Berlin, 1709. A plague outbreak swept through Prussia during the Great Northern War, exposing deep rot within King Frederick I's government. The young prince watched as corruption festered among senior officials like Johann Kasimir Kolbe von Wartenberg. This minister and his cronies misappropriated vast sums of public money while the state crumbled under their incompetence. Frederick William led a party that dismantled this corrupt network following an official investigation. August David zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Hohenstein, a close associate of the fallen minister, was imprisoned at Spandau Citadel. He faced a fine of 70,000 thalers before being banished from court entirely. This incident marked the first time the future king actively participated in politics. It instilled a lifelong resentment toward crime, waste, and inefficiency. From that moment forward, his father allowed him to take increasing power over state affairs.
Army Expansion And Canton System
In 1713, the Prussian Army numbered only 38,000 men. By 1740, Frederick William had doubled its size to 80,000 soldiers. One out of every 25 Prussian men served in the military under his rule. He expanded obligations for the peasant class while replacing mandatory service for the middle class with an annual tax. The king introduced the canton system to organize conscription across rural districts. He increased the officer corps to 3,000 members. His reforms included introducing iron ramrods to greatly increase infantry fire rates. Leopold I, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau, assisted in these training and tactical changes. These efforts created one of Europe's largest and best-equipped armies by the end of his reign. The state revenue prioritized military expansion over colonial investments or naval development.Financial Reorganization And Taxation