Nikolaus von Flüe (1763–1839)

Nikolaus von Flüe (born December 9, 1763 in Sachseln ; † November 21, 1839 there ) was a Swiss officer in the French service and Obwalden governor .

Life

The Landhaus Obkirchen, built around 1600.

Nikolaus von Flüe was born on his parents' estate in Obkirchen . He was the son of the Landammann and Pannerherr Johann Nikodem von Flüe (1734–1823) and his wife Marie Franziska Achermann. His brother was Joseph Ignaz von Flüe (1762-1813), one of his ancestors was Niklaus von Flüe .

Nikolaus von Flüe attended high school in Sarnen and Milan . He then embarked on a military career and from 1787 was a lieutenant in the von Flüe company, Salis Samaden Regiment in France . When the French Revolution broke out in 1789 and the Bastille was stormed, he was in the Champ de Mars camp in Paris . His cousin Ludwig von Flüe was the commanding officer of the Swiss Guard in defense of the Bastille.

As in 1792, the Swiss regiments were adopted by France, he returned home and became 1799 captain in the, according to the Federal treaty ceded to France 6 Helvetic demi-brigade in which he led by General Andre Massena in Limmat transition of the French in 1799 in Dietikon against the Russians fought.

In 1800 he joined the 2nd line battalion of the Helvetic troops as a grenadier captain , but in 1802, after the French had withdrawn from Switzerland, he wanted to take part in the uprising of the Unterwalden against the Helvetic government of his compatriots and was therefore appointed city ​​commander of Lucerne .

After the dissolution of the Helvetic government, he returned to the 3rd half-brigade as a captain in 1803 , which later became the 1st Swiss regiment in French service. In his further eventful military life he ended up in Lombardy , he crossed the passes Mont-Cénis , St. Bernhard , Simplon and St. Gotthard , he sailed to Corsica , Elba , Procida , Ischia , Capri and the Gulf of Naples , here he was involved in numerous battles with the English and Sicilians.

In 1810 he was appointed battalion commander and in 1811, due to personal bravery and good leadership of his battalion, he received the order cross pro renovata patria from King Joachim Murat and returned home as a lieutenant colonel from Reggio via Naples , Rome and Milan.

In 1813 he retired with a pension and in 1815 was appointed governor of the canton of Obwalden ; Due to his experience, he remained neutral during the period of regeneration and did not serve any party, but Switzerland. After his death, his cousin Nikolaus von Flüe succeeded him as governor.

In 1815 he married Kunigunde, née Hermann.

Awards

• In 1811 he received the order cross pro renovata patria ( "the renewed fatherland" ).
• On July 2, 1817 he received from Louis XVIII. the Ordre royal et militaire de Saint-Louis .

literature

• Nikolaus von Flüe in New Nekrolog der Deutschen , 17th year, Weimar 1839, 2nd part: Weimar 1841, pp. 900–902 ( limited preview in the Google book search).