Prussianism had its origins with the rise to the throne of Frederick William I in 1640, who laid the foundations for a professional and stable army; a legacy that was continued by his nephew Frederick William II, who formed an organized and effective army, and later by Frederick II the Great.
Fredick William laid the foundation for the Prussian state. Built a large and efficient standing army. He had a force of forty thousand men, which made the Prussian army the fourth-largest in Europe.
