646  THE  RISE   OF  PRUSSIA,

and  startled  aD  Europe  into  an  acknowledgment  of  the  £ict  that
the  armies  of  Prussia  had  at  their  head  one  of  die  greatest  com-
manders of  the  world.  His  name  became  a  hoosehc^d  word,  and
everybody  coupled  with  it  the  admiring  epithet  of  **^  Great."

But  fortune  finally  deserted  him.  In  sustaining  the  iw^'gro^l
contest,  his  dominions  became  drained  of  men.  England  with-
drew her  aid,  and  inevitable  ruin  seemed  to  impend  over  his
throne  and  kingdom.  A  change  by  death  in  the  government  of
Russia  now  put  a  new  face  upon  Frederick's  aflairs.  In  1762
Elizabeth  of  that  cotmtry  died,  and  Peter  III.,  an  ardent  admirer
of  Frederick,  came  to  the  throne,  and  immediately  transferred  the
armies  of  Russia  from  the  side  of  the  allies  to  that  of  PrussiaL
The  alliance  lasted  only  a  few  months,  Peter  being  deposed  and
murdered  by  his  wife,  who  now  came  to  the  throne  as  Catherine
II.  She  reversed  once  more  the  policy  of  the  Government ;  bat
the  temporary  alliance  had  given  Frederick  a  decisive  advantage,
and  the  year  following  Peter's  act,  England  and  France  were  glad  to
give  over  the  struggle  and  sign  the  Peace  of  Paris  (1763).  Shortly
after  this  another  peace  (the  Treaty  of  Hubertsbuig)  was  arranged
between  Austria  and  Prussia,  and  one  of  the  most  terrible  wars  that
had  ever  disturbed  Europe  was  over.  The  most  noteworthy  result
of  the  war  was  the  exalting  of  the  Prussian  kingdom  to  a  most
commanding  position  among  the  European  powers.
