Michael von Melas

Michael Friedrich Benedikt Baron von Melas ( born May 12, 1729 Cycle (Romanian Roades ) near Sighisoara in Transylvania, † May 31 1806 in Elbeteinitz in Bohemia), was an Austrian general.

Work

1746 From Melas joined as a cadet in an infantry regiment, took over as Adjutant of Field Marshal Daun part in the Seven Years' War, in 1781 Colonel and 1789 Maj. Gen., commanded in 1793 on the Sambre a brigade, 1794, when Field Marshal Lieutenant in the Lower Rhine, in 1795 on the Middle Rhine and 1797 in Italy where he for some time held the chief command after Beaulieu's finish. At the top of the Austrians he fought in 1799 jointly with Suvorov and won in Cassano d' Adda, at the Trebbia and Novi Ligure.

After Suvorov was deducted against Masséna in Switzerland, he hit on 4 November at the head of 40,000 Austrians, Jean -Etienne Championnet in Genola (near Fossano ) and took possession of Cuneo. In 1800 he penetrated to the Var, and put them up to an incident in the Provence, as Bonaparte penetrated in his back over the Alps and Melas sections of the communication with Austria. While trying to break through this at Marengo on June 14, also won first victory, but left early to the battlefield, to which the initial victory into a defeat turned, and closed in utter discouragement the Convention of Alessandria, after which he evacuate Italy and had to retire behind the Mincio. Soon after, he was Commanding General in Bohemia, in 1803 withdrew into retirement and died on 31 May 1806 Elbeteinitz in Bohemia.