“Fear God, Honor the King!”: the Participation of the Clergy in the Integration of New Territories into the Prussian State in 1815

The article touches upon the role of the religious factor in the integration of the new territories obtained by Prussia by the decision of the Congress of Vienna of 1814—1815. The author emphasizes the inner heterogeneity and regionalism as the peculiarity of the Prussian political culture in the early nineteenth century. The circumstances under which Prussia obtained new provinces in 1815 are very carefully examined, special attention being paid to the parts of Saxony, Westphalia, West Prussia, the Great Duchy of the Lower Rhine and Swedish Pomerania. The role of the clergy is demonstrated on the sermons delivered on the occasion of the swearing of the oath by the estates of the new territories to the Prussian King. It is pointed out that the reunion with Prussia was interpreted by the clergy as God’s will. God was thus directly interfering with the earthly politics by establishing the borders of countries and nations. National rhetoric was used by the clergy as well, especially by the preachers of those territories which had been under the French rule prior to 1813. The pastors did their best to create a favourable image of Prussia, presenting it to theirs listeners and readers as a highly advanced, enlightened, and powerful country capable of protecting its citizens against foreign enemies. In order to strengthen the emotional connection with Prussia, the whole Prussian nation was imagined as a big family with a Father-King at the head. The personality of Frederick William III also served as a unifying factor. In the sermons the Prussian monarch was represented in many ways: as a kind and caring father, as a brave and courageous soldier, as a noble and native German ruler, or as a pious Christian. The pastors painted an appealing picture of a happy future awaiting their provinces as part of Prussia. At the same time they reminded their flock of the obligations towards their new Fatherland, taking up arms for it, if necessary, being the principal one. Devotion to the King and willingness to make sacrifices for the sake of the Prussian Fatherland were considered by the priests as higher Christian values. Thus, in the early nineteenth century, religion served as an important stabilizing and integrative factor conducive to the smooth integration of the new territories into the Prussian kingdom.