Karl Philipp von Wrede explained

Honorific Prefix:Generalfeldmarschall
Fürst
Elitium
Karl Philipp von Wrede
Birth Name:Karl Philipp Josef von Wrede
Birth Date:29 April 1767
Birth Place:Heidelberg, Electorate of Bavaria
Death Place:Ellingen, Kingdom of Bavaria
Allegiance: Electorate of Bavaria
Kingdom of Bavaria
Branch:Bavarian Army
Serviceyears:1793–1838
Rank:Generalfeldmarschall
Commands:2nd Bavarian Division, Ausburg Regional Corps
Battles:
Awards:Military Order of Max Joseph
Military William Order
Order of St. George
Order of the Bath
Military Order of Maria Theresa

Karl (or Carl) Philipp Josef, Prince von Wrede (pronounced as /de/; 29 April 176712 December 1838) was a Bavarian field marshal. He was an ally of Napoleonic France until he negotiated the Treaty of Ried with Austria in 1813. Thereafter Bavaria joined the coalition.

Early life

Von Wrede was born at Heidelberg, the youngest of three children of Ferdinand Josef Wrede (1722–1793), created in 1791 1st Baron von Wrede, and wife, married on 21 March 1746, Anna Katharina Jünger (1729–1804), by whom he had two more children: Baroness Luise von Wrede (23 September 17489 February 1794), married to Philipp, Baron von Horn (died 1834); and Baron Georg von Wrede (8 December 17653 April 1843), married on 17 January 1808 to Julie Zarka de Lukafalva (1781Osen, 1 August 1847), by whom he had issue.[1]

Early career

He was educated for the career of a civil official under the Electorate of the Palatinate government, but on the outbreak of the campaign of 1799 he raised a volunteer corps in the Palatinate and was made its colonel. This corps excited the mirth of the well-drilled Austrians with whom it served, but its colonel soon brought it into a good condition, and it distinguished itself during Kray's retreat on Ulm. At the Battle of Hohenlinden Wrede commanded one of the Palatinate infantry brigades with credit, and after the peace of Lunéville he was made lieutenant-general in the Bavarian Army, which was entering upon a period of reforms. Wrede soon made himself very popular, and distinguished himself in opposing the Austrian invasions of 1805.

Wrede was engaged in the campaign against Prussia, winning especial distinction in the Battle of Pułtusk. But the attitude of the French towards the Bavarian troops, and accusations of looting against himself, aroused the general's fiery temper, and both in 1807 and in 1809 outward harmony was only maintained by the tact of Maximilian, the king of Bavaria.

1809

In the War of the Fifth Coalition, he led the 2nd Bavarian Division in the VII Corps.[2] He played an important part in the Battle of Abensberg on 20 April 1809. In the morning, he probed Joseph Radetzky's Austrian defense at Siegenburg. Unable to make headway, he marched his division north to Biburg and crossed the Abens River. From Biburg, he moved on Kirchdorf and attacked Frederick Bianchi's reinforced brigade.[3] When the Austrians retreated, Wrede aggressively pursued them to Pfeffenhausen late that evening.[4] He led the advance from Pfeffenhausen and was involved in the Battle of Landshut on 21 April, capturing 11 cannon.[5] On 24 April, his division was defeated at the Battle of Neumarkt-Sankt Veit when Johann von Hiller counterattacked in superior force.[6] After occupying Salzburg on 29 April,[7] Wrede moved southwest against the Tyrolean Rebellion. He pushed back Tyrolean irregulars at Lofer on 11 May and defeated Franz Fenner's mixed regulars and Tyroleans at Waidring the next day.[8] On 13 May, he played a major part in crushing the division of Johann Gabriel Chasteler de Courcelles in the Battle of Wörgl.[9]

After the French defeat at the Battle of Aspern-Essling, Napoleon I of France called Wrede's division to Vienna as a reinforcement.[10] At first, Wrede's division stood in reserve in the Battle of Wagram. In the afternoon of 6 July, the Bavarians were sent into battle in support of Jacques MacDonald's celebrated attack. In a successful charge on the village of Sussenbrunn, Wrede was grazed by a bullet. Fearing the wound was fatal, he told MacDonald, "Tell the Emperor I die for him. I recommend to him my wife and children." Seeing that Wrede's injury was minor, the French general smiled and replied, "I think that you will be able to make this recommendation to him yourself." The embarrassed general got up and continued to lead his troops.[11]

Later career

The Bavarians were for several years the active allies of Napoleon, and Wrede led the Bavarian corps that fought in Russia in 1812. Just before the Battle of Leipzig in October 1813, he negotiated the Treaty of Ried between Austria and Bavaria, by which Bavaria switched sides. Wrede then fought with the allies against Napoleon. After Leipzig, he tried to block the French escape at the Battle of Hanau on 30 and 31 October. Upon seeing the Bavarian armies' opening dispositions at the battle, Napoleon is said to have said of Wrede, "I made him a count, but I couldn't make him a general." Wrede positioned his troops poorly and Napoleon smashed one of his wings, inflicting 9,000 casualties. In 1814 he was created prince and field marshal. Wrede represented Bavaria at the Congress of Vienna.

He died in Ellingen. Von Wrede was no doubt the leading Bavarian soldier of his day.

Family

He married on 18 March 1795 Countess Sofie von Wiser (23 May 17717 May 1837), by whom he had eight children:

Honours

He received the following orders and decorations:[12]

References

Notes and References

    • Moritz, Baron von Wrede (Rzestow, 24 April 1811Graz, 18 May 1877), married on 13 June 1839 Natalia Tallián de Vizék (Güns, 1 November 1818Pressburg, 13 September 1885), by whom he had:
      • Alfons Julius Anton, Baron von Wrede (born Reps, 4 January 1843), married in Graz on 7 February 1880 Eleonore Filomene Edlauer (Krainburg, born 20 February 1852, by whom he had:
        • Baroness Sidonie Eleonore von Wrede (born Pressburg, 7 May 1885), unmarried and without issue
        • Baroness Eleonore Alice von Wrede (botn Marburg, 15 May 1886), unmarried and without issue
    • Baroness Sophie Katharina Josephine von Wrede (23 November 181116 June 1876), married on 23 February 1830 Hermann Albrecht Heinrich Ernst, Count von Schönburg-Hinterglauchau (7 February 179614 May 1841), and had female issue
    • Baron Karl Philipp von Wrede (Mülhausen, 15 March 1817Vienna, 8 July 1857), married in Gersthof near Vienna on 7 July 1849 Baroness Marie Emmy von Broëta (born 24 February 1826), without issue
  2. Bowden & Tarbox, p 61
  3. Arnold Crisis, pp 114-115
  4. Arnold Crisis, p 137
  5. Arnold Crisis, pp 143
  6. Petre, p 219
  7. Petre, p 224
  8. Smith, pp 301-302
  9. Smith, p 303
  10. Epstein, p 146
  11. Arnold Napoleon, pp 163-164
  12. Book: Bayern. Hof- und Staatshandbuch des Königreichs Bayern: 1835. 1835. Landesamt. 149.

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