Maximilian Emanuel of Württemberg-Winnental

Maximilian Emanuel of Württemberg- Winnental (* February 27, 1689 in Stuttgart, † September 25, 1709 in Dubno ) was a prince of the house of Württemberg- Winnental and lifesaver of the Swedish King Karl XII.

His parents were of Field Marshal Friedrich Karl von Württemberg- Winnental (1652-1698) and his wife Eleonore Juliane of Brandenburg- Ansbach ( 1663-1724 ).

Life

Age of 14, left the Prince the yard to join the army of Karl XII. to join, which led war in Poland 1703. In the army he was quickly known as " lillprinsen " (Eng.: The Little Prince ). His first battle was April 21, 1703 the battle of Pultusk. He fought in the conquest of Thorn, Elbing and Lviv. In the course of the campaign he saved Charles XII. at a river crossing from drowning, giving him the lifelong friendship of Charles XII. secured. After the peace agreement of 1706, he returned briefly in 1707 back to Stuttgart after just five weeks stay again to Charles XII. break, which now invaded by Russia.

On June 18, 1708 he suffered at the crossing of the Berezina a gunshot wound. Although his wound was not yet healed, he fought in the Battle of Golowtschin (4 July 1708). A little later he became a colonel in the regiment of dragoons Buchenwald.

In the Battle of Poltava, in which he fought in the cavalry on the left wing, the Swedish army capitulated and Maximilian was captured. But he was soon released. On the way back to Württemberg he died in Dubno, Volhynia (now Ukraine ) to a disease. Charles XII. complained a good friend to have lost. His body was first buried in Cracow and then in the family vault in the church of Pitschen in Upper Silesia. His grave monument was implemented in 1887 in the old castle.

In his travels, he was by the preacher Johann Wendelin Bardili (1675-1740), a grandson of Carl Bardili accompanied. He wrote a book about his journey with the prince: durchl Des Weyland. Printzens Maximilian Emanuel, Hertzog in Wurttemberg Travel and Campaigns, Stuttgart 1730.