Ludwig Andreas von Khevenhüller
Encyclopedia
Ludwig Andreas Khevenhüller, Graf
von Aichelberg-Frankenburg (en: Louis Andrew Khevenhüller, Count of Aichelberg-Frankenburg) (30 November 1683, Linz
– 26 January 1744, Vienna
), Austria
n field-marshal who came of a noble family that was originally from Franconia
and had settled in Carinthia.
in the War of the Spanish Succession
and by 1716 had been given command of Prince Eugene's own regiment of dragoons. He distinguished himself at the battles of Peterwardein (5 August 1716) and Belgrade
(1717), and became in 1723 Major-General of Cavalry (General-Feldwachtmeister), in 1726 Colonel-Proprietor (Inhaber)
a Dragoon regiment and in 1733 Lieutenant-General (Feldmarschalleutnant).
In 1734 the War of the Polish Succession
brought him into the field again. He was present at the Battle of Parma
(29 June 1734), where Count Mercy, the Austrian commander, was killed, and after Mercy's death he held the chief command of the army in Italy until the arrival of Field Marshal Königsegg
under whom he again distinguished himself at the Battle of Guastalla
(19 September 1734). He was once more in command during the operations which followed the battle, and his skillful generalship won for him the grade of General of Cavalry. He continued in military and diplomatic employment in Italy to the close of the war.
In 1737 Khevenhüller was made Field Marshal, Prince Eugene recommending him to his sovereign as the best general in the service. His chief exploit in the Turkish War, which soon followed his promotion, was at the Battle of Radojevatz (28 September 1737), where he cut his way through a greatly superior Turkish army. In 1738/9 Khevenhuller met severe budgetary restrictions with an elaborate army reduction scheme. This was successful, and led to his appointment as commander-in-chief of the Vienna garrison.
Khevenhüller surpassed himself in the War of the Austrian Succession
. As commander-in-chief of the army on the Danube
he not only drove out the French
and Bavaria
n invaders of Austria in a few days of rapid marching and sharp engagements (January 1742), but overran southern Bavaria, captured Munich
, and forced a large French corps in Linz
to surrender. Later in the summer of 1742, owing to the inadequate forces at his disposal, he had to evacuate his conquests, but in the following campaign, though now subordinated to Prince Charles of Lorraine, Khevenhüller reconquered southern Bavaria, and in June forced the emperor to conclude the unfavourable Convention of Nieder-Schönfeld. He disapproved of the advance beyond the Rhine which followed these successes, and events showed that his fears were justified, for the Austrians had to fall back from the Rhine through Franconia and the Breisgau
. Khevenhüller, however, conducted the retreat with admirable skill.
On his return to Vienna, Maria Theresa
decorated the field marshal with the Order of the Golden Fleece
. He died suddenly at Vienna on 26 January 1744.
Graf
Graf is a historical German noble title equal in rank to a count or a British earl...
von Aichelberg-Frankenburg (en: Louis Andrew Khevenhüller, Count of Aichelberg-Frankenburg) (30 November 1683, Linz
Linz
Linz is the third-largest city of Austria and capital of the state of Upper Austria . It is located in the north centre of Austria, approximately south of the Czech border, on both sides of the river Danube. The population of the city is , and that of the Greater Linz conurbation is about...
– 26 January 1744, Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
), Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
n field-marshal who came of a noble family that was originally from Franconia
Franconia
Franconia is a region of Germany comprising the northern parts of the modern state of Bavaria, a small part of southern Thuringia, and a region in northeastern Baden-Württemberg called Tauberfranken...
and had settled in Carinthia.
Career
He first saw active service under Prince Eugene of SavoyPrince Eugene of Savoy
Prince Eugene of Savoy , was one of the most successful military commanders in modern European history, rising to the highest offices of state at the Imperial court in Vienna. Born in Paris to aristocratic Italian parents, Eugene grew up around the French court of King Louis XIV...
in the War of the Spanish Succession
War of the Spanish Succession
The War of the Spanish Succession was fought among several European powers, including a divided Spain, over the possible unification of the Kingdoms of Spain and France under one Bourbon monarch. As France and Spain were among the most powerful states of Europe, such a unification would have...
and by 1716 had been given command of Prince Eugene's own regiment of dragoons. He distinguished himself at the battles of Peterwardein (5 August 1716) and Belgrade
Siege of Belgrade (1717)
The siege of Belgrade in 1717 occurred during the Austro-Venetian-Ottoman war which took place from 1714 to 1718 and after the Austrian victory of Petrovaradin...
(1717), and became in 1723 Major-General of Cavalry (General-Feldwachtmeister), in 1726 Colonel-Proprietor (Inhaber)
Proprietor (Inhaber)
A Proprietor, or Inhaber, was a term used in the Habsburg military to denote special honors extended to a noble or aristocrat. The Habsburg army was organized on principles developed for the feudal armies in which regiments were raised by a wealthy noble, called the Inhaber who also acted as...
a Dragoon regiment and in 1733 Lieutenant-General (Feldmarschalleutnant).
In 1734 the War of the Polish Succession
War of the Polish Succession
The War of the Polish Succession was a major European war for princes' possessions sparked by a Polish civil war over the succession to Augustus II, King of Poland that other European powers widened in pursuit of their own national interests...
brought him into the field again. He was present at the Battle of Parma
Battle of San Pietro
The Battle of San Pietro, also known as the Battle of Crocetta or the Battle of Parma was a battle fought on June 29, 1734, between troops of France and Sardinia on one side, and Habsburg Austrian troops on the other, as part of the War of Polish Succession, between the village of La Crocetta and...
(29 June 1734), where Count Mercy, the Austrian commander, was killed, and after Mercy's death he held the chief command of the army in Italy until the arrival of Field Marshal Königsegg
Dominik von Königsegg-Rothenfels
Lothar Joseph Dominik Graf von Königsegg-Rothenfels was an imperial Fieldmarshal.Lothar was the youngest son of Count Leopold Wilhelm von Königsegg-Rothenfels and Maria Polyxena, Countess Scherffenberg. His parents sent him to the Jesuit school in Besançon, to become a priest. At the age of 16...
under whom he again distinguished himself at the Battle of Guastalla
Battle of Guastalla
The Battle of Guastalla or Battle of Luzzara was a battle fought on September 19, 1734, between Franco-Sardinian and Austrian troops as part of the War of Polish Succession.-Background:...
(19 September 1734). He was once more in command during the operations which followed the battle, and his skillful generalship won for him the grade of General of Cavalry. He continued in military and diplomatic employment in Italy to the close of the war.
In 1737 Khevenhüller was made Field Marshal, Prince Eugene recommending him to his sovereign as the best general in the service. His chief exploit in the Turkish War, which soon followed his promotion, was at the Battle of Radojevatz (28 September 1737), where he cut his way through a greatly superior Turkish army. In 1738/9 Khevenhuller met severe budgetary restrictions with an elaborate army reduction scheme. This was successful, and led to his appointment as commander-in-chief of the Vienna garrison.
Khevenhüller surpassed himself in the War of the Austrian Succession
War of the Austrian Succession
The War of the Austrian Succession – including King George's War in North America, the Anglo-Spanish War of Jenkins' Ear, and two of the three Silesian wars – involved most of the powers of Europe over the question of Maria Theresa's succession to the realms of the House of Habsburg.The...
. As commander-in-chief of the army on the Danube
Danube
The Danube is a river in the Central Europe and the Europe's second longest river after the Volga. It is classified as an international waterway....
he not only drove out the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and Bavaria
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...
n invaders of Austria in a few days of rapid marching and sharp engagements (January 1742), but overran southern Bavaria, captured Munich
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...
, and forced a large French corps in Linz
Linz
Linz is the third-largest city of Austria and capital of the state of Upper Austria . It is located in the north centre of Austria, approximately south of the Czech border, on both sides of the river Danube. The population of the city is , and that of the Greater Linz conurbation is about...
to surrender. Later in the summer of 1742, owing to the inadequate forces at his disposal, he had to evacuate his conquests, but in the following campaign, though now subordinated to Prince Charles of Lorraine, Khevenhüller reconquered southern Bavaria, and in June forced the emperor to conclude the unfavourable Convention of Nieder-Schönfeld. He disapproved of the advance beyond the Rhine which followed these successes, and events showed that his fears were justified, for the Austrians had to fall back from the Rhine through Franconia and the Breisgau
Breisgau
Breisgau is the name of an area in southwest Germany, placed between the river Rhine and the foothills of the Black Forest around Freiburg im Breisgau in the state of Baden-Württemberg. The district Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald, which partly consists of the Breisgau, is named after that area...
. Khevenhüller, however, conducted the retreat with admirable skill.
On his return to Vienna, Maria Theresa
Maria Theresa of Austria
Maria Theresa Walburga Amalia Christina was the only female ruler of the Habsburg dominions and the last of the House of Habsburg. She was the sovereign of Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Bohemia, Mantua, Milan, Lodomeria and Galicia, the Austrian Netherlands and Parma...
decorated the field marshal with 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...
. He died suddenly at Vienna on 26 January 1744.