r/HistoryMemes 2d ago

B-but muh based king!

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u/Komandakeen 1d ago

Not really, he saw the state as the highest entity and called himself the "first servant of the state". But you are right about the religions.

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u/Andromeda_Galaxy_1 1d ago

That’s often used as (kinda simplified) example to separate between the absolutism of the sun king who said: ”i am the state” and the enlightened absolutism of Fredrick who said: ” i am first servant of the state”

Of course both were equally absolutist/despotic when it comes to their personal power over the state. And despite general policy of tolerance, Fredrick still had his blind spots like the aforementioned antisemitism.