The Rise of Brandenburg-Prussia by Shennan Margaret;

Author:Shennan, Margaret; [MARGARET SHENNAN]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Routledge
Published: 2011-07-31T16:00:00+00:00

The impact of administrative change on the social structure

The revolts of 1661 and 1672 in Prussia constituted the only serious opposition to Elector Frederick William’s policies. In the other principalities, his opponents fought the struggle with words, while he manipulated them using soldiers. By agreeing to a compromise, such as the 1653 Recess, he was able to secure the taxation he needed in return for confirming old privileges and granting additional rights to the nobility over matters of seigneurial jurisdiction. An alliance of self-interest was forged between the prince and the nobility. While the junkers were not exempt from taxation, their burden was far lighter than that of other classes. The Great Elector was also able to harness the nobility to state service by drawing them into the officer corps of the army or the military bureaucracy. Indeed, the army and civil service provided invaluable career opportunities for the younger sons of aristocratic families. In practice, the junkers gave up the vestiges of political independence. However, in the area east of the Elbe, where serfdom prevailed, they won absolute social and economic power over the peasantry and the right to exercise justice and local government in their regions.

It was only in Cleves-Mark that the nobles by tradition had more limited privileges.

The decline of the Estates left the burgher and peasant classes defenceless and subservient. The urban middle and lower classes were subdued by crushing taxes and the threat of military intervention; the Excise proved a barrier to the economic development of the towns. For instance, in 1662 the authorities of Spandau complained that the burghers had declined to one-fifth of their number prior to the Elector’s wars. Compared with Riga or Danzig, Königsberg languished under high tolls and duties after 1674, and the number of ships operating annually from the port was halved to 200 under the Great Elector. But the peasants suffered most, especially as the result of his military campaigns.

Many fled west to other states and their lands were left uncultivated. Frederick William’s militarization of the state was carried out at a brutal cost to the enserfed peasants of Brandenburg-Prussia.

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