Hardenberg inaugurated measures intended to ameliorate the condition of the peasants, while Wilhelm von Humboldt established the thorough if somewhat mechanical education system which was subsequently extended throughout Germany.

He also helped to found the University of Berlin in 1809.
But at the same time the curse of Prussia--militarism--was riveted on the people through the reorganization of the Prussian army by those two able military bureaucrats, Scharnhorst and Gneisenau.

In 1813 Prussia concluded at Kalicsh an alliance with Russia, which Austria joined.

In the war which followed Prussia was severely strained by losses in men and money.

But at the Congress of Vienna the Prussian kingdom received back nearly, but not quite, all it lost in 1807.