King Friedrich II of Prussia Monument in Berlin

The monument of King Friedrich II of Prussia (1712-86) stands at the end of Forum Fridericianum, marking the beginning of the boulevard of Unter den Linden. The monument forms part of what is known as Via Triumphalis, stretching from the victory arch of Brandenburg Gate to the Berlin Castle. Monuments along this route have been added by several generations of artists since the 18th Century. The statue of King Friedrich II was erected in 1851 and is one of the best known works of Christian Daniel Rauch. It significantly contributed to the later style of royal monuments.

The monument depicts the king mounted on his trotting horse. He is wearing a uniform, an ermine-lined coat and his famous three-cornered hat. Gripping the reins with his left hand, in his right hand he holds a crutch, a reference to his old age. The elaborately crafted pedestal is divided into three sections. The bottom section bears a commemorative inscription. Above it, there’s a section with representations of the king’s contemporaries; sculpted figures of state officials, generals, scholars and artists fade into the flat relief. The uppermost section of the pedestal depicts scenes from the king’s life; four figures in the corners symbolise the cardinal virtues.