Prussia: Difference between revisions

Jump to navigation Jump to search
No edit summary
No edit summary
Line 70: Line 70:
Historically, beginning in the 13th century, the area of what is now Prussia first came into prominence as the territory of the {{wp|Teutonic Order}}, a {{wp|Roman Catholic}} religious order that subsequently established {{wp|Königsberg}} as its capital in the late 15th century. In 1525, {{wp|Albert, Duke of Prussia|Albert}}, then the 37th grand master of the {{wp|Teutonic Order}}, secularised and thus became the first ruler of the {{wp|Duchy of Prussia}}. In 1618, a marriage between {{wp|John Sigismund, Elector of Brandenburg|John Sigismund}} and {{wp|Duchess Anna of Prussia|Duchess Anna}} resulted in the unification of the {{wp|Margraviate of Brandenburg}} and the {{wp|Duchy of Prussia}} or {{wp|Brandenburg–Prussia}} which, in turn, became the {{wp|Kingdom of Prussia}} afterward in 1701 and lasted all the way until 1918, during which it was under the hereditary rule of the {{wp|House of Hohenzollern}} and was also the largest constituent state of the {{wp|German Empire}}. In 1918, the aftermath of the {{wp|First World War}} resulted in the creation of the {{wp|Free State of Prussia}}, a state of the {{wp|Weimar Republic}} and later {{wp|Nazi Germany}} where, in both cases, it was never properly connected to the mainland itself. Eventually, in 1943, following the assassination of {{wp|Adolf Hitler}}, the new {{wp|German}} leadership under [[Louis Ferdinand]], who later became the first [[Monarchy of Germany|King of Germany]], Prussia saw its initial territory gained at the end of the {{wp|First World War}} considerably reduced, thereby giving its modern-day borders, and, despite demands for annexation by the {{wp|Soviet Union}}, was allowed to remain as a state of modern-day {{wp|Germany}}.
Historically, beginning in the 13th century, the area of what is now Prussia first came into prominence as the territory of the {{wp|Teutonic Order}}, a {{wp|Roman Catholic}} religious order that subsequently established {{wp|Königsberg}} as its capital in the late 15th century. In 1525, {{wp|Albert, Duke of Prussia|Albert}}, then the 37th grand master of the {{wp|Teutonic Order}}, secularised and thus became the first ruler of the {{wp|Duchy of Prussia}}. In 1618, a marriage between {{wp|John Sigismund, Elector of Brandenburg|John Sigismund}} and {{wp|Duchess Anna of Prussia|Duchess Anna}} resulted in the unification of the {{wp|Margraviate of Brandenburg}} and the {{wp|Duchy of Prussia}} or {{wp|Brandenburg–Prussia}} which, in turn, became the {{wp|Kingdom of Prussia}} afterward in 1701 and lasted all the way until 1918, during which it was under the hereditary rule of the {{wp|House of Hohenzollern}} and was also the largest constituent state of the {{wp|German Empire}}. In 1918, the aftermath of the {{wp|First World War}} resulted in the creation of the {{wp|Free State of Prussia}}, a state of the {{wp|Weimar Republic}} and later {{wp|Nazi Germany}} where, in both cases, it was never properly connected to the mainland itself. Eventually, in 1943, following the assassination of {{wp|Adolf Hitler}}, the new {{wp|German}} leadership under [[Louis Ferdinand]], who later became the first [[Monarchy of Germany|King of Germany]], Prussia saw its initial territory gained at the end of the {{wp|First World War}} considerably reduced, thereby giving its modern-day borders, and, despite demands for annexation by the {{wp|Soviet Union}}, was allowed to remain as a state of modern-day {{wp|Germany}}.


Despite its relative isolation from the rest of {{wp|Germany}}, Prussia, whose name later became synonymous with the {{wp|Kingdom of Prussia|kingdom}} that gave rise to the {{wp|German Empire}}, otherwise holds a notable and special place in {{wp|German}} history as the longstanding coronation site of {{wp|German}} monarchs along with serving as a private retreat for members of the {{wp|German}} royal family who normally stay at {{wp|Königsberg Castle}}, a 13th-century castle constructed in the {{wp|Baroque architecture|Baroque}} and {{wp|Gothic Revival architecture|Gothic Revival}} styles.
Despite its relative isolation from the rest of {{wp|Germany}}, Prussia, whose name later became synonymous with the {{wp|Kingdom of Prussia|kingdom}} that gave rise to the {{wp|German Empire}}, otherwise holds a notable and special place in {{wp|German}} history as the longstanding coronation site of {{wp|German}} monarchs along with serving as a private retreat for members of the {{wp|German}} royal family who normally stay at {{wp|Königsberg Castle}}, a 13th-century castle constructed in the {{wp|Baroque architecture|Baroque}} and {{wp|Gothic Revival architecture|Gothic Revival}} styles. Moreover, its capital {{wp|Königsberg}} serves as the headquarters of the {{wp|German Navy}}, the naval service branch of the ''{{wp|Bundeswehr}}''.

Revision as of 22:06, 5 October 2024

State of Prussia
Staat Preußen (German)
Flag of State of Prussia
Coat of arms of State of Prussia
Anthem: "Ostpreußenlied" (Unofficial)
(English: "Song of Prussia")
Kaliningrad Oblast within Europe.svg
CountryGermany
CapitalKönigsberg
Government
 • BodyLandtag of Prussia
 • Minister-PresidentBernd Althusmann (CDU)
 • Governing partiesCDU
 • Bundesrat votes3 (of 57)
 • Bundestag seats9 (of 642)
Area
 • Total15,125 km2 (5,840 sq mi)
Population
 (2019-09-30)
 • Total1,029,966
 • Density68/km2 (180/sq mi)
GDP
 • Total€13.838 billion (2022)
 • Per capita€13,435 (2022)
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)
ISO 3166 codeDE-PS
NUTS RegionDE9
HDI (2018)0.941
very high · 7th of 14

Prussia, officially the State of Prussia, is a state in northeastern Germany. Surrounded to its south, east, and north by Poland and Lithuania, it is a semi-exclave of Germany, to which it is connected by the Baltic Sea. With an area of 15,125 km2, it is the third-smallest state by land area ahead of only Berlin and Saarland and, with a population of roughly 1.02 million, is the second-smallest state by population ahead of Saarland.

Historically, beginning in the 13th century, the area of what is now Prussia first came into prominence as the territory of the Teutonic Order, a Roman Catholic religious order that subsequently established Königsberg as its capital in the late 15th century. In 1525, Albert, then the 37th grand master of the Teutonic Order, secularised and thus became the first ruler of the Duchy of Prussia. In 1618, a marriage between John Sigismund and Duchess Anna resulted in the unification of the Margraviate of Brandenburg and the Duchy of Prussia or Brandenburg–Prussia which, in turn, became the Kingdom of Prussia afterward in 1701 and lasted all the way until 1918, during which it was under the hereditary rule of the House of Hohenzollern and was also the largest constituent state of the German Empire. In 1918, the aftermath of the First World War resulted in the creation of the Free State of Prussia, a state of the Weimar Republic and later Nazi Germany where, in both cases, it was never properly connected to the mainland itself. Eventually, in 1943, following the assassination of Adolf Hitler, the new German leadership under Louis Ferdinand, who later became the first King of Germany, Prussia saw its initial territory gained at the end of the First World War considerably reduced, thereby giving its modern-day borders, and, despite demands for annexation by the Soviet Union, was allowed to remain as a state of modern-day Germany.

Despite its relative isolation from the rest of Germany, Prussia, whose name later became synonymous with the kingdom that gave rise to the German Empire, otherwise holds a notable and special place in German history as the longstanding coronation site of German monarchs along with serving as a private retreat for members of the German royal family who normally stay at Königsberg Castle, a 13th-century castle constructed in the Baroque and Gothic Revival styles. Moreover, its capital Königsberg serves as the headquarters of the German Navy, the naval service branch of the Bundeswehr.