Benignus von Safferling
Encyclopedia
Benignus Ritter von Safferling (November 30, 1825 – September 4, 1895) was a Bavarian
General der Infanterie
and War Minister under Otto of Bavaria
.
. When he was eight years old, he went with his father, a soldier of King Otto
to Greece
. In 1835, his father was killed in action in Argos
, when he was commander of an uhlan
regiment. Von Safferling joined the cadets corps at Aegina
shortly afterwards. In the rank of a Korporal
he was transferred to the 2nd Infantry Regiment in Greece. In 1843, when the Bavarians had to leave the country, he was acquired by the Bavarian army
, where he was advanced to Unterleutnant in 1945, in 1849 to Oberleutnant
and in 1859 to Hauptmann
. He took part in the campaign against Austria in 1866, and served as a Major
in the general staff in the 1st Royal Bavarian Division
under General Stephan during the Franco-Prussian War
. After the war he stood in France as Bavarian military representative at the Oberkommando
of the occupation army until 1872. Back in Bavaria, he became commander of the training troops, which had to teach Prussia
n parade rules in the Bavarian forces. In 1874, he became Oberstleutnant
and commander of the Infantry Regiment "King", two years later he became Oberst
. In the rank of Major General
he was transferred to Metz
, where he served as commander of the Bavarian occupation brigade. In 1886 he became Lieutenant General
and president of the General Auditorium, in the following year he became adjutant general
and commander of the 2nd Royal Bavarian Division
. On May 5, 1890 he took office as war minister. In the same year he was advanced to the rank General der Infanterie on September 20, and was awarded honorary citizen of Regensburg
. Ritter von Safferling was retired at his own request on June 5, 1893. He died in Partenkirchen
.
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
General der Infanterie
General of the Infantry (Germany)
General of the Infantry is a rank of general in the Imperial Army, Reichswehr or Wehrmacht - the second-highest regular rank. The same rank spread to the Imperial Russian Army and the Defence forces of Finland between the world wars...
and War Minister under Otto of Bavaria
Otto of Bavaria
Otto , was King of Bavaria from 1886 to 1913. He was the son of Maximilian II and his wife, Marie of Prussia, and younger brother of Ludwig II...
.
Biography
Von Safferling was born in FreisingFreising
Freising is a town in Bavaria, Germany, and capital of the district Freising. Total population 48,500.The city is located north of Munich at the Isar river, near the Munich International Airport...
. When he was eight years old, he went with his father, a soldier of King Otto
Otto of Greece
Otto, Prince of Bavaria, then Othon, King of Greece was made the first modern King of Greece in 1832 under the Convention of London, whereby Greece became a new independent kingdom under the protection of the Great Powers .The second son of the philhellene King Ludwig I of Bavaria, Otto ascended...
to Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. In 1835, his father was killed in action in Argos
Argos
Argos is a city and a former municipality in Argolis, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Argos-Mykines, of which it is a municipal unit. It is 11 kilometres from Nafplion, which was its historic harbour...
, when he was commander of an uhlan
Uhlan
Uhlans were Polish light cavalry armed with lances, sabres and pistols. The title was later used by lancer regiments in the Russian, Prussian, and Austrian armies....
regiment. Von Safferling joined the cadets corps at Aegina
Aegina
Aegina is one of the Saronic Islands of Greece in the Saronic Gulf, from Athens. Tradition derives the name from Aegina, the mother of Aeacus, who was born in and ruled the island. During ancient times, Aegina was a rival to Athens, the great sea power of the era.-Municipality:The municipality...
shortly afterwards. In the rank of a Korporal
Korporal
Korporal is a rank in the Norwegian army, air force and the Swiss army. It is the equivalent of corporal.There are three categories of korporal:# Utskrevet befalskorporal, a conscript who has completed a training course and serves as befal ....
he was transferred to the 2nd Infantry Regiment in Greece. In 1843, when the Bavarians had to leave the country, he was acquired by the Bavarian army
Bavarian army
The Bavarian Army was the army of the Electorate and then Kingdom of Bavaria. It existed from 1682 as the standing army of Bavaria until the merger of the military sovereignty of Bavaria into that of the German State in 1919...
, where he was advanced to Unterleutnant in 1945, in 1849 to Oberleutnant
Oberleutnant
Oberleutnant is a junior officer rank in the militaries of Germany, Switzerland and Austria. In the German Army, it dates from the early 19th century. Translated as "Senior Lieutenant", the rank is typically bestowed upon commissioned officers after five to six years of active duty...
and in 1859 to Hauptmann
Hauptmann
Hauptmann is a German word usually translated as captain when it is used as an officer's rank in the German, Austrian and Swiss armies. While "haupt" in contemporary German means "main", it also has the dated meaning of "head", i.e...
. He took part in the campaign against Austria in 1866, and served as a Major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
in the general staff in the 1st Royal Bavarian Division
1st Royal Bavarian Division
The 1st Royal Bavarian Division was a unit of the Royal Bavarian Army which served alongside the Prussian Army as part of the Imperial German Army. The division was formed on November 27, 1815 as the Infantry Division of the Munich General Command...
under General Stephan during the Franco-Prussian War
Franco-Prussian War
The Franco-Prussian War or Franco-German War, often referred to in France as the 1870 War was a conflict between the Second French Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia. Prussia was aided by the North German Confederation, of which it was a member, and the South German states of Baden, Württemberg and...
. After the war he stood in France as Bavarian military representative at the Oberkommando
High command
The phrase High command may refer to:* Command * Chain of command* Commander-in-Chief* Defence minister* Oberkommando der Wehrmacht, the WWII command structure popularly known as "German High Command"Compare:* Staff...
of the occupation army until 1872. Back in Bavaria, he became commander of the training troops, which had to teach Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
n parade rules in the Bavarian forces. In 1874, he became Oberstleutnant
Oberstleutnant
Oberstleutnant is a German Army and Air Force rank equal to Lieutenant Colonel, above Major, and below Oberst.There are two paygrade associated to the rank of Oberstleutnant...
and commander of the Infantry Regiment "King", two years later he became Oberst
Oberst
Oberst is a military rank in several German-speaking and Scandinavian countries, equivalent to Colonel. It is currently used by both the ground and air forces of Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark and Norway. The Swedish rank överste is a direct translation, as are the Finnish rank eversti...
. In the rank of Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
he was transferred to Metz
Metz
Metz is a city in the northeast of France located at the confluence of the Moselle and the Seille rivers.Metz is the capital of the Lorraine region and prefecture of the Moselle department. Located near the tripoint along the junction of France, Germany, and Luxembourg, Metz forms a central place...
, where he served as commander of the Bavarian occupation brigade. In 1886 he became Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
and president of the General Auditorium, in the following year he became adjutant general
Adjutant general
An Adjutant General is a military chief administrative officer.-Imperial Russia:In Imperial Russia, the General-Adjutant was a Court officer, who was usually an army general. He served as a personal aide to the Tsar and hence was a member of the H. I. M. Retinue...
and commander of the 2nd Royal Bavarian Division
2nd Royal Bavarian Division
The 2nd Royal Bavarian Division was a unit of the Royal Bavarian Army which served alongside the Prussian Army as part of the Imperial German Army. The division was formed on November 27, 1815 as the Infantry Division of the Munich General Command...
. On May 5, 1890 he took office as war minister. In the same year he was advanced to the rank General der Infanterie on September 20, and was awarded honorary citizen of Regensburg
Regensburg
Regensburg is a city in Bavaria, Germany, located at the confluence of the Danube and Regen rivers, at the northernmost bend in the Danube. To the east lies the Bavarian Forest. Regensburg is the capital of the Bavarian administrative region Upper Palatinate...
. Ritter von Safferling was retired at his own request on June 5, 1893. He died in Partenkirchen
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
.