Hans Albrecht von Barfus
Encyclopedia
Hans Albrecht von Barfus (1635 – December 27, 1704) was a field marshal
in the service of Brandenburg
and Prussia
, serving briefly as prime minister
under King Frederick I
.
(as a lieutenant), and, now serving the Elector of Brandenburg, quickly rose through the ranks, eventually being granted a colonelcy. By the time of the Siege of Vienna
he was a major-general, and served under King John
of Poland during that campaign.
When the Elector died, Frederick III
took the position. During the Nine Years War, Barfus commanded Brandenburg troops serving with the Dutch against France. In 1690, Barfus violently quarreled with a fellow Electoral officer, General von Schoning
. The argument resulted in both men drawing their swords, but they were, with some difficulty, pulled apart before either was injured. The Elector placed both men under temporary arrest, and Schoning was dismissed from the army.
Despite the stain on his character, Barfus was given command of a Brandenburg contingent assigned to an Austrian army invading Ottoman Turk
territory. Despite suffering heavy losses, the German forces defeated the Turks, and Barfus was promoted to field marshal.
Barfus, considered to be incorruptible, enjoyed the premiership for only a brief time, as the Graf von Wartenburg rose to power later that year. However, when the Elector was crowned King of Prussia
, Barfus traveled with him as the army representative. He was, also, in 1701 granted the Black Eagle
, the highest Prussian military award at the time.
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...
in the service of Brandenburg
Brandenburg
Brandenburg is one of the sixteen federal-states of Germany. It lies in the east of the country and is one of the new federal states that were re-created in 1990 upon the reunification of the former West Germany and East Germany. The capital is Potsdam...
and Prussia
Kingdom of Prussia
The Kingdom of Prussia was a German kingdom from 1701 to 1918. Until the defeat of Germany in World War I, it comprised almost two-thirds of the area of the German Empire...
, serving briefly as prime minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
under King Frederick I
Frederick I of Prussia
Frederick I , of the Hohenzollern dynasty, was Elector of Brandenburg and Duke of Prussia in personal union . The latter function he upgraded to royalty, becoming the first King in Prussia . From 1707 he was in personal union the sovereign prince of the Principality of Neuchâtel...
.
Military career
Barfus was born in 1635 to a cuirassier captain and his wife. He served alongside the Swedes in 1656 during the Second Northern WarSecond Northern War
The Second Northern War was fought between Sweden and its adversaries the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth , Russia , Brandenburg-Prussia , the Habsburg Monarchy and Denmark–Norway...
(as a lieutenant), and, now serving the Elector of Brandenburg, quickly rose through the ranks, eventually being granted a colonelcy. By the time of the Siege of Vienna
Siege of Vienna
The Siege of Vienna in 1529 was the first attempt by the Ottoman Empire, led by Suleiman the Magnificent, to capture the city of Vienna, Austria. The siege signalled the pinnacle of the Ottoman Empire's power, the maximum extent of Ottoman expansion in central Europe, and was the result of a...
he was a major-general, and served under King John
John III Sobieski
John III Sobieski was one of the most notable monarchs of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, from 1674 until his death King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania. Sobieski's 22-year-reign was marked by a period of the Commonwealth's stabilization, much needed after the turmoil of the Deluge and...
of Poland during that campaign.
When the Elector died, Frederick III
Frederick I of Prussia
Frederick I , of the Hohenzollern dynasty, was Elector of Brandenburg and Duke of Prussia in personal union . The latter function he upgraded to royalty, becoming the first King in Prussia . From 1707 he was in personal union the sovereign prince of the Principality of Neuchâtel...
took the position. During the Nine Years War, Barfus commanded Brandenburg troops serving with the Dutch against France. In 1690, Barfus violently quarreled with a fellow Electoral officer, General von Schoning
Hans Adam von Schöning
Hans Adam von Schöning was a Generalfeldmarschall in the service of Brandenburg-Prussia and the Electorate of Saxony.Schöning was born at Tamsel near Küstrin in the Margraviate of Brandenburg...
. The argument resulted in both men drawing their swords, but they were, with some difficulty, pulled apart before either was injured. The Elector placed both men under temporary arrest, and Schoning was dismissed from the army.
Despite the stain on his character, Barfus was given command of a Brandenburg contingent assigned to an Austrian army invading Ottoman Turk
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
territory. Despite suffering heavy losses, the German forces defeated the Turks, and Barfus was promoted to field marshal.
Prime minister
Barfus held several commands during the later part of the decade, including leading a detachment sent to secure the borders with Poland in the aftermath of the death of that nation's king. In 1699, with the fall from grace of his political ally Daniel Ludolph von Danckelmann, he was made first Governor of Berlin and then de facto prime minister, with authority over military, political, and financial affairs.Barfus, considered to be incorruptible, enjoyed the premiership for only a brief time, as the Graf von Wartenburg rose to power later that year. However, when the Elector was crowned King of Prussia
King of Prussia
King of Prussia may refer to:* A ruler of the former German state of Prussia**List of rulers of Prussia* Place names** King of Prussia, Pennsylvania* Shopping Centers** King of Prussia Mall...
, Barfus traveled with him as the army representative. He was, also, in 1701 granted the Black Eagle
Black Eagle
The Black Eagle is a bird of prey. Like all eagles, it is in the family Accipitridae, and is the only member of the genus Ictinaetus. They soar over forests in the hilly regions of tropical Asia and hunt mammals and birds, particularly at their nests...
, the highest Prussian military award at the time.