History of Friedrich II of Prussia — Volume 06

In the early 1720s the future ruler of Prussia finds his private life tangled in a diplomatic quagmire. A proposed English marriage drags the crown‑prince into a web of intrigue that threatens to eclipse his own ambitions, while the court watches anxiously as the “spectre‑hunt” of European politics gathers momentum. The narrative follows his attempts to navigate personal desire against the relentless pull of statecraft, setting the stage for a larger conflict that will shape the continent.

The book then turns to the sudden outbreak of war in 1727, when Spain’s assault on Gibraltar sparks a cascade of accusations and demands across the Atlantic. Diplomatic messengers, naval maneuvers, and the stubborn will of a “termagant” queen create a tense backdrop for the siege, a clash that appears minor yet reveals the fragile balance of power. Through vivid detail and contemporary commentary, the work paints a picture of a Europe on the brink, where personal and political storms converge.