Historedia
Person

Frederick William II of Prussia

Events
2
Episodes
6
Years
1788–1791

Every event in Historedia whose sources name Frederick William II of Prussia, with the role they cite and all of that event’s episodes. This is not a biography, and mentions are grouped by name, so two people with the same name can share this page.

Events and episodes

  1. Completion of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin

    1788–1791

    Role: King of Prussia who ordered the gate's construction

    1. 1734 · Berlin Customs Wall, BerlinPredecessor gate by Philipp Gerlach

      After the 1734 Berlin Customs Wall enclosed the city and its suburbs, Court Architect Philipp Gerlach built a predecessor gate on the road to Brandenburg an der Havel.

    2. 1788 · Berlin, PrussiaLanghans appointed and construction begins

      Frederick William II summoned Carl Gotthard Langhans from Breslau to Berlin, appointing him director of the Oberhofbauamt in 1788 as construction of the gate began.

    3. August 1791 · Brandenburg Gate, BerlinCompletion and opening of the Brandenburg Gate

      The Brandenburg Gate, built from 1788 to 1791 for Frederick William II from Langhans's designs, opened unceremoniously to traffic in August 1791 before construction finished.

  2. Declaration of Pillnitz

    1791

    Role: Co-signatory; King of Prussia

    1. 6 July 1791 · unspecifiedLeopold's Concern and the Padua Circular

      After the Flight to Varennes, Leopold issued the Padua Circular on 6 July 1791, calling on Europe's sovereigns to demand Louis XVI's freedom.

    2. 27 August 1791 · Pillnitz Castle near Dresden, SaxonyIssuance of the Declaration of Pillnitz

      Frederick William II and Leopold II issued a five-sentence declaration at Pillnitz Castle on 27 August 1791 supporting Louis XVI against the French Revolution.

    3. 27 August 1791 · Pillnitz ConferenceMotives and the Pillnitz Conference Agenda

      Leopold issued the declaration to satisfy French émigrés; the Pillnitz Conference itself mainly addressed the Polish Question and Austria's Ottoman war.

Sources

  1. Brandenburg Gate Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-05
  2. Declaration of Pillnitz Wikipedia, revision of 2026-06-08