Constantine of Zepelin (General, 1771)

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Konstantin Gottlieb Leberecht von Zepelin (born April 11, 1771 in Güstrow , † December 25, 1848 in Stettin ) was a Prussian infantry general .

Life

origin

His parents were the kurhannoversche Major Melchior Johann Christoph of Zepelin (1727-1782) and his wife Friederike Charlotte of Walsleben out of the house Lüsewitz (1737-1802). Some of his brothers also received important positions:

  • Johann Hartwig Detlev (1769–1841), Danish major general, commander of the life guards
  • Johann Karl (1766–1801), Württemberg diplomat and Minister of State
  • Ferdinand Ludwig (1772–1829), Ambassador Extraordinary from Württemberg

Military career

Zepelin was employed on February 17, 1787 as a corporal in the infantry regiment "von Scholten" of the Prussian army . Appointed ensign in February 1790 , he was staff captain and regiment adjutant at the beginning of the Fourth Coalition War . In 1807 he was commanded as a column leader ( general staff officer ) to the Russian general von Kaminski. Zepelin took part in the battles near Preussisch Eylau , Heilsberg , Jonkendorf and Weichselmünde. For his achievements he received the order Pour le Mérite on July 5, 1807 and shortly afterwards became captain . When the army was re-established after the peace, he was transferred to the body regiment as a major and battalion commander. On April 28, 1809, the hussar regiment under Ferdinand von Schill left Berlin to fight the French. When the governor of the residence, General L'Estocq , heard about it, he sent Zepelin to fetch it back. But Schill did not let himself be stopped. In 1812 he fought with the body regiment in Courland .

With the start of the Wars of Liberation , on March 26, 1813, he was commissioned to lead the Leib Grenadier Regiment . So he fought at the head of the regiment on May 19, 1813 in the battle of Königswartha-Weißig, on October 3, 1813 he was wounded in the battle near Wartenberg. He was also a temporary leader of the Horn Brigade. During the campaign of 1815 he was colonel and brigade commander of the III. Army corps under General von Thielmann . In the battle of Ligny on June 16, he stood at Sombreffe on the extreme left wing. He only vacated his position when the Prussians withdrew. Zepelin covered the retreat to Wavre . On June 18, he was able to prevent Marshal Grouchy from crossing the Dyle, and so was too late for the Battle of Waterloo .

In 1813/14 he had received both classes of the Iron Cross . On January 14, 1816, Zepelin was awarded the oak leaves for the Pour le Mérite. After the peace agreement, he first organized the Erfurt Landwehr Brigade and was then commander of the 16th Infantry Brigade . In 1818 Zepelin became major general and as such on February 22, 1820 commander of the 7th Landwehr Brigade. On June 18, 1825 he was appointed commander of the 5th Division . From October 20, 1825, he was also a deputy commander of Stettin . During the November Uprising in Poland, he commanded a section of the border where many insurgents left the country after the defeat and surrendered their weapons. In March 1831 he became lieutenant general and on January 18, 1834, in recognition of his many years of service, he was awarded the Order of the Red Eagle First Class with Oak Leaves. On March 17, 1835, Zepelin was released from command of the 5th Division, leaving him in command of Stettin. Zepelin was on February 24, 1842 Presentation of the character as General of Infantry for health reasons the farewell granted.

Zepelin spent his old age mainly in Szczecin.

family

Zepelin married on October 22, 1804 in Warsaw Johanna Friederike Auguste, born von Burghoff, divorced from Lepel (1783–1834). The couple had the following children:

  • Friedrich Ernst Gottlieb (1805–1866), Prussian major a. D.
⚭ July 6, 1840 Marie Jenny Kallenbach (1815–1852)
⚭ May 2, 1855 Emilie Jonas (widowed Hoffmann) (1815–1889)
  • Marie Friederike Karoline Konstanze (1807–1878) ⚭ March 1, 1831 Christian Friedrich Georg Hans von Bülow (1802–1873) from the Rieth family, Prussian councilor
  • Hermann (1808-1809)

literature
personal data
SURNAME Zepelin, Constantine of
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Zepelin, Konstantin Gottlieb Leberecht von (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Prussian general of the infantry
DATE OF BIRTH April 11, 1771
PLACE OF BIRTH Guestrow
DATE OF DEATH December 25, 1848
Place of death Szczecin