In the spring of 1739, Voltaire dedicated La Henriade to Frederick II of Prussia and that summer Frederick penned this foreword. Following their disagreement, however, Voltaire decided to remove the dedication to Frederick and his foreword was not taken to print. It would remain unpublished for seventeen years. In 1746, Marmontel published two fragments of the foreword that would later be corrected and modified several times, including by Voltaire.