List of illustrations and maps -- Acknowledgements -- Introduction -- 1. The Hohenzollerns of Brandenburg -- 2. Devastation -- 3. An extraordinary light in Germany -- 4. Majesty -- 5. Protestants -- 6. Powers in the land -- 7. Struggle for mastery -- 8. Dare to know! -- 9. Hubris and nemesis : 1789-1806 -- 10. The world the bureaucrats made -- 11. A time of iron -- 12. God's march through history -- 13. Escalation -- 14. Splendour and misery of the Prussian Revolution -- 15. Four wars -- 16. Merged into Germany -- 17. Endings -- Notes -- Index.