Franz Wenzel, Graf von Kaunitz-Rietberg

Franz Wenzel Graf von Kaunitz - Rietberg ( born July 2, 1742 in Vienna, † December 19, 1825 ) was an imperial or imperial Austrian general and last Landkomtur the Bailiwick of Westphalia of the Teutonic Order, headquartered in Mülheim Coming.

Life

He was the third son of the statesman Wenzel Anton von Kaunitz - Rietberg. The mother was Mary Ernestine ( née Countess Starhemberg ). He himself remained unmarried.

He joined the Austrian army and was at the beginning of the Seven Years' War ensign in the regiment of cuirassiers Trautmann village. Under Field Marshal Leopold Joseph von Daun he rose to his aide. In the battle of Torgau, he was severely wounded. After the peace of Hubertusburg he was in 1763 colonel of Infantry Regiment Baden (later no. 23). In 1766 he was a colonel in the Infantry Regiment Emperor Joseph II (later no. 1). Since 1773 Kaunitz - Rietberg was Major General. In the same year he became owner of the infantry regiment no. 38 and 1785 of the infantry regiment no. 20 In the rank of Field Marshal - Lieutenant, he was general commander in Croatia.

At the beginning of the Napoleonic Wars he was now assigned the rank of Feldzeugmeister the army in the Austrian Netherlands. As general to Kaunitz - Rietberg proven in the Battle of Charleroi in May in 1794. Moreover, he fought as a commander of the Allied units at Merbes -le- Château, Grandreng and Erquelinnes. In 1796 he became Commanding General in Galicia and 1805 in Moravia. In 1806 he resigned from active service.

On intervention of his father, he was in 1769 occurred in the Teutonic Order. Since 1788, he was Landkomtur for Westphalia with residence in Mülheim. His duties as Commander, yet he did neglected. He traveled only once a year for the adoption of the annual accounts to Mülheim. He was most recently in 1808 in the Coming. A reference of the German Master of the Order of the neglect of his duties in 1794 was unsuccessful. The office became extinct 1809.

Kaunitz was a member of the Masonic Lodge to the rising sun in Brno and in 1785 their associated masters.

He died at the Palais Kaunitz Mariahilfer and was buried in the grave of the family laying in Austerlitz.