. He has a walking stick in his right.
The upper section shows scenes from the king’s life. It features emblems of the four cardinal virtues. The middle band depicts 74 men from Frederick the Great’s time. Some figures are free-standing. Others are in high relief.
Mounted figures stand at the corners. These are Prince Henry of Prussia and Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbuttel. Also Friedrich Wilhelm von Seydlitz and Hans Joachim von Zieten. Key men of Frederick’s career stand between them. Military and civilian figures are present. Diplomats, the Prime Minister of Prussia, and jurists are present. So too are poets, artists, and philosophers.
The south face displays bronze plaques. They bear the names of 25 generals. The north face has names of 32 key military figures. The west face includes 14 men. They contributed to Prussia as diplomats and authors. Jurists, architects, painters, and poets also feature. The east face bears the names of Frederick the Great and others. It also shows when they commissioned and completed the monument.
This monument influenced many others. It remains a registered monument of Berlin. The Frederick II of Prussia Statue stands as a powerful symbol. It reflects Prussia’s history and legacy.