The biography describes the diverse facets of this royal life between courtly tranquility and revolutionary challenge. In 1786, Friedrich Wilhelm II began his reign in Prussia. Known colloquially as the "fat Lüderjahn," he acted very flexibly in foreign policy. As a result of the partitions of Poland, Prussia was larger than ever before. Friedrich Wilhelm II pursued new paths in the fields of art and architecture. The construction of the Brandenburg Gate is attributed to him; in Potsdam, he had the New Garden created and the Marble Palace built. However, the king struggled to meet the difficult domestic political demands of the time. Although he tried to be a good king to his subjects, he became unpopular due to some measures that were contrary to the spirit of the Enlightenment. Friedrich II did not have a high opinion of him.