On 30 December 1812, the Prussian general Ludwig Yorck signed an armistice with Russia at Tauroggen, on his own authority. He then wrote to his king, Friedrich Wilhelm III: Ew. Majestät lege ich willig meinen Kopf zu Füßen, wenn ich gefehlt haben sollte. I willingly lay my head at Your Majesty’s feet, if I should have done wrong. At first the king disapproved of the convention.