Friedrich III

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Frederick III (1731-1806) was the third King of Brasland. He was the son of Frederick II.

From an early age he received education on various subjects from Father Lukas Delznauer, a controversial Jesuit priest who was disliked by the more conservative factions at Court.

In 1767 he succeeded his father as king, and his reign is known for policies that were characteristic of the enlightened despotism of its time. One of his most well-known legacies is Markund's Royal Palace, a grand residence which was built to attract the most powerful noble families of the realm and keep them under the sovereign's watchful eye. He also exiled his mother from Court, as she made several attempts to interfere in the government and was linked to an attempt to assassinate Delznauer, whose influence on the King was considered perfidious by some.

Frederick was also interested in astrology, and founded a secret group that practised this activity at Court. His religious life was unconventional: he only practised Catholicism publicly, in order to please society, but his personal beliefs were more sincretist and he doubted of many of the Catholic dogmas.

Frederick's personal life was complex. In 1759 his father arranged his marriage to Duchess Sophie von Kerlich, a member of one of Brasland's main families. Frederick did not like her and it is argued that the marriage was never consummated (while some historians claim that Frederick contracted a veneral disease during his time in the Navy that left him infertile). Although they were forced by the King to live together during his lifetime, when Frederick assumed the throne he and Sophie separated. Frederick ordered the construction of the Royal Palace, while the Queen preferred to live in the country and kept a small but innocent court there.

It is a known theory that Frederick was a homosexual, and this would explain his lack of interest towards women and his closeness to his friends. However, there is no evidence of affaires with men, and he also had a close friendship to Henriette von Wüthenau, the wife of an officer, although it is not known if theirs was a physical relationship.

He died in 1806 and was succeeded by his brother, Paul I.