Prussian

Prussian is an adjective and noun that denotes anything related to Prussia, a historic state in what is now Germany and parts of Poland and Russia, and its people, institutions, or culture. The term is used in historical, linguistic, and cultural contexts.

Origins and political history: The Duchy of Prussia was established in 1618 when the Hohenzollern duke acquired the territory as a fief from the Polish crown. In 1701, Frederick I was crowned King in Prussia, solidifying Prussia's royal status. The state expanded in the 18th and 19th centuries, becoming the leading state of the German Empire after 1871. After World War I, Prussia existed as the Free State of Prussia within the Weimar Republic, but the state was effectively dissolved in 1947 by Allied authorities.

Geography and legacy: Prussia included territories such as East Prussia and West Prussia. Following World War II, most of Prussia's eastern lands were assigned to Poland or the Soviet Union (now the Kaliningrad Oblast). The German state of Prussia ceased to exist, though the name survives in historical references and in some regional identities.

Language and people: The Old Prussian language, spoken by the indigenous Baltic Prussians, became extinct by the 17th century, replaced largely by German. Throughout its history, "Prussian" also referred to the inhabitants of Prussia, and later to a broader German cultural and military identity associated with the Prussian state.

Other uses: Prussian blue is a deep blue pigment discovered in 1704 in Berlin and used in painting and printing. The color Prussian blue and the broader cultural associations with Prussia remain common in art and historical discussions.