Walter Leslie (1607–1667)
Encyclopedia
Walter Leslie was an Imperial Field Marshal of Scottish descent.
. His father William was the 10th Baron of Balquhain and his mother Joan was a daughter of John Baron of Gogar
. In 1647, he married Anna Francesca von Dietrichstein
, daughter of Count Maximilian von Dietrichstein. They had no children.
. Leslie was responsible for the supply of ammunition to Wallenstein's army and had thus good contacts with the court in Vienna. There he was ordered to keep an eye on Wallenstein, whose loyalty was mistrusted in Vienna. When Wallenstein had to flee in 1634 to Eger
, Lesley witnessed Wallenstein's plans to link up with the enemy.
Then Leslie supposedly plotted with John Gordon and Irishman Walter Butler to kill the traitor Wallenstein. On February 25 a fight broke out during a banquet in the house of the mayor of Eger in which Wallenstein, Trčka, Ilow and Wilhelm Kinsky
were killed and Leslie wounded.
Already in April 1634 Emperor Ferdinand II
rewarded Leslie for his action by making him Colonel of a regiment. Later he received the rule of Neustadt an der Mettau
and he converted to Catholism.
In summer 1634 Leslie participated in the Siege of Regensburg and on September 5, 1634 in the Battle of Nördlingen
. Since 1636 he pursued a military-diplomatic career and became in 1646 Feldzeugmeister
. In 1650 he became Field Marshal
, Vice-President of the Hofkriegsrat
and in 1665 Knight in the Order of the Golden Fleece
.
Family
Walter Leslie was born in a prominent Scottish noble family from the Clan LeslieClan Leslie
Clan Leslie is a Lowland Scottish clan.-Origins:The family name comes from the Leslie lands of Aberdeenshire and was to become famous in Germany, Poland, France and Russia...
. His father William was the 10th Baron of Balquhain and his mother Joan was a daughter of John Baron of Gogar
Gogar
Gogar is a rural exurb of Edinburgh, Scotland, located to the west of the city. It is not far from Gogarloch, Edinburgh Park and Maybury. The Fife Circle Line is to the north of the city.-History:The name of Gogar first appears on a map in 1233...
. In 1647, he married Anna Francesca von Dietrichstein
Dietrichstein
Dietrichstein was the name of a German/Austrian noble family.Maximilian von Dietrichstein was created Graf von Dietrichstein on 18 September 1612 and Fürst von Dietrichstein zu Nikolsburg on 24 March 1639...
, daughter of Count Maximilian von Dietrichstein. They had no children.
Military career
Walter Leslie entered in 1631 in the service of Albrecht von Wallenstein and fought together with his countryman John Gordon in the Battle of LützenBattle of Lützen (1632)
The Battle of Lützen was one of the most decisive battles of the Thirty Years' War. It was a Protestant victory, but cost the life of one of the most important leaders of the Protestant alliance, Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden, which caused the Protestant campaign to lose direction.- Prelude to the...
. Leslie was responsible for the supply of ammunition to Wallenstein's army and had thus good contacts with the court in Vienna. There he was ordered to keep an eye on Wallenstein, whose loyalty was mistrusted in Vienna. When Wallenstein had to flee in 1634 to Eger
Cheb
Cheb is a city in the Karlovy Vary Region of the Czech Republic, with about 33,000 inhabitants. It is situated on the river Ohře , at the foot of one of the spurs of the Smrčiny and near the border with Germany...
, Lesley witnessed Wallenstein's plans to link up with the enemy.
Then Leslie supposedly plotted with John Gordon and Irishman Walter Butler to kill the traitor Wallenstein. On February 25 a fight broke out during a banquet in the house of the mayor of Eger in which Wallenstein, Trčka, Ilow and Wilhelm Kinsky
Wilhelm Kinsky
Wilhelm Kinsky was a Bohemian Count of Wichinitz and statesman.The Kinsky family were members of the Bohemian aristocracy. In 1628, Kinsky was elevated to the rank of count in the Bohemian nobility when the Wallenstein family, to which he was connected, were ennobled.Kinsky was killed at Eger as...
were killed and Leslie wounded.
Already in April 1634 Emperor Ferdinand II
Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor
Ferdinand II , a member of the House of Habsburg, was Holy Roman Emperor , King of Bohemia , and King of Hungary . His rule coincided with the Thirty Years' War.- Life :...
rewarded Leslie for his action by making him Colonel of a regiment. Later he received the rule of Neustadt an der Mettau
Nové Mesto nad Metují
Nové Město nad Metují is a town in the Hradec Králové Region of the Czech Republic. It had 10049 inhabitants in January 2007. The Metuje River flows through the town.Nové Město nad Metují was founded by Jan Černčický of Kácov in 1501....
and he converted to Catholism.
In summer 1634 Leslie participated in the Siege of Regensburg and on September 5, 1634 in the Battle of Nördlingen
Battle of Nördlingen (1634)
The Battle of Nördlingen was fought on 27 August or 6 September , 1634 during the Thirty Years' War. The Roman Catholic Imperial army, bolstered by 18,000 Spanish and Italian soldiers, won a crushing victory over the combined Protestant armies of Sweden and their German-Protestant allies .After...
. Since 1636 he pursued a military-diplomatic career and became in 1646 Feldzeugmeister
Feldzeugmeister
Feldzeugmeister was a military rank in various European armies , especially in the artillery. It was commonly used in the 16th or 17th century, but could even be found in the beginning of the 20th century in some European countries...
. In 1650 he became 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...
, Vice-President of the Hofkriegsrat
Hofkriegsrat
The Hofkriegsrat was the Court Council of War of the Habsburg Monarchy. Founded in 1556 in the reign of Emperor Ferdinand I, it was a council of men with military experience who could take charge of the army and its needs, in both war and peacetime...
and in 1665 Knight in the Order of the Golden Fleece
Order of the Golden Fleece
The Order of the Golden Fleece is an order of chivalry founded in Bruges by Philip III, Duke of Burgundy in 1430, to celebrate his marriage to the Portuguese princess Infanta Isabella of Portugal, daughter of King John I of Portugal. It evolved as one of the most prestigious orders in Europe...
.