Alexander von Spaen

Alexander ( born 14 January 1619 in Kranenburg, † October 23, 1692 in Kleve ) of Spaen was a kurbrandenburgischer Field Marshal.

Family

Alexander von Spaen was born as the son of multiples of Spaen landowner Wolter and his wife Agnes of Schimmelpennick from Oye at the family estate Cross Furth in Kleve Kranenburg.

He was married three times. First with Henriette von Arnheim ( † August 4, 1671 ), then with Johanna Dorothea Quadt of Wyckerath - Soppenbroich († September 4, 1676 ), and finally with Dorothea von Flemming widow of Otto von Schwerin. For these compounds a total of twelve children were born.

Life

His professional career began as an Alexander von Spaen Page of the Prince of Orange, and was soon afterwards a lieutenant in the Dutch Garden in the company of Henri de La Tour d' Auvergne, vicomte de Turenne.

1651, he became head of a cavalry regiment. 1654 he had taken Karl Dietrich to Wylich - Winnenthal, the leader of the resistance against the Great Elector, captured and taken to Spandau. Spaen went into the army in 1655 to Prussia, the Life Guards took over on horseback, fought at the Battle of Warsaw in 1656 and returned back as a colonel in the Lower Rhine. In that year he was also Brandenburg Council, treasurer and Landdrost of the Duchy of Cleves.

On May 27, 1657 he became commander of Kalkar and the following year, Major-General. On May 25, 1661, he was charged with all his legitimate descendants of the emperor in the imperial baron. In the years 1672-1679 he took part in the campaigns against the Swedes and the French. In the Swedish -Brandenburg war he took in 1675 including as commander of the Brandenburg troop contingent in the capture of Bremen- Verden's part.

He was at the siege of Wesel, Werl, Pomerania and Stettin there and in 1675 Governor of Wesel and lieutenant general. In 1679 he became a privy councilor and President of the Government of Cleves and Mark, as well as on December 1, 1688 General Feldzeugmeister. In 1689 he stayed as kurbrandenburgischer ambassador at the English court and then took up in 1691 in the campaign against the French part ( siege of Bonn, Battle of Fleurus ). In 1690 he received the command of the troops and kurbrandenburgischen was on March 12, 1691 finally Field Marshal.