Ludwig von Pergen

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Ludwig Graf von Pergen, lithograph by Josef Kriehuber , 1851

Karl Ludwig Graf von Pergen (born September 7, 1805 in Vienna , † February 8, 1850 in Kaschau ) was an Imperial and Royal Chamberlain , Major General and Knight of the Military Maria Theresa Order .

origin

Ludwig came from the Thomasberg line (2nd line) of the noble family of the Counts (1699) of Pergen. He was a grandson of the diplomat and statesman Johann Anton (1725-1814) and son of Count Joseph (* July 8, 1766; † May 3, 1830) from his marriage to Countess Maria Theresa von Cavriani (* 1779).

The count remained unmarried. His older brother, Majoratsherr and Oberst-Erbland-Münzmeister Johann Anton (* 7 February 1804 - 16 February 1873), married to Philippina, Princess Batthyány-Strattmann (* 2 October 1805 - 26 June 1884) planted the Thomasberg line continues.

He was also a cousin of Lieutenant Field Marshal Johann Anton (* December 17, 1799, † April 12, 1860).

biography

Early years

Mantua, mid 19th century.

Pergen received his military training at the Theresian Military Academy in Wiener Neustadt , joined the 3rd Jäger Battalion as a lieutenant in October 1824 , then in 1828 first lieutenant in the Leiningen Infantry Regiment No. 31 in Sibiu , from which he became a captain in the infantry regiment in March 1831 Haugwitz No. 38 was translated. In this regiment he advanced gradually: after being appointed kk chamberlain in 1837, major on March 10, 1840, receiving the then vacant grenadier battalion Hübsch, and after becoming Commander of the Order of St. John in 1843 , at the beginning of 1844 lieutenant colonel .

The war years 1848 and 1849

Pergen was promoted to Colonel and Commander of Infantry Regiment No. 38 on January 16, 1846 . In the years 1848 and 1849 he gave multiple proofs of his exemplary soldiery disposition.

In March 1848, at the beginning of the Italian Revolution , his regiment was as a garrison in the fortress of Mantua under the leadership of the cavalry general Karl Gorzkowski von Gorzkow . As an Italian regiment, the colonel and all the officers stayed in the barracks night after night during this period. He had to accept joint patrols with the newly installed "Guardia civica". But when the latter began to erect barricades with parts of the population, Pergen took the lead of a squadron and prevented the project. Furthermore, with great effort and tactical skill, he succeeded in preventing his regiment from falling away and holding the fortress until reinforcements arrived, despite massive propaganda by the agitation party. The Count was then awarded the Knight's Cross of the Austrian-Imperial Leopold Order for his circumspection and determination .

Battle of Custozza 1848
Knight's Cross of the Military Maria Theresa Order

Soon after, Pergen and his regiment came to the division of General Joseph Maria Karl Gotthardt Graf von Schaffgotsche and to the actual theater of war. He was wounded on April 30th at Bussolengo , but despite his injury took part in the attack on Vicenza , where a horse was shot from under his body. When the army advanced on Sona and Sommacampagna , he commanded the brigade of the sick Major General Samuel Count von Gyulay. On July 23, at daybreak, the brigade encountered the well-armed enemy on their march against Sona. After the reconnaissance had been carried out, the officer met his dispositions so well that it was possible to break through the center of the enemy position and take the heights. Pergen also excelled afterwards in the battle of Custozza and the following skirmishes until the re-occupation of Milan and on August 4 at Vigentino and Nosedo, now districts of the city. His regiment was so distinguished there that the corps commander Field Marshal Lieutenant Baron d'Aspre wrote in his own hand: “I couldn't qualify this troop other than with the name of our brave and daring loyal guard. In the last battle under the walls of Milan, I was unable to pull her out of the fire, it was night alone ”. At the request of the Chapter, the Count was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Maria Theresa Order for his excellent behavior. (153rd doctorate of July 29, 1849).

After he was promoted to major general on April 18, 1849, he came to Transylvania as a brigadier and distinguished himself at Illyefalva on July 23, 1849, so that he was decorated for his brave behavior with the Order of the Iron Crown, 2nd class has been. In the same year he also received the Imperial Russian Order of St. Stanislaus, First Class.

His brilliant military career ended abruptly when he died unexpectedly at the age of 45 after a short sick leave.

coat of arms

Coat of arms of the Counts of Pergen

1699: Squared shield. 1st and 4th in gold an outstretched black gold-crowned eagle. 2nd and 3rd in black a gold six-pointed star over a three-pronged silver mountain. The count's crown rests on the shield, on which a crowned tournament helmet rises in its sights. The crown of the helmet bears the silver three-mountain of 2 and 3, on which the crowned black eagle of 1 and 4 stands. The helmet covers are black on both sides, on the right with gold, on the left with silver.

Shield holders were added later: There are two bearded, wild men with leaves around their heads and loins, each holding a banner richly decorated with golden fringes and tassels, covered with a golden coin on a blue background, to denote the highest office of mint master.

literature

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ The Transylvanian Bothe. Sibiu , No. 52, July 4, 1835, p. 1.
  2. ^ A b Antonio Schmidt-Brentano: The kk or kuk generals 1816-1918. Austrian State Archives, 1907, p. 136.
  3. ^ Wiener Zeitung. No. 31 of February 23, 1830, p. 216.
  4. ↑ a b Austrian soldier friend. No. 37 of March 26, 1850, p. 166.
  5. ↑ Klagenfurter Zeitung. No. 12 of February 11, 1846, p. 1.
  6. ^ Antonio Schmidt-Brentano: The kk or kuk generality 1816-1918. Austrian State Archives, 1907, p. 61.
  7. ↑ Jaromir Hirtenfeld : The military Maria Theresa order and its members. Verlag der Buchhandlung für Militärliteratur Karl Prohaska, Vienna 1857, pp. 1558ff.
  8. ^ Constant von Wurzbach: Biographical Lexicon of the Kaiserthums Oesterreich. 20th part, KK Hof- und Staatsdruckerei, Vienna 1870, p. 7.
personal data
SURNAME Pergen, Ludwig von
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Pergen, Karl Ludwig Graf von (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Austrian major general
DATE OF BIRTH September 7, 1805
PLACE OF BIRTH Vienna
DATE OF DEATH February 8, 1850
Place of death Košice