Hans Christoph Friedrich Graf von Hacke
Encyclopedia
Hans Christoph Friedrich Graf von Hacke (born 21 October 1699 in Staßfurt
, died 17 August 1754 in Berlin
) was a Prussian General and Commandant of Berlin. The Hackescher Markt
in Berlin is named after him.
, and at 6'3" tall was assigned the 6th Royal Regiment, the Potsdam Giants
. He attracted attention through his particular attentiveness and adherence to orders, which would earn him a great career. At eighteen, he was an ensign
, at twenty a lieutenant
, twenty-six a first lieutenant
, twenty-nine a staff captain
, and thirty-two a Hofjägermeister.
, making him one of the most significant figures in the King's circle and one of the most influential officers. The royal courts of Berlin, Potsdam and Wusterhausen were under his control, and he also had wide-ranging control in personnel decisions. On 28 July 1740, he was raised to the hereditary title of Graf
(equivalent to a continental count
or British earl
).
After the King's death, Hacke was commander of the military police who protected the new King, Frederick II
. He was also present in both Silesian Wars
, the capture of Prague and the King's campaigns in Saxony and Bohemia. In 1745, he was responsible for the defence of Berlin against the threat of siege by Austrian and Saxon forces.
In 1747, Hacke was promoted to the rank of lieutenant general and given oversight of the royal buildings of Berlin. On 10 November 1749, Frederick II
named Hacke the Stadtkommandant of Berlin, giving him the added responsibilities of personnel decisions, public policy, the timber trade and press censorship.
, the King ordered the city's fortifications and the Spandau Gate to be torn down. Under Hacke's leadership, new houses and streets were built on what had previously been swamp land, and a spacious square was set out here. As a sign of his absolute satisfaction with the work, and in recognition of Hacke's services, the King commanded the square to be named the Hackescher Markt
.
Hans Christoph Friedrich Graf von Hacke died on 17 August 1754 in Berlin.
Staßfurt
Staßfurt is a town in the Salzlandkreis district, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. It is situated on both sides of the river Bode, approximately northeast of Aschersleben, and south of Magdeburg. Pop. 23,538....
, died 17 August 1754 in 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...
) was a Prussian General and Commandant of Berlin. The Hackescher Markt
Hackescher Markt
The Hackescher Markt is a square in the central Mitte locality of Berlin, Germany, situated at the eastern end of Oranienburger Strasse....
in Berlin is named after him.
Early life
In 1715, at the age of sixteen, Hacke went to join the army of the Soldier King, Frederick William I of PrussiaFrederick William I of Prussia
Frederick William I of the House of Hohenzollern, was the King in Prussia and Elector of Brandenburg from 1713 until his death...
, and at 6'3" tall was assigned the 6th Royal Regiment, the Potsdam Giants
Potsdam Giants
The Potsdam Giants was the Prussian infantry regiment No 6, composed of taller-than-average soldiers. The regiment was founded in 1675 and dissolved in 1806 after the Prussian defeat against Napoleon...
. He attracted attention through his particular attentiveness and adherence to orders, which would earn him a great career. At eighteen, he was an ensign
Ensign (rank)
Ensign is a junior rank of a commissioned officer in the armed forces of some countries, normally in the infantry or navy. As the junior officer in an infantry regiment was traditionally the carrier of the ensign flag, the rank itself acquired the name....
, at twenty a lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
, twenty-six a first lieutenant
First Lieutenant
First lieutenant is a military rank and, in some forces, an appointment.The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations , but the majority of cases it is common for it to be sub-divided into a senior and junior rank...
, twenty-nine a staff captain
Stabshauptmann
Stabshauptmann meaning "Staff Captain", is the highest military rank in the Bundeswehr for specialist officers . Instead of being promoted to the rank of major, specialist officers are promoted to the rank of Stabshauptmann and given the salary of a Major...
, and thirty-two a Hofjägermeister.
Career
His services were greatly appreciated by the King, who permitted him in 1722 to have an oil portrait painted with his hand on his sword. In 1740, he was appointed Royal Adjutant GeneralAdjutant 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...
, making him one of the most significant figures in the King's circle and one of the most influential officers. The royal courts of Berlin, Potsdam and Wusterhausen were under his control, and he also had wide-ranging control in personnel decisions. On 28 July 1740, he was raised to the hereditary title of Graf
Graf
Graf is a historical German noble title equal in rank to a count or a British earl...
(equivalent to a continental count
Count
A count or countess is an aristocratic nobleman in European countries. The word count came into English from the French comte, itself from Latin comes—in its accusative comitem—meaning "companion", and later "companion of the emperor, delegate of the emperor". The adjective form of the word is...
or British earl
Earl
An earl is a member of the nobility. The title is Anglo-Saxon, akin to the Scandinavian form jarl, and meant "chieftain", particularly a chieftain set to rule a territory in a king's stead. In Scandinavia, it became obsolete in the Middle Ages and was replaced with duke...
).
After the King's death, Hacke was commander of the military police who protected the new King, Frederick II
Frederick II of Prussia
Frederick II was a King in Prussia and a King of Prussia from the Hohenzollern dynasty. In his role as a prince-elector of the Holy Roman Empire, he was also Elector of Brandenburg. He was in personal union the sovereign prince of the Principality of Neuchâtel...
. He was also present in both Silesian Wars
Silesian Wars
The Silesian Wars were a series of wars between Prussia and Austria for control of Silesia. They formed parts of the larger War of the Austrian Succession and Seven Years' War. They eventually ended with Silesia being incorporated into Prussia, and Austrian recognition of this...
, the capture of Prague and the King's campaigns in Saxony and Bohemia. In 1745, he was responsible for the defence of Berlin against the threat of siege by Austrian and Saxon forces.
In 1747, Hacke was promoted to the rank of lieutenant general and given oversight of the royal buildings of Berlin. On 10 November 1749, Frederick II
Frederick II of Prussia
Frederick II was a King in Prussia and a King of Prussia from the Hohenzollern dynasty. In his role as a prince-elector of the Holy Roman Empire, he was also Elector of Brandenburg. He was in personal union the sovereign prince of the Principality of Neuchâtel...
named Hacke the Stadtkommandant of Berlin, giving him the added responsibilities of personnel decisions, public policy, the timber trade and press censorship.
Hackescher Markt
In 1750, to facilitate expansion of BerlinBerlin
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...
, the King ordered the city's fortifications and the Spandau Gate to be torn down. Under Hacke's leadership, new houses and streets were built on what had previously been swamp land, and a spacious square was set out here. As a sign of his absolute satisfaction with the work, and in recognition of Hacke's services, the King commanded the square to be named the Hackescher Markt
Hackescher Markt
The Hackescher Markt is a square in the central Mitte locality of Berlin, Germany, situated at the eastern end of Oranienburger Strasse....
.
Personal life
His marriage to Sophia Albertine von Creutz, daughter and heiress of Privy Councillor Ehrenreich Bogislaus von Creutz (1670–1733), produced one son, Prussian Major Friedrich Wilhelm von Hacke (died 1789).Hans Christoph Friedrich Graf von Hacke died on 17 August 1754 in Berlin.