Franz Wenzel, Graf von Kaunitz-Rietberg
Encyclopedia
Franz Wenzel Graf of Kaunitz-Rietberg (* July 2, 1742 in Vienna, † December 19, 1825 ibid) was an Austrian general who saw service in the Seven Years War and Wars of the French Revolution.
Kaunitz was given a military education and volunteered to join the Austrian army at the beginning of the Seven Years War as an ensign in the Trautmannsdorf Cuirassiers. He transferred to the Daun Infantry Regiment in 1759, and under Field Marshal
Leopold Joseph von Daun rose to the position of Wing Adjutant, distinguishing himself at the Battle of Torgau
, where he was severely wounded. After the peace of Hubertusburg 1763 he was promoted Colonel of the Baden Infantry Regiment (IR) (later IR.23), and then in 1766 of the Emperor Joseph II Infantry Regiment (later IR.1). In 1773 he was promoted General-Major. In the same year he was appointed Inhaber (Proprietor) of IR.38, followed in 1785 by IR.20. Promoted Feldmarschall-Leutnant (FML) in 1783, he served as military commander in Croatia.
At the beginning of the Wars of the French Revolution, he was made Feldzeugmeister (FZM) in the Austrian Netherlands under Prince Josias of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld and served in the Flanders Campaign
. Commanding Coburg's 27,000 man left wing, Kaunitz distinguished himself defending the line of the River Sambre in 1794, beating off Jacques Desjardin
and Louis Charbonnier at Merbes-le-Château , Grandreng and at Erquelinnes 21 May, before completely routing the French at Charleroi 24 May. However he resigned on 30 May after the Prince of Orange
was appointed over his head for political reasons. Kaunitz commanded a column at the Battle of Fleurus
on 26 June.
In 1796 he was made commanding general in Galicia and in 1805 in Moravia
. The following year he resigned from active service.
Kaunitz was a member of the Masonic Lodge
in Brno.
As the last of the family line of Kaunitz-Rietberg he died in Palais Kaunitz, Mariahilfer and was buried in the family grave in Austerlitz
.
Career
Kaunitz was the third son of the statesman Wenzel Anton von Kaunitz-Rietberg and Mary Ernestine (née Countess Starhemberg). He remained unmarried.Kaunitz was given a military education and volunteered to join the Austrian army at the beginning of the Seven Years War as an ensign in the Trautmannsdorf Cuirassiers. He transferred to the Daun Infantry Regiment in 1759, and under Field Marshal
Field Marshal
Field Marshal is a military rank. Traditionally, it is the highest military rank in an army.-Etymology:The origin of the rank of field marshal dates to the early Middle Ages, originally meaning the keeper of the king's horses , from the time of the early Frankish kings.-Usage and hierarchical...
Leopold Joseph von Daun rose to the position of Wing Adjutant, distinguishing himself at the Battle of Torgau
Battle of Torgau
In the Battle of Torgau on 3 November 1760, King Frederick the Great's Prussian army fought a larger Austrian army under the command of Field Marshal Leopold Josef Graf Daun. The Prussians won a costly victory in one of the bloodiest battles of the Seven Years' War.-Background:In August, Daun...
, where he was severely wounded. After the peace of Hubertusburg 1763 he was promoted Colonel of the Baden Infantry Regiment (IR) (later IR.23), and then in 1766 of the Emperor Joseph II Infantry Regiment (later IR.1). In 1773 he was promoted General-Major. In the same year he was appointed Inhaber (Proprietor) of IR.38, followed in 1785 by IR.20. Promoted Feldmarschall-Leutnant (FML) in 1783, he served as military commander in Croatia.
At the beginning of the Wars of the French Revolution, he was made Feldzeugmeister (FZM) in the Austrian Netherlands under Prince Josias of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld and served in the Flanders Campaign
Flanders Campaign
This feature refers to the conflict that took place during the Wars of the French Revolution 1792–1801.For the Low Countries campaigns of the War of the Grand Alliance 1688–97 see Nine Years' War...
. Commanding Coburg's 27,000 man left wing, Kaunitz distinguished himself defending the line of the River Sambre in 1794, beating off Jacques Desjardin
Jacques Desjardin
Jacques Desjardin or Jacques Jardin or Jacques Desjardins; enlisted in the French royal army as a young man and eventually became a sergeant. During the first years of the French Revolutionary Wars he enjoyed very rapid promotion to the rank of general officer in the army of the First French...
and Louis Charbonnier at Merbes-le-Château , Grandreng and at Erquelinnes 21 May, before completely routing the French at Charleroi 24 May. However he resigned on 30 May after the Prince of Orange
William I of the Netherlands
William I Frederick, born Willem Frederik Prins van Oranje-Nassau , was a Prince of Orange and the first King of the Netherlands and Grand Duke of Luxembourg....
was appointed over his head for political reasons. Kaunitz commanded a column at the Battle of Fleurus
Battle of Fleurus (1794)
In the Battle of Fleurus on 26 June 1794, the army of the First French Republic under General Jean-Baptiste Jourdan faced the Coalition Army commanded by Prince Josias of Coburg in the most decisive battle of the Flanders Campaign in the Low Countries during the French Revolutionary Wars...
on 26 June.
In 1796 he was made commanding general in Galicia and in 1805 in Moravia
Moravia
Moravia is a historical region in Central Europe in the east of the Czech Republic, and one of the former Czech lands, together with Bohemia and Silesia. It takes its name from the Morava River which rises in the northwest of the region...
. The following year he resigned from active service.
Kaunitz was a member of the Masonic Lodge
Masonic Lodge
This article is about the Masonic term for a membership group. For buildings named Masonic Lodge, see Masonic Lodge A Masonic Lodge, often termed a Private Lodge or Constituent Lodge, is the basic organisation of Freemasonry...
in Brno.
As the last of the family line of Kaunitz-Rietberg he died in Palais Kaunitz, Mariahilfer and was buried in the family grave in Austerlitz
Slavkov u Brna
Slavkov u Brna is a country town east of Brno in the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic. Population: 5,900. The town is widely known for giving its name to the Battle of Austerlitz which actually took place several kilometres to the west of the town....
.