Prussia
Prussia Historic state of n Germany. The Teutonic Knights conquered the region in the 13th century. The Duchy of Prussia, founded in the 15th century, passed to the Electors of Brandenburg in 1618. They took the title of Kings of Prussia in 1701. In the 18th century, under Frederick William I and Frederick II (the Great), Prussia became a strong military power, absorbing Silesia and parts of Poland. After defeats in the Napoleonic Wars, Prussia emerged again as a powerful state at the Congress of Vienna (1815). In the 19th century, Prussia displaced Austria as the leading German power and, under Otto von Bismarck, led the movement for German unity, accomplished in 1871. Comprising 65% of the new German Empire, it was the leading German state until World War I. It ceased to exist as a political unit in 1945.
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Prussia
