Johann Friedrich von und zu Mansbach
Encyclopedia
Johann Friedrich von und zu Mansbach (26 October 1744 – 15 March 1803) was a Hessian-Danish military officer. He spent much of his career in Norway, participated in the Theater War
, and commanded Fredriksten Fortress
from 1790 to his death, reaching the rank of lieutenant general
.
He was born in Mansbach
as a son of Friedrich Wilhelm von und zu Mansbach and Sophia Bernstein. In 1787 he married Isabella von Oldenburg (1769–1855), a daughter of Adam Christoph von Oldenburg and Maria de Schöller, and a former member of Désirée Clary
's court. Their son Carl von und zu Mansbach
became a notable military officer and diplomat, and one of Carl's daughters married judge and politician Otto Joachim Løvenskiold
.
Johann Friedrich von und zu Mansbach was a military officer in Hesse-Kassel
before serving Denmark
. In April 1776 he became a naturalized Danish citizen. He served as leader of Dronningens Livregiment in Denmark from November 1772, with the rank of lieutenant colonel. He became chamberlain
(kammerherre) in April 1774. He was promoted further to colonel in May 1783, major general in July 1788 and lieutenant general in April 1801.
From May 1783 he was stationed in Norway. From March 1787 to his death he led the Sønnenfjelske gevorbne Infanteriregiment, and when the Theater War
broke out in 1788 he led the Fourth Field Brigade. From September 1790 he doubled as regiment leader and commander of Fredriksten Fortress
. In 1801, when the War of the Second Coalition
raged, Mansbach was especially tasked with commanding troops in Vestfold
, fearing a British invasion—the Kingdom of Great Britain
had recently attacked Denmark-Norway in the Battle of Copenhagen
. An attack on Vestfold did not occur. Mansbach died in March 1803 at Fredriksten.
Theater War
The Theater War , alias Cowberry War , was a brief war between Denmark–Norway and Sweden, starting on 24 September 1788, formally lasting until 9 July 1789...
, and commanded Fredriksten Fortress
Fredriksten
-History:This Fortresses was constructed ny Denmark-Norway in the 17th century as a replacement for the border fortress at Bohus, which had been lost when the province of Bohuslän was ceded to Sweden by the terms of the Treaty of Roskilde in 1658...
from 1790 to his death, reaching the rank of 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....
.
He was born in Mansbach
Mansbach
Mansbach is a village and a municipal district of Hohenroda in Hersfeld-Rotenburg district in eastern Hesse, Germany....
as a son of Friedrich Wilhelm von und zu Mansbach and Sophia Bernstein. In 1787 he married Isabella von Oldenburg (1769–1855), a daughter of Adam Christoph von Oldenburg and Maria de Schöller, and a former member of Désirée Clary
Désirée Clary
Bernardine Eugénie Désirée Clary , one-time fiancée of Napoleon Bonaparte, was a Frenchwoman who became Queen of Sweden and Norway as the consort of King Charles XIV John, a former French General. She officially changed her name there to Desideria, a Latin version of her original name...
's court. Their son Carl von und zu Mansbach
Carl von und zu Mansbach
Carl von und zu Mansbach was a Hessian-Norwegian military officer and diplomat. He led the Norwegian Military Academy from 1822 to 1828, and later commanded Bergenhus Fortress and Fredriksten Fortress, reaching the rank of lieutenant general...
became a notable military officer and diplomat, and one of Carl's daughters married judge and politician Otto Joachim Løvenskiold
Otto Joachim Løvenskiold
Otto Joachim Løvenskiold was a Norwegian judge and politician. He served three terms in the Parliament of Norway, and served as Mayor of Kristiania from 1869 and 1876. He was a Supreme Court Justice from 1854 to his death....
.
Johann Friedrich von und zu Mansbach was a military officer in Hesse-Kassel
Hesse-Kassel
The Landgraviate of Hesse-Kassel or Hesse-Cassel was a state in the Holy Roman Empire under Imperial immediacy that came into existence when the Landgraviate of Hesse was divided in 1567 upon the death of Philip I, Landgrave of Hesse. His eldest son William IV inherited the northern half and the...
before serving Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
. In April 1776 he became a naturalized Danish citizen. He served as leader of Dronningens Livregiment in Denmark from November 1772, with the rank of lieutenant colonel. He became chamberlain
Chamberlain (office)
A chamberlain is an officer in charge of managing a household. In many countries there are ceremonial posts associated with the household of the sovereign....
(kammerherre) in April 1774. He was promoted further to colonel in May 1783, major general in July 1788 and lieutenant general in April 1801.
From May 1783 he was stationed in Norway. From March 1787 to his death he led the Sønnenfjelske gevorbne Infanteriregiment, and when the Theater War
Theater War
The Theater War , alias Cowberry War , was a brief war between Denmark–Norway and Sweden, starting on 24 September 1788, formally lasting until 9 July 1789...
broke out in 1788 he led the Fourth Field Brigade. From September 1790 he doubled as regiment leader and commander of Fredriksten Fortress
Fredriksten
-History:This Fortresses was constructed ny Denmark-Norway in the 17th century as a replacement for the border fortress at Bohus, which had been lost when the province of Bohuslän was ceded to Sweden by the terms of the Treaty of Roskilde in 1658...
. In 1801, when the War of the Second Coalition
War of the Second Coalition
The "Second Coalition" was the second attempt by European monarchs, led by the Habsburg Monarchy of Austria and the Russian Empire, to contain or eliminate Revolutionary France. They formed a new alliance and attempted to roll back France's previous military conquests...
raged, Mansbach was especially tasked with commanding troops in Vestfold
Vestfold
is a county in Norway, bordering Buskerud and Telemark. The county administration is in Tønsberg.Vestfold is located west of the Oslofjord, as the name indicates. It includes many smaller, but well-known towns in Norway, such as Larvik, Sandefjord, Tønsberg and Horten. The river Numedalslågen runs...
, fearing a British invasion—the Kingdom of Great Britain
Kingdom of Great Britain
The former Kingdom of Great Britain, sometimes described as the 'United Kingdom of Great Britain', That the Two Kingdoms of Scotland and England, shall upon the 1st May next ensuing the date hereof, and forever after, be United into One Kingdom by the Name of GREAT BRITAIN. was a sovereign...
had recently attacked Denmark-Norway in the Battle of Copenhagen
Battle of Copenhagen (1801)
The Battle of Copenhagen was an engagement which saw a British fleet under the command of Admiral Sir Hyde Parker fight and strategically defeat a Danish-Norwegian fleet anchored just off Copenhagen on 2 April 1801. Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson led the main attack. He famously disobeyed Parker's...
. An attack on Vestfold did not occur. Mansbach died in March 1803 at Fredriksten.