Frederick the Great celebrations kick off

Germans marked the 300th birthday of Prussian king Frederick the Great’s on Tuesday. His admirers visited his grave in Potsdam to lay flowers and potatoes in honour of the enlightened monarch.

• Frederick the Great's 300th birthday nears - National (12 Jan 12)

Frederick, who died in 1786 and known as Friedrich der Große in German, is one of Prussia’s most celebrated rulers. Besides modernising the country’s bureaucracy and being a patron of the arts, he is credited with introducing the potato to Germany’s staple diet.

On Tuesday morning admirers gathered at his graveside in the Sanssouci palace. 
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