Maurice O’Donnell
Encyclopedia
Comte Maurice O'Donnell
de Tyrconnell (1780–1843), also known as Moritz Graf O’Donnell von Tyrconnell, was born in Vienna
, and was a Austro-Irish Count.
, France
, and in this case Austria-Hungary
, the Habsburg
empire. He was a son of Minister Joseph Count O’Donnell von Tyrconnell (1755–1810) and Theresa O’Donnell, and a grandson of Major-General Henry Count O’Donnell von Tyrconnell (1726–1789), and his wife, Princess Leopoldine Kantacuzene (Cantacuzino, of Moldavia
and Wallachia
). Maurice’s wife Christine was a daughter of the Prince de Ligne
in France, and was known as Titine, to whom Goethe wrote more than once in 1813. They lived in Pressburg (now known as Bratislava
, Slovakia
). They had two sons, Maximilian Karl Lamoral Graf O'Donnell von Tyrconnell
, who later saved the Emperor Franz Joseph I’s life, and Maurice, junior.
n frontier of the Empire. In 1802 he took leave and made a voyage to Italy, where he met the renowned Madame de Staël during five days in Venice
. It was the beginning of a long relationship with Europe’s leading socialite that lasted many years, with an intense correspondence with Madame de Staël, who at one time beseeched him to marry her.
On 11 April 1813, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel, and took part in campaigns in France, where he distinguished himself at the siege of Besançon
. He was made a full colonel on 1 June 1814, and returned to Vienna at the end of that year, but by the end of April 1815 he was away again in military service in the campaign against Napoleon, and by September he was in Paris
with the Allies. On 1 October 1816, he was granted the command of the 45th Infantry Regiment, and in 1822, was placed in charge of a mission to Italy
. On 9 March 1828, he was appointed brigadier-general in Vienna, and sent again to Italy that year. On 9 May 1832, he was transferred to Gratz
, where he was demobilized on 8 May 1834 with a pension on 500 florins. However, he was again promoted to the rank of lieutenant-general of a division ad honorem.
He died in Dresden
on 30 November 1843, and his wife the Countess Titine survived him until 1867.
O'Donnell
O'Donnell , which is derived from the forename Domhnaill were an ancient and powerful Irish family, kings, princes, and lords of Tír Chonaill in early times, and the chief allies and sometimes...
de Tyrconnell (1780–1843), also known as Moritz Graf O’Donnell von Tyrconnell, was born in 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...
, and was a Austro-Irish Count.
Family background
He was a descendant of the Irish noble family of O’Donnell of Tyrconnell, some of whom fled to the Continent and became nobles of SpainSpain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, France
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 in this case Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
, the Habsburg
Habsburg
The House of Habsburg , also found as Hapsburg, and also known as House of Austria is one of the most important royal houses of Europe and is best known for being an origin of all of the formally elected Holy Roman Emperors between 1438 and 1740, as well as rulers of the Austrian Empire and...
empire. He was a son of Minister Joseph Count O’Donnell von Tyrconnell (1755–1810) and Theresa O’Donnell, and a grandson of Major-General Henry Count O’Donnell von Tyrconnell (1726–1789), and his wife, Princess Leopoldine Kantacuzene (Cantacuzino, of Moldavia
Moldavia
Moldavia is a geographic and historical region and former principality in Eastern Europe, corresponding to the territory between the Eastern Carpathians and the Dniester river...
and Wallachia
Wallachia
Wallachia or Walachia is a historical and geographical region of Romania. It is situated north of the Danube and south of the Southern Carpathians...
). Maurice’s wife Christine was a daughter of the Prince de Ligne
Prince of Ligne
Prince of Ligne is one of the most prestigious Belgian noble titles. It goes back to the eleventh century and owes its name at the village in which it originated, between Ath and Tournai. The lords of Ligne belong to the entourage of the Count of Hainaut at the time of the crusades...
in France, and was known as Titine, to whom Goethe wrote more than once in 1813. They lived in Pressburg (now known as Bratislava
Bratislava
Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia and, with a population of about 431,000, also the country's largest city. Bratislava is in southwestern Slovakia on both banks of the Danube River. Bordering Austria and Hungary, it is the only national capital that borders two independent countries.Bratislava...
, Slovakia
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
). They had two sons, Maximilian Karl Lamoral Graf O'Donnell von Tyrconnell
Maximilian Karl Lamoral O'Donnell
Maximilian Karl Lamoral Graf O’Donnell von Tyrconnell was an Austrian officer and civil servant who became famous when he saved the life of Emperor Franz Josef I of Austria...
, who later saved the Emperor Franz Joseph I’s life, and Maurice, junior.
Career
He was raised in the Austro-Hungarian Academy of Engineers, and was appointed as a sub-lieutenant at the age of 16 years. In 1799, He was promoted to the rank of captain in the 54th Infantry Regiment, guarding the Wallachian-IllyriaIllyria
In classical antiquity, Illyria was a region in the western part of the Balkan Peninsula inhabited by the Illyrians....
n frontier of the Empire. In 1802 he took leave and made a voyage to Italy, where he met the renowned Madame de Staël during five days in Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
. It was the beginning of a long relationship with Europe’s leading socialite that lasted many years, with an intense correspondence with Madame de Staël, who at one time beseeched him to marry her.
On 11 April 1813, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel, and took part in campaigns in France, where he distinguished himself at the siege of Besançon
Besançon
Besançon , is the capital and principal city of the Franche-Comté region in eastern France. It had a population of about 237,000 inhabitants in the metropolitan area in 2008...
. He was made a full colonel on 1 June 1814, and returned to Vienna at the end of that year, but by the end of April 1815 he was away again in military service in the campaign against Napoleon, and by September he was in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
with the Allies. On 1 October 1816, he was granted the command of the 45th Infantry Regiment, and in 1822, was placed in charge of a mission to Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. On 9 March 1828, he was appointed brigadier-general in Vienna, and sent again to Italy that year. On 9 May 1832, he was transferred to Gratz
Gratz
Gratz may refer to:In places:* Gratz, Kentucky, a US city* Gratz, Pennsylvania, a US boroughIn education:* Gratz College, general college of Jewish studies* Simon Gratz High School, secondary school located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...
, where he was demobilized on 8 May 1834 with a pension on 500 florins. However, he was again promoted to the rank of lieutenant-general of a division ad honorem.
He died in Dresden
Dresden
Dresden is the capital city of the Free State of Saxony in Germany. It is situated in a valley on the River Elbe, near the Czech border. The Dresden conurbation is part of the Saxon Triangle metropolitan area....
on 30 November 1843, and his wife the Countess Titine survived him until 1867.