Karl Christoph von Schmettau

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Count Karl Christoph von Schmettau (* 8. June 1696 in Berlin , † 27. October 1775 in Brandenburg ) was a Prussian lieutenant general , Knights of the Black Eagle , Governor of the fortress Peitz and Amtshauptmann of Ziesar .

Life

origin

The father Samuel von Schmettau (born November 14, 1657, † August 23, 1709) was the Royal Prussian Chamber Councilor of the embassy in London . His mother Marie de la Fontaine (born January 12, 1660 - September 5, 1732) came from a Huguenot family . He was the brother of Field Marshal Samuel von Schmettau .

Military career

In 1708 he became a cornet of a cuirassier regiment in the Danish service, the chief of which was his uncle Friedrich Wilhelm von Schmettau (1663-1735). During the War of the Spanish Succession , the regiment was paid in Dutch and fought against the French in the Duchy of Brabant . He also fought in the Battle of Malplaquet in 1709 . He was promoted to lieutenant by the end of the war. He then took part in the Pomeranian campaign of 1715/1716 , the siege of Wismar and Stralsund . After that, however, his uncle retired and without his support Schmettau saw no future in the Danish army. His brother Samuel fought against the Turks in Hungary in 1717, and so Schmettau also joined the imperial army as Rittmeister .

He was a volunteer in the entourage of the Duke of Braunschweig-Bevern and so fought in the siege of Belgrade in 1717 . After the peace of 1718 he received with a recommendation from Prince Eugene for imperial services. His brother became quartermaster general of an 18,000-strong army that was sent to Sicily to drive the Spaniards from there. There was nothing left for the young Schmettau at first. On the recommendation of Count Flemming, he went into Saxon services to take over a company in the Crown Prince's regiment. When that dragged on, in March 1719 he took over a company in an Ansbach regiment that was in imperial service. So he changed from Saxon to imperial service in Sicily. He took over the regiment in Milazzo and led it to the battle of Francavilla , from there on to the siege of Messina to the siege of Palermo. After the surrender and the withdrawal of the Spaniards, the army stayed for six weeks. Schmettau then returned to Vienna with letters of recommendation from the Prince of Württemberg. There he became lieutenant colonel general quartermaster-lieutenant in Prince Eugene's staff. From 1733 to 1735 he then took part in the campaign on the Rhine, then in the Russian-Austrian Turkish War (1736–1739) .

In 1741 he changed to the Prussian service as a colonel and became a wing adjutant . In 1745 he was promoted to major general and quartermaster general, and received a raise in salary. After the battle of Hohenfriedberg he wanted to have mentioned the “Bayreuth” dragoon regiment as being particularly brave, but Lieutenant General Geßler provided evidence that this was not the case.

On February 11, 1746 Schmettau was appointed governor of Ziesar. In May 1755 he received the Order of the Black Eagle from King Friedrich II and was promoted to lieutenant general. He also became governor of the Peitz Fortress. In the Seven Years' War he fought in the siege of Prague , and in June 1757 he covered the retreat of the Prussians. In 1758 he was appointed governor of Dresden . The Austrians overran the city several times in vain. But in August 1759 she was besieged again. However, he had only a small crew available and relief was not expected. On September 5, 1759 he handed over the city. He and his people received free travel with all honors and luggage. Nevertheless, he received his release shortly afterwards, which was not officially related to the surrender.

He died in Brandenburg on October 27, 1775.

family

Schmettau married Maria Katharina Emerentia von Corrado (1719–1771) on December 19, 1740, a daughter of the imperial royal major general and governor of Porto Ercole Baron Paul Nikolaus von Corrado. He had sons and daughters with her:

  • Friedrich (November 23, 1741 - June 18, 1818) ⚭ Henriette Louise Christiana Marie (April 10, 1765 - June 8, 1818), daughter of Valentin Friedrich von Rüchel
  • Wilhelm Karl (1743–1743)
  • Albertine (February 21, 1744; † December 3, 1802) ⚭ 1774 Leopold Leberecht von Schlegel auf Zehringen (* October 9, 1742; † January 15, 1784)
  • Maria Karoline (March 12, 1745 - May 5, 1795) ⚭ Heinrich Albrecht von Doeberitz (1738–1811), major general
  • August Wilhelm (March 4, 1748 - April 2, 1749)
  • Antonie (born November 9, 1746 - † February 22, 1749)

literature

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ In Priesdorff (lit.) and in general genealogical and state handbook (lit.) already born on June 3, 1696, otherwise consistently born on June 8, 1696.
  2. ↑ Only Priesdorff (lit.) mentions October 26, 1774 as the date of death, all other sources (lit.) name if, then the year 1775, or if beyond that, then October 27.
personal data
SURNAME Schmettau, Karl Christoph von
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Prussian lieutenant general, governor of the Peitz fortress and governor of Ziesar
DATE OF BIRTH June 8, 1696
PLACE OF BIRTH Berlin
DATE OF DEATH October 27, 1775
Place of death Brandenburg