Count Wirich Philipp von Daun
Wirich Philipp Lorenz Graf von Daun and, since 1710 Prince of Teano (* October 19, 1669 in Vienna, † July 30, 1741 in Vienna) was an imperial Field Marshal, Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece, imperial privy councilor and chamberlain. He is the father of the more famous Field Marshal Leopold Daun, of the commander of Maria Theresa.
Life
Wirich down came from the noble family of down, which has long been the castle and the town of Daun in the Eifel near Koblenz possessed and was accepted into the Imperial Count 1643. He began his military career in the regiment of his father, Wilhelm Johann Anton Graf Daun (1621-1706), who was in 1657 entered into Austrian service in 1694 and also became field marshal. His mother was Anna Maria Magdalena, Countess of Althann (1635-1712), his siblings were Heinrich Dietrich Martin Joseph Graf Daun, imperial field marshal and Hofkriegsrat (1678-1761) and Lieutenant-General Henry Richard Lorenz Graf Daun ( 1673-1729 ).
Wirich took down 1696/97 in the campaign in Hungary and fought there with some also at Zenta. From 1701 he served in the War of Spanish Succession under Prince Eugene in Italy. He became famous in 1706 with a tough, three and a half months of Turin defense against the besieging troops of the Duke de la Feuillade. This allowed Eugen gain time so that he could beat the superior French army of Philip of Orleans and Marshal Marsin at the Battle of Turin.
1707 drew the meantime to Feldzeugmeister carried down to the south to conquer the Kingdom of Naples. The resistance of the Neapolitans was broken by the storming of the fortress of Gaeta. He began a purchased at genoa ship, which henceforth formed the basis of the Austrian navy.
Archduke Charles, then the titular King of Spain and King of Naples, down thereupon appointed arbitrarily, ie without the consent of Emperor Joseph I, Field Marshal of the Spanish- Italian troops in Naples.
As the successor of Georg Adam Graf von Martinitz Viceroy of Naples 1707-1708, down initiated the successful conquest of Sardinia. Karl gave him the Principality Teano (now province of Caserta ), which had been previously confiscated the Duchess of Medina -Sidonia. Daun made this feud but against peeling back, but at the same time conferred title of Prince of Teano remained in the family down and went in the 19th century on the Palffy of Erdod as their heirs.
Finally, appointed as successor Eugene Field Marshal and commander in chief in Italy, based in Milan, came down in 1708 in Comacchiokrieg against Rome before, drove Marshal Claude -Louis -Hector de Villars, occupied the papal legations in central Italy and forced Pope Clement XI. to peace with Joseph I.
For this he was appointed to the Spanish grandees, winner of the Golden Fleece in 1713 and again Viceroy of Naples, where he knew how to make himself popular with the people. His term ended in 1719.
1719 to 1725 he was Director of Artillery (Supreme agriculture and domestic things master ) and commandant of the city of Vienna. During this time he let today's Palais Kinsky build according to the plans of Lucas von Hildebrand.
Then down temporarily served as governor of the Netherlands (1724 /25), after Prince Eugene of Savoy who resigned his governorship. 1728 Down was Governor of the Duchy of Milan. As such, he had the city in 1733 a French superiority under King Charles Emmanuel III. left of Sardinia, which is why he was replaced by Field Marshal Mercy and fell from grace. However, it could be justified against all allegations and was rehabilitated.
His grave is located in the wall of St. George's Chapel of St Augustine in Vienna church where his son is buried.
His wife was Maria Barbara Countess Herbersteins.