Heino Heinrich Graf von Flemming
Encyclopedia
Heino Heinrich Reichsgraf von Flemming (8 May 1632 – 1 March 1706) was a Saxon
, later Brandenburger
army leader and Field Marshal
and Governor of Berlin
.
Flemming was born in Martenthin
into an old noble Brandenburg family that probably emigrated from the Netherlands. After a comprehensive education at German universities, Flemming fought the Ottoman Turks
as a Colonel of Auxiliary Troops in the service of Brandenburg. Frederick William, Elector of Brandenburg
, sent him to the King of Poland in 1672. After serving William of Orange excellently several times, Flemming eventually came to serve in the Brandenburg army, although in times of peace he served in other armies. Because of his ability and bravery he received many offers to change services, and in 1682 became a Feldmarschallleutnant (roughly the equivalent of a two-star general) in the Saxon army. Commanding Saxon auxiliary troops, he contributed to the delaying of the Turks before Vienna in 1683.
On 15 February 1684 he became commander of Saxon troops and became a Field Marshal after the death of Baron von der Goltz on 8 September 1688.
In this and the following year he commanded the Saxon troops on the Rhine under Elector John George III
. However, he was suspended for multiple personal offenses, which hurt him deeply. The Austrian generals accused him of corruption. He left the Saxon army and became a marshal with the Brandenburg army, one of four field marhals who did so (the other three being John George II, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau
, Derfflinger
, and Spaen
). Flemming commanded successfully in Flanders and retired in 1698 for health reasons.
Electorate of Saxony
The Electorate of Saxony , sometimes referred to as Upper Saxony, was a State of the Holy Roman Empire. It was established when Emperor Charles IV raised the Ascanian duchy of Saxe-Wittenberg to the status of an Electorate by the Golden Bull of 1356...
, later Brandenburger
Margraviate of Brandenburg
The Margraviate of Brandenburg was a major principality of the Holy Roman Empire from 1157 to 1806. Also known as the March of Brandenburg , it played a pivotal role in the history of Germany and Central Europe....
army leader and Field Marshal
Generalfeldmarschall
Field Marshal or Generalfeldmarschall in German, was a rank in the armies of several German states and the Holy Roman Empire; in the Austrian Empire, the rank Feldmarschall was used...
and Governor of Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
.
Flemming was born in Martenthin
Mierzecin, West Pomeranian Voivodeship
Mierzęcin is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Wolin, within Kamień County, West Pomeranian Voivodeship, in north-western Poland. It lies approximately east of Wolin, south of Kamień Pomorski, and north of the regional capital Szczecin....
into an old noble Brandenburg family that probably emigrated from the Netherlands. After a comprehensive education at German universities, Flemming fought the Ottoman Turks
Ottoman Turks
The Ottoman Turks were the Turkish-speaking population of the Ottoman Empire who formed the base of the state's military and ruling classes. Reliable information about the early history of Ottoman Turks is scarce, but they take their Turkish name, Osmanlı , from the house of Osman I The Ottoman...
as a Colonel of Auxiliary Troops in the service of Brandenburg. Frederick William, Elector of Brandenburg
Frederick William, Elector of Brandenburg
|align=right|Frederick William was Elector of Brandenburg and Duke of Prussia – and thus ruler of Brandenburg-Prussia – from 1640 until his death. A member of the House of Hohenzollern, he is popularly known as the "Great Elector" because of his military and political prowess...
, sent him to the King of Poland in 1672. After serving William of Orange excellently several times, Flemming eventually came to serve in the Brandenburg army, although in times of peace he served in other armies. Because of his ability and bravery he received many offers to change services, and in 1682 became a Feldmarschallleutnant (roughly the equivalent of a two-star general) in the Saxon army. Commanding Saxon auxiliary troops, he contributed to the delaying of the Turks before Vienna in 1683.
On 15 February 1684 he became commander of Saxon troops and became a Field Marshal after the death of Baron von der Goltz on 8 September 1688.
In this and the following year he commanded the Saxon troops on the Rhine under Elector John George III
John George III, Elector of Saxony
Johann Georg III was Elector of Saxony from 1680 to 1691.-Early life:Johann Georg was the only son of the Elector Johann Georg II and Magdalene Sybille of Brandenburg-Bayreuth....
. However, he was suspended for multiple personal offenses, which hurt him deeply. The Austrian generals accused him of corruption. He left the Saxon army and became a marshal with the Brandenburg army, one of four field marhals who did so (the other three being John George II, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau
John George II, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau
John George II, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Dessau...
, Derfflinger
Georg von Derfflinger
Georg von Derfflinger was a field marshal in the army of Brandenburg-Prussia during and after the Thirty Years' War .-Early years:...
, and Spaen
Alexander von Spaen
Alexander Freiherr von Spaen was a Generalfeldmarschall of Brandenburg-Prussia.Spaen was born in the Duchy of Cleves as the son of Bernhard von Spaen, the lord of Kreuzfort....
). Flemming commanded successfully in Flanders and retired in 1698 for health reasons.