Frederick II was King of Prussia from 1740 until 1786, the longest reign of any Hohenzollern king. His most significant accomplishments during his reign included his military victories, his reorganization ... Wikipedia Born : January 24, 1712, Berlin, Germany Died : August 17, 1786, Potsdam, Germany Reign : 31 May 1740 – 17 August 1786 Spouse : Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel-Bevern (m. 1733–1786) Books : Anti-Machiavel , Instructions for His Generals , MORE Quotes He who defends everything defends nothing. A crown is merely a hat that lets the rain in. The greatest and noblest pleasure which men can have in this world is to discover new truths; and the next is to shake off old prejudices. At a time when monarchs were regarded as semidivine beings who could cure diseases with the royal touch, he despised religion as a farrago of nonsense, avoided court life, doffed his hat to ordinary Pr