Maximilian Seyssel d’Aix
Encyclopedia
Maximilian "Max" Graf Seyssel d’Aix (November 20, 1776 – September 12, 1855) was a Bavaria
n Lieutenant General
.
as a member of the Seyssel d’Aix family, which moved from the Savoy
to Bavaria in the beginning 18th century. He joined the army in his early years. He took part in the campaigns at the River Rhine in 1794 and 1795 in the rank of an Oberleutnant
, in the war of 1800 as a Rittmeister
, and in the campaigns against Austria
in 1805 and against Prussia
in 1806/07 in the rank of Major
. In his mind he rendered outstanding services to the battle at Rothwaltersdorf
on June 4, 1807, and asked for the bestowal of the Military Order of Max Joseph
. Lieutenant General Von Deroy
argued against and added to Seyssel d’Aix' request, that his battle activities had more likely to be punished than being awarded in public opinion. In the following years, Seyssel d’Aix took part in the war of 1812 as an Oberst
and commander of the 22nd Light Cavalry Brigade of the Grande Armée. After a short stay at home in the garrison of Augsburg
in the beginning of 1813, he returned to the front as commander of a combined Chevau-légers
regiment, shortly before deployed in Bamberg
in 1813, which was subordinated to the division "Raglovich
". He proved in the Bautzen
, and was awarded with the Knight's Cross
of the desired Military Order of Max Joseph for an activity on May 26, when he came to rescue of the division "Pacthod
". On August 17, 1813, he as well as a further officer and 40 cavalrymen were caught in the battle at Dornswalde (today a quarter of Baruth
). After Bavaria joined the alliance, he was set free and returned to his regiment. He took part in further campaigns in France
, also in the Alsace
region in 1815. After serving as divisional commander, he was made to Generalkapitän of the Leibgarde der Hartschiere on January 13, 1837. Due to the fact, that this was unrequested by him, he requested for his retirement multiple times, and was retired in 1845. In 1842 the important defense barracks of Germersheim fortress were named in honor of him.
Seyssel d’Aix was married to Princess Sophie of Yrsch-Pienzenau (1805–1872), who was appointed "Pallastdame" (Lady-in-waiting
) of the Queen and was honorary dame of the Theresien-Orden. The couple had three sons and two daughters, named Edwin (1824–1912), Ludwig (1825–1895), Klothilde (1826–1891), Emma (born 1827) and Camil (1836–1895). He died in Regensburg
.
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 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....
.
Biography
Seyssel d’Aix was born in MunichMunich
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...
as a member of the Seyssel d’Aix family, which moved from the Savoy
Savoy
Savoy is a region of France. It comprises roughly the territory of the Western Alps situated between Lake Geneva in the north and Monaco and the Mediterranean coast in the south....
to Bavaria in the beginning 18th century. He joined the army in his early years. He took part in the campaigns at the River Rhine in 1794 and 1795 in the rank of an Oberleutnant
Oberleutnant
Oberleutnant is a junior officer rank in the militaries of Germany, Switzerland and Austria. In the German Army, it dates from the early 19th century. Translated as "Senior Lieutenant", the rank is typically bestowed upon commissioned officers after five to six years of active duty...
, in the war of 1800 as a Rittmeister
Rittmeister
Rotamaster was the military rank of a commissioned cavalry officer in charge of a squadron , the equivalent of O3 or Captain, in the German-speaking armies, Austro-Hungarian, Polish-Lithuanian, Russian and some other states.The exact name of this rank maintains a variety of spellings in different...
, and in the campaigns against 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...
in 1805 and against Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
in 1806/07 in the rank of Major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
. In his mind he rendered outstanding services to the battle at Rothwaltersdorf
Czerwienczyce
Czerwieńczyce is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Nowa Ruda, within Kłodzko County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. Prior to 1945 it was in Germany....
on June 4, 1807, and asked for the bestowal of the Military Order of Max Joseph
Military Order of Max Joseph
The Military Order of Max Joseph was the highest purely military order of the Kingdom of Bavaria. It was founded on 1 January 1806 by Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria, the first king of Bavaria...
. Lieutenant General Von Deroy
Bernhard Erasmus von Deroy
Bernhard Erasmus von Deroy became a noted general officer in the army of Bavaria. His military career began shortly after the start of the Seven Years War...
argued against and added to Seyssel d’Aix' request, that his battle activities had more likely to be punished than being awarded in public opinion. In the following years, Seyssel d’Aix took part in the war of 1812 as an Oberst
Oberst
Oberst is a military rank in several German-speaking and Scandinavian countries, equivalent to Colonel. It is currently used by both the ground and air forces of Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark and Norway. The Swedish rank överste is a direct translation, as are the Finnish rank eversti...
and commander of the 22nd Light Cavalry Brigade of the Grande Armée. After a short stay at home in the garrison of Augsburg
Augsburg
Augsburg is a city in the south-west of Bavaria, Germany. It is a university town and home of the Regierungsbezirk Schwaben and the Bezirk Schwaben. Augsburg is an urban district and home to the institutions of the Landkreis Augsburg. It is, as of 2008, the third-largest city in Bavaria with a...
in the beginning of 1813, he returned to the front as commander of a combined Chevau-légers
Chevau-légers
The Chevau-légers was a generic French name for several units of light cavalry, roughly similar to lancers in the armies of other states during the Napoleonic Wars. Perhaps the most famous of all such units were the Polish 1st Light Cavalry Regiment of the Guards and the French 2nd Light Cavalry...
regiment, shortly before deployed in Bamberg
Bamberg
Bamberg is a city in Bavaria, Germany. It is located in Upper Franconia on the river Regnitz, close to its confluence with the river Main. Bamberg is one of the few cities in Germany that was not destroyed by World War II bombings because of a nearby Artillery Factory that prevented planes from...
in 1813, which was subordinated to the division "Raglovich
Clemens von Raglovich
Clemens or Klemens Wenzel Freiherr von Raglovich von und zum Rosenhof was a Bavarian General der Infanterie.- Biography :...
". He proved in the Bautzen
Battle of Bautzen
In the Battle of Bautzen a combined Russian/Prussian army was pushed back by Napoleon, but escaped destruction, some sources claim, because Michel Ney failed to block their retreat...
, and was awarded with the Knight's Cross
Knight's Cross
Knight's Cross refers to a distinguishing grade or level of various orders that denotes bravery and leadership on the battlefield....
of the desired Military Order of Max Joseph for an activity on May 26, when he came to rescue of the division "Pacthod
Michel-Marie Pacthod
Count Michel-Marie Pacthod was a French officer during the French Revolutionary Wars and Napoleonic Wars, who rose to the rank of General of Division in 1808...
". On August 17, 1813, he as well as a further officer and 40 cavalrymen were caught in the battle at Dornswalde (today a quarter of Baruth
Baruth
Baruth is a town in the Teltow-Fläming district of Brandenburg, Germany. It is situated 24 km east of Luckenwalde, and 53 km south of Berlin....
). After Bavaria joined the alliance, he was set free and returned to his regiment. He took part in further campaigns in 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...
, also in the Alsace
Alsace
Alsace is the fifth-smallest of the 27 regions of France in land area , and the smallest in metropolitan France. It is also the seventh-most densely populated region in France and third most densely populated region in metropolitan France, with ca. 220 inhabitants per km²...
region in 1815. After serving as divisional commander, he was made to Generalkapitän of the Leibgarde der Hartschiere on January 13, 1837. Due to the fact, that this was unrequested by him, he requested for his retirement multiple times, and was retired in 1845. In 1842 the important defense barracks of Germersheim fortress were named in honor of him.
Seyssel d’Aix was married to Princess Sophie of Yrsch-Pienzenau (1805–1872), who was appointed "Pallastdame" (Lady-in-waiting
Lady-in-waiting
A lady-in-waiting is a female personal assistant at a royal court, attending on a queen, a princess, or a high-ranking noblewoman. Historically, in Europe a lady-in-waiting was often a noblewoman from a family highly thought of in good society, but was of lower rank than the woman on whom she...
) of the Queen and was honorary dame of the Theresien-Orden. The couple had three sons and two daughters, named Edwin (1824–1912), Ludwig (1825–1895), Klothilde (1826–1891), Emma (born 1827) and Camil (1836–1895). He died in Regensburg
Regensburg
Regensburg is a city in Bavaria, Germany, located at the confluence of the Danube and Regen rivers, at the northernmost bend in the Danube. To the east lies the Bavarian Forest. Regensburg is the capital of the Bavarian administrative region Upper Palatinate...
.
Awards
- Kurfürstliches Kämmerer-Dekret (1799)
- Knights Cross of the Military Order of Max Joseph
- Chevalier of the Légion d'HonneurLégion d'honneurThe Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
(1813) - Officier of the Légion d'Honneur (1819)
- Honor Cross of the Royal Bavarian Ludwigsorden (1828)
- Commanders Cross of the Verdienst-Ordens vom heiligen Michael (1838)
- Knight of the Order of the White Eagle (1838)
- Grand Cross of the Order of LeopoldOrder of Leopold (Austria)The Imperial Austrian Order of Leopold was founded by Franz I of Austria on 8 January 1808. The order's statutes stipulated only three grades: Grand Cross, Commander and Knight. During the war, in common with the other Austro-Hungarian decorations Crossed Swords were instituted to reward bravery in...
(1844)