462 FREDERICK (PEIJSSIA) FREDERICK (SAXONY) science. During the Franco-Italian war against Austria (1859) he applied himself particularly to the study of the organization of the French army. His Militdrische DenTcschrift was pub- lished in 1860 without his knowledge, showing how the Prussians could beat the French; and his comments elicited replies from French wri- ters and attracted general attention in military circles. He greatly distinguished himself in the Schleswig-Holstein war of 1864; in the war against Austria in 1866; and most con- spicuously as commander of the second army in the Franco-German war of 1870-'71, com- pelling the surrender of Metz, Oct. 27, for which he was made general field marshal. His next victories were achieved over the army of the Loire, and he entered the city of Orleans Dec. 5, repeatedly defeated Gen. Chanzy, and captured Le Mans, Jan. 12. He is represented in the war songs of the period as an iron prince, a valiant soldier, a bold ar- tillery officer, a gay sportsman, and a man whose word can be depended upon. FREDERICK WILLIAM NICHOLAS CHARLES, a German general, crown prince of Prussia and of the German empire, born in the new royal palace near Potsdam, Oct. 18, 1831. He received a thorough scientific education and the doctor's diploma from the university of Ko- nigsberg, of which he is rector. On Jan. 25, 1858, he married Victoria Adelaide, princess royal of Great Britain, who hae borne him six children, the eldest of whom, Prince Frederick "William Victor Albert, was born in Berlin, Jan. 27, 1859. In 1866 he was commander-in- chief of the second Prussian army, and essen- tially contributed to the decisive victory of Sadowa by his timely appearance at Chlum. In the Franco-German war of 1870-'71 he was at the head of the South German forces as commander-in-chief of the third army. The first victory of the war, that of Weissenburg (Aug. 4), and the greater one over MacMahon at Worth (Aug. 6), were achieved under his generalship ; he took an equally brilliant part, together with the crown prince (now king) Al- bert of Saxony, in the great triumphs culmina- ting in Napoleon's surrender with his army at Sedan, Sept. 2 ; won additional laurels during the siege of Paris, and was made general field marshal Oct. 28, although it had not been cus- tomary for royal princes to receive that title. VIII. SAXONY. FREDERICK III., surnamed the Wise, elector of Saxony, born in Torgau, Jan. 17, 1463, died May 5, 1525. He succeeded his father Ernest in 1486, in a part of his possessions, govern- ing the rest in common with his brother John the Constant, who became his successor. He founded the university of Wittenberg, and, though not an avowed adherent of the refor- mation, greatly promoted it by his protection, procuring safety for Luther during the diet of Worms (1521), and subsequently sheltering him in the castle of Wartburg. After the death of Maximilian I. (1519) he declined the crown of Germany, which was conferred, according to his advice, upon Charles V. The peasants' war embittered the last days of his life. FREDERICK AUGUSTUS I., first king of Sax- ony, eldest son of the elector Frederick Chris- tian, born Dec. 23, 1750, died May 5, 1827. He succeeded his father in December, 1763, under the tutelage of Prince Xavier, was de- clared of age Sept. .15, 1768, and in the follow- ing year married Maria Amalia, princess of Zweibriicken. The only fruit of this marriage was a daughter, the princess Augusta. He abolished the heavy taxes on foreign merchan- dise, consolidated the several departments for the management of the finances, encouraged industry, and improved navigation with canals and sluices. Paper money soon rose above par. He abolished torture and the farming of , judicial offices, and reorganized the court of appeals. The claims of his mother to the pos- sessions of her deceased brother, the elector Maximilian Joseph of Bavaria, induced him to ally himself with Frederick the Great against Austria in the short war of the Bavarian suc- cession. Subsequently he joined the league of princes (Fursteribund) formed under the pro- tectorate of the Prussian monarch. In 1791 he declined the succession to the throne of Poland, offered him in the name of that coun- try by Prince Adam Casimir Czartoryski. He also rejected the overtures of a conference of the emperors Leopold II. and Frederick Wil- liam II. of Prussia, held at Pilnitz (1791), to join as an independent sovereign the first coa- lition against the French revolution, though he did not withhold his contingent as a mem- ber of the German empire when the war had been declared. In 1796 he took part in the treaty of peace and neutrality concluded with the French republic by the district of Upper Saxony. He maintained his neutrality during the war of 1805, but in the following year joined Prussia in the unhappy contest decided by the battle of Jena. Saxony, which fell into the hands of the French conqueror, was severe- ly punished, and Frederick Augustus was com- pelled to ally himself with Napoleon. He assumed the title of king, and joined the Rhe- nish confederation. For the cession of several districts of western Saxony annexed to the new kingdom of Westphalia he was scantily compensated by a part of Lusatia, and after the peace of Tilsit (1807) more liberally by the duchy of Warsaw. He was a faithful vassal of the French emperor during the wars of 1809 against Austria and 1812 against Russia, and in 1813, when Saxony became the chief scene of the conflict. Having personally joined Na- poleon shortly before the battle of Leipsic, he was declared after its bloody issue a prisoner of war by the emperor Alexander, was sent to Berlin, and afterward to the castle of Fried- richsfeld, but was allowed to reside at Presburg during the deliberations of the congress of Vienna. That congress restored to him half
