On March 11th, a crowd of 30 at UC Berkeley welcomed Professor Dr. Barbara Stollberg-Rilinger, an acclaimed German historian and Rector of the Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin (Institute for Advanced Study in Berlin), for a lecture on Frederick William I, the “Soldier King” (Soldatenkönig) of Prussia. Her talk was part of the Gerda Henkel Lecture Series, organized by the Pacific Office of the German Historical Institute Washington in cooperation with the Gerda Henkel Foundation. This series brings German historians to the West Coast to foster transcontinental dialogues on their research. The event was also sponsored by the Institute of European Studies, the Center for German and European Studies, the History Department, and the Institute of Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies at Berkeley.
Professor Jonathan Sheehan, director of Berkeley’s Center for the Study of Religion, introduced Stollberg-Rilinger, who began by posing a thought-provoking question: Why should Americans be interested in Frederick William I? Given that he ruled under vastly different circumstances and that Prussia ceased to exist over a century ago, what relevance does he hold today? She answered by noting that despite historical shifts, elements of Prussia’s relatively short history remain strikingly relevant in the modern era.
Stollberg-Rilinger then outlined her presentation through six key concepts: Disruption, Culture War, Omnipotence and Impotence, Shadow Ruler, The Contemporaries, and The Posterity. Through these themes, she explored the complexities of Frederick William I’s rule, highlighting his defiance of social, legal, political, moral, and aesthetic norms. His reign began with dramatic upheaval—he dismissed numerous civil servants, slashed salaries, and effectively manufactured a state of crisis. Identifying himself with Emperor Caligula, the notorious Roman tyrant, he encouraged the perception of his rule as despotic. Prone to emotional extremes, he once drew his rapier on both his teacher and himself. He also frequently neglected his key responsibilities as ruler, often insulting those below him.
The lecture further examined Frederick William’s relationships, which were often characterized by mistrust and an aversion to accountability. The only person that he appeared to trust was Prince Leopold of Anhalt-Dessau, whom he admired alongside the Russian Tsar, Peter the Great. United by a shared enthusiasm for “tall men in dashing uniforms,” their relationship was not entirely equal—Leopold skillfully manipulated the king, effectively acting as a “shadow ruler.”
Stollberg-Rilinger concluded by discussing the National Socialist appropriation of Frederick William’s reign. She argued that his embrace of anti-intellectualism, male bonding, and the militarization of society made him a Nazi role model—an image still echoed in the rhetoric of Germany’s rising radical-right party, Alternative für Deutschland. The lecture ended with a lively Q and A session.