Thanks for an interesting speculation. Indeed, you hit a nail on the head, when one thinks of the "niederer Adel" class which still loves "von" and "von und zu" in names.
One thinks of Ursula Albrecht. Well, I do. Mostly the "von der Leyen" married name is known. It's amusing because she was born a commoner to German citizens in Belgium, Got married to a minor "title" from her husband's Hanover clan. I mention her, that fumbling Minister of Defense under Merkel, because you mention Prussia's Frederick II. One should consider, before "philsopher-king," his military campaigns like the invasion of Austria-ruled Silesia. And then Bohemia, and then there was that first partition of Poland. All in all, there were lives lost courtesy of old number II. Ever visited the Sans Souci when in Berlin?
While wishing you well, I note for this thread that the Freeper who posted "A kingdom is a good form of government IF you have a good king" did not respond his his choice for that "good king."
It was a heck of good question, and I'd hoped to hear more from those who would reply with an example of a "good king."
I chuckled by your observation that "he [ Frederick II ] was more modest than some of our democratically elected politicians, who have assumed an air of royalty, like some leaders in the EU and its member countries." We are so-o-o on the same page about this.
Takes me back to George Carlin's observation: "It's a big club and you ain't in it. You and I are not in the big club. By the way, it's the same big club they use to beat you over the head with all day long when they tell you what to believe. All day long beating you over the head with their media telling you what to believe, what to think and what to buy. The table is tilted, folks."
Bleib gesund und wohlauf. Alles Gute.
Alles Gute auch Dir 😀
P.S.: Yes, Frederick had to fight three wars to get control over the wealthy territory of Silesia, to which he had a legal claim, due to the death of the last male ruler there, Emperor Charles VI.
The duchy of Silesia had, iirc, agnatic succession, i.e. the Emperor’s daughter, Mary Theresa, would have to be skipped in the line of succession. Furthermore, Lower Silesia was strictly Protestant, so the Protestant King was preferable as ruler of the land to the Catholic Empress. Actually, in Lower Silesia, the population hailed him as a liberator from Popish suppression.
It was not only the clash of two legal claims, but also of two powers within the Old Reich: Austria vs. Prussia. After all, every German prince had been allowed his own foreign policy since 1648, though de facto they often cooperated against the Ottoman and French threats. It worked all right, as long as Prussia remained poor and small. But it grew, thanks to its thrift, its excellent administration, its Protestant work ethic and several serendipitous gains of territory (through inheritance).
Now, however, the competition between the two strongest powers within the Old Reich had become too much…ultimately, the Old Reich was unable to withstand the onslaught of the old enemy in the West, who was trying to export his revolution by the force of arms: revolutionary France, whose army was not only powered by revolutionary fervor, but was also led by a military genius named Napoleon…😀