baron april september swiss born field marshal austrian army french revolutionary wars campaigned war coalition switzerland war second coalition notably late early june killed second battle born april present day switzerland boy graduated pursued studies entered military service duke promoted captain cavalry campaigned seven years war saw combat later served russian army russia war turkey persistent garnered commission austrian imperial army served brief war succession creative commander rose quickly ranks campaigning war coalition particularly battle earned knight commander cross placed command center austrian line battle killed french musket fire morning mist near september childhood early career second son doctor surgeon military service born wife came old swiss family cousin education reformer young man studied renowned later attended october entered military service duke regiment officer cadet ensign promoted lieutenant cavalry captain left duke service disagreement duke financial matters involved maintaining standing army entered service remained end seven years war service prussia took brief vacation switzerland entered service russia lieutenant regiment called named territory old grand participated battles russia going conflict ottoman_empire attracting attention battle lower danube wounded praised bravery promoted major service war russia ottoman_empire ended treaty signed july returned home near return journey stopped vienna present emperor seek appointment major imperial austrian army joseph traveled near upper rhine presented finally secured major commission regiment known baron regiment regiment served field brief war succession served short time regiment hungary returned regiment vienna promoted lieutenant colonel given command foundation experience military organization gave advantage establishing new combat arm recognizing importance austrian armed force embarked organizational training program emperor named commander corps rank colonel returned temporarily russia time establish similar force catherine great army outbreak border war ottoman_empire austria returned austria took command regiment french revolutionary wars initially rulers europe viewed revolution france event french king subjects interfere succeeded brother joseph emperor considered situation surrounding sister children greater alarm august consultation french nobles prussia issued declaration declared interest monarchs europe interests louis family threatened ambiguous consequences happen royal family french republican position increasingly difficult problems international relations french continued support counter revolution abroad chief prince son duke grandson duke base adjacent french german border sought direct support military intervention royal houses europe raised army april declared war austria war coalition france ranged european states sharing land water borders plus portugal ottoman_empire war coalition april regiment joined autonomous took military clashes early regiment assigned commanded time promoted major general commander column played essential role line awarded knight cross following year assigned left bank rhine later september rhine der french army commanded general division assignments proved confident courageous general stronger recognition promoted lieutenant field marshal rank unusual man non aristocratic family raised rank baron emperor campaign served command troops secured positions near later took engagements battle august commanded battalions cavalry squadrons total men formed center line force managed push french villages force strong follow advantage following action force participated joint battles followed september consecutive actions organization initiative led overwhelming french lines actions campaign awarded promotion april received commander peace coalition forces austria russia prussia great_britain achieved victories experiencing greater success north italy coalition achievements limited despite presence experienced austrian generals austrians lift siege efforts northern italy pushed austrian forces border lands napoleon dictated cease fire april led formal peace treaty treaty went effect october treaty called meetings involved parties work exact territorial details convened small town mid close french border primary combatants coalition france austria highly suspicious motives congress quickly intrigue diplomatic french demanded territory originally agreed austrians reluctant designated territories delegates transfer agreed territories compensate german princes losses congress problems tensions grew france coalition allies separately jointly ferdinand naples refused pay agreed tribute france subjects followed refusal rebellion french invaded naples established republican uprising swiss encouraged offered military support led overthrow establishment factors contributed rising tensions way egypt napoleon stopped forcibly removed possessions angered paul russia honorary head order furthermore convinced austrians start war weaker seriously austrians russians english actually discussed possibility outbreak war signing treaty october left austrian service returned home switzerland hardly arrived government overthrown assistance french returned austria received new commission new command border regions switzerland austria war broke austria arguably best commanders taken command austrian army late january charles unhappy strategy set forward brother ambitious plan francis advisers agreed austria fight defensive war maintain continuous defensive line southern bank danube northern italy stationed winter miles east south east army settled extending south winter broke march general army crossed rhine instructed block austrians access swiss alpine passes planned armies coalition germany allies northern italy prevent assisting strike crossing rhine early march acted charles army reinforced austria russian allies agreed send seasoned soldiers seasoned commander furthermore french held interior passes switzerland prevent austrians transferring troops northern italy southwestern germany use routes forces theaters meeting little resistance advanced columns valley fourth column advanced north shore rhine eventually took flanking position north shore lake pushed danube plain took position eventually pushing imperial city time army switzerland command pushed intending cut austrian lines communication relief mountain passes commanded advanced northern italy deal ferdinand war second coalition took arms french switzerland revolutionary swiss government revoked swiss citizenship coalition allies swiss roots ideal vienna confederation switzerland worked colonel williams englishman austrian service establish lake flotilla lieutenant field marshal commanded troops france commanded overwhelmed fortress important pass elevation metres links realizing main french army crossed rhine moved north lake reorganized defenses command able officer commander took troops designated defense intending support left wing battles days later forces arrive time participate battles threat pending arrival influenced french planning absence men faced command generals division inflicting enormous casualties french suffering minimal losses battle mid austrians control switzerland french forces count von pushed pushing force rhine sizable force strong crossed rhine prepared join armies plains switzerland command tried prevent merger austrian forces preliminary action austrians succeeded pushing french forces took high casualties union took place days june supported command attacked french positions june commanded entire left wing army included battalions infantry plus support artillery squadrons cavalry total men despite wounded remained field troops pushed french harassed retreat forcing river took defensive positions death second battle august received orders brother emperor withdraw austrian army rhine charles reached central switzerland think force hold region arrival rest russian force order charles delayed long late august withdrew force rhine headed heard breach military common sense wondered owl referring emperor gone mind order eventually reversed late stop withdrawal unlike knew military business organized competent defense border left flank reasoning correctly way needed safe haven passed morning september chief staff colonel conducted reconnaissance ride near village river kilometers village born heavy morning mist encountered party french scouts 25th brigade concealed summoned surrender wheeled spurred horse colonel killed volley initially taken battlefield church buried body moved established monument consequences death missed despite communication british austrians russians british size troops consistently percent higher actually lack swiss volunteers failed promises transport organized impressive march alps northern italy counting austrian allies hold soldiers took pass bayonet charge endured incredible hardships navigating narrow trails alps time russian army reached preparing descend mountains plain army crushed incompetent force absence french division overwhelmed austrian flank crossed cleared mountains forced withdraw march ragged army arrived late october inability hold french death swiss campaign degenerated utter
Friedrich Freiherr von Hotze