Final answer:
Peter III of Russia, who reigned briefly in 1762, idealized Prussia and aspired to modernize Russia using Prussian examples, especially admiring Frederick the Great's military successes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Peter III of Russia, who briefly reigned in 1762, was known to idealize Prussia. This admiration was partly due to his Prussian upbringing and his fascination with the military prowess of the Prussian King Frederick the Great. Despite Russia's vast size and resources, Peter III believed that following Prussian examples could help modernize the Russian Empire. His reign, however, was short-lived, and he did not implement extensive reforms. Furthermore, in the context of European powers, while Peter the Great was endeavoring to modernize Russia in the late 1600s, the country remained economically underdeveloped into the 1800s because reforms often seemed to threaten absolute rule. Peter III of Russia held a particular fascination for Prussia (b). He admired and idealized Prussian culture and military practices, often alienating himself from the Russian aristocracy due to his strong pro-Prussian sentiments. This infatuation with Prussia was largely attributed to his admiration for King Frederick the Great, his idol, whose policies and military achievements Peter sought to emulate. However, Peter's pro-Prussian stance faced resistance in Russia, and his reign was short-lived. His Germanic sympathies contributed to discontent among the Russian nobility, eventually leading to his deposition in a coup in 1762, with his wife Catherine the Great ascending to the throne.