Description

Frederick William III of Prussia, acceded to the throne on November 16, 1797, and immediately showed his good intentions by reducing the cost of the crown, firing his father’s ministers and reforming the most oppressive abuses of the last reign.
At first, both he and his advisors tried to maintain a policy of neutrality in the Napoleonic Wars, and in fact, they managed to stay out of the Third Coalition in 1805. Despite this, he went to war against the French Empire in October 1806. On October 14, at the Battle of Jena-Auerstädt, the French defeated the Prussian army led by Frederick William, and the royal family had to flee to East Prussia, where they were welcomed by Emperor Alexander I of Russia (who, according to rumors of the time, had fallen in love with Queen Luisa).