in military art, and the invention of surpassing genius.  The tactics and the strategy of the Prussian army came to be for almost half a century the ideal and model for all the armies of Europe.  It was the unanimous opinion that Frederick was the greatest general of his time, and that there had been few leaders since the beginning of history who could be compared with him.  It seemed incredible that the smaller numbers so often conquered the greater, and even when defeated, instead of being routed, faced the enemy, who had hardly recovered from his injuries, as threatening and fully equipped as before.  Today we praise not only the field operations of the King, but also the wise prudence with which he handled his supplies.  He knew very well how much he was limited by having to consider the commissariat, and the thousands of carts in which he had to take with him the provisions and the daily supplies of the soldiers; but he also knew that this method was his only salvation.  Once, when after the battle of Rossbach he made the astonishing march into Silesia—­one hundred and eighty-nine miles in fifteen days—­he, in the greatest danger, abandoned his old method.  He made his way through the country as other armies did at that time, and quartered his men upon the people.  But he wisely returned at once to his old plan.  For as soon as his enemies learned to imitate this free movement, he was certainly doomed.  When the old militia in his ancient provinces rose to arms again, helped to drive out the Swedes, and bravely defended Colberg and Berlin, he accepted their assistance without objection; but he took pains not to encourage a guerilla war; and when his East Frisian peasantry revolted independently against the French and were severely punished by them for it, he told them with brutal frankness that it was their own fault, for war was a matter for soldiers; the business of the peasants and citizens should be uninterrupted industry, the payment of taxes, and the furnishing of recruits.  He well knew that he was lost if a people’s war in Saxony and Bohemia should be aroused against him.  This readiness, indicative of the cautious general, to restrict himself to military forms, which alone made the contest possible for him, may be reckoned among his greatest qualities.

Louder and louder became the cry of sorrow and admiration with which Germans and foreigners watched this death-struggle of the lion at bay.  As early as 1740 the young King had been praised by the Protestants as the champion of freedom of conscience and enlightenment, against intolerance and the Jesuits.  When, a few months after the battle at Kollin, he completely defeated the French at Rossbach, he became the hero of Germany.  A glad cry of joy broke out everywhere.  For two hundred years the French had done great wrong to the divided country; now the German national idea began to revolt against the influence of French culture, and the King, who himself greatly admired Parisian