Joseph Theodor von Ruesch

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Josef Theodor Freiherr von Ruesch
Ruesch hussars around 1756 (according to Richard Knötel uniform studies )

Baron Joseph Theodor von Ruesch (* 1709 in Kronstadt , Transylvania , † 1769 in Jawornitz) was a royal Prussian major general, head of the regiment of the "Black Hussars" and knight of the Pour le Mérite and governor of Ragnitz .

Life

Ruesch came from Transylvania in Romania (then: Hungary), where his father was chief judge. He was raised by Jesuits. In his youth he came to Naples , where he killed a young Napolitan in a duel. He was only able to escape to Austria with the help of a few monks. He went to Vienna, where he received pardon and was transferred to the hussars. In the First Silesian War in the run-up to the Battle of Mollwitz , he successfully fought against the Prussians in Olbendorf near Grottkau . When others were promoted before him, he became dissatisfied. Through the mediation of the Prussian major von Borck , he changed from Austrian to Prussian services in 1743. He made the acquaintance of Zieten and Winterfeldt , and in 1744 he was given command of the "Black Hussars" and was made a colonel. The regiment consisted of soldiers from all sorts of countries, but Ruesch was able to prevail. In the Second Silesian War he was able to distinguish himself in the Battle of Hohenfriedberg and received the Pour le Mérite , the post of governor of Ragnitz and an additional pension of 500 thalers. His regiment was also allowed to keep the Saxon timpani that had been captured in the battle of Hennersdorf . In June 1750 he became major general. He was very popular in his garrison town, mainly because he tried to get the equipment on site. In this way he contributed to the revitalization of the local economy.

During the Seven Years' War he was stationed in East Prussia . He wanted to advance against the Russians at once, but Field Marshal Lehwaldt wanted nothing to do with it. Before the battle of Groß-Jägersdorf , so many of his hussars were detached that only 300 men were available and the regiment therefore did not take part in the battle.

He and his hussars were in the battle of Zorndorf in 1758 , where they attracted attention because they plundered the train and got intoxicated from the brandy barrels they had captured. They were then unfit for combat. Ruesch fell ill a little later, but the king did not believe him. So he was ordered to Stettin, where he initially remained under arrest. However, his friend, General Paul von Werner , managed to get his release. He was released in 1759, but remained chief of the regiment until 1762 and retired to his estate Jawornitz (near Lublinitz ) in Upper Silesia, where he died in 1769.

On September 18, 1753, he and his three brothers - one was a captain in the "Prince Heinrich Fusilier Regiment" - and their descendants were raised to the baron status.

family

He married Freiin Katharina von Metternich in Vienna and had children. He was then married to one of Mechel's , with whom he had four daughters: Ernestine, Katharina, Aloisia and Sophia.

  • Josepha (* 1746; † November 1, 1818) ∞ Karl von Paczensky

literature

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Michael Ranft : New genealogical-historical news. 1754, p. 960, digitized
  2. ^ Journal of the Association for the History of Silesia. Volume 43
  3. ↑ Genealogical pocket book of the knights and Aristocratic families, 1877. Second year, p.554
personal data
SURNAME Ruesch, Joseph Theodor von
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Rüsch, Jozsef; Ruesch, Johann Theodor
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Prussian major general, chief of the hussar regiment No. 5, governor von Ragnitz
DATE OF BIRTH 1709
PLACE OF BIRTH Kronstadt , Transylvania
DATE OF DEATH 1769
Place of death Jawornitz