Frederick had a great love of dogs. He always had one with him. Frederick never married and had no children. In many cases, the king only had his dogs for company. Indeed even as he lay dying he was accompanied by his dogs. Frederick’s last recorded words were “Cover the dog, he’s shivering.” He died in his bed with his favourite Italian Greyhound, alongside him. The dog seemed to have a premonition of the death of the king. The clock in Frederick’s room stopped at the time of his death. It has never worked since. His funeral was a national event and the public mourned his passing, because he was such a well-known and popular monarch. Frederick had left his kingdom at peace and prosperous. He also changed the map of Europe forever.
