Wilhelm Joseph of Looz-Corswarem

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Wilhelm Joseph Graf von Looz-Corswarem (* July 7, 1732 in Saint Pierre, Waremme ; † March 20, 1803 at Rheina Castle) was an Imperial and Royal Major , Knight of the Maria Theresa Order and from 1803 Prince of Rheina-Wolbeck .

Life

origin

He comes from an old Hainaut noble family. His parents were Joseph von Looz-Corswarem (1696-1761) and his wife Jeanne Marie, née d'Angleur (1699-1743).

Military career

At the beginning of the Seven Years' War , Looz joined the “Lucchesi” cuirassier regiment as a cornet . Already in the first campaign of 1756 he was distinguished by courage and military talent.

At Kunersdorf he was a captain in the "Kolowrat" dragoon regiment with the "Liechtenstein" and "Württemberg" dragoon regiments on the left wing of the Russian army. The Austrian cavalry fled after the first attack by the Prussians. Looz sprang up and managed to collect 200 Dragoons. During this time the Prussian hussars and cuirassiers attacked the Russian infantry, and the “Schilling” regiment was also included. Looz threw himself on the superior force, and the horse was shot. The troop rallied again, Looz got a new horse and after the renewed attack the Prussians withdrew. Looz knew the Kunersdorf area and when the Prussians withdrew, he guessed where the Prussian artillery would have to pull. With his dragoons he drove away the enemy cavalry cover and so the Russians were able to capture a large part of the artillery.

He was also able to distinguish himself in the Battle of Landeshut on June 23, 1760. He and his squadron succeeded in smashing a Prussian regiment. Looz personally captured the regiment's silver timpani. When the Prussians withdrew, he came to a stop to the right of a column of four Prussian battalions without cavalry cover. At the same time, four Austrian grenadier companies advanced from the right on the Prussians, but without knowing exactly where they were. Looz bypassed the Prussians and coordinated the attack with the grenadiers. He returned to his dragoons and attacked the Prussian column in the middle at the same time as the grenadiers. When the Austrians appeared, the Prussians formed and fired their last ammunition. The Austrian grenadiers now attacked with the saber, while the dragoons captured a Prussian flag. The battalions then surrendered.

Looz then took part in the Battle of Liegnitz , was promoted out of turn to major the following year for his brave behavior and was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Maria Theresa Order on April 30, 1762.

After the war he retired to his estate in Ellenhausen near Marburg in Hesse, where he lived for another 40 years.

On December 22, 1778, he received the title of Duke from Empress Maria Theresa, which he received from his cousin Karl August Alexander von Looz. In 1803 he became Prince of Rheina-Wolbeck . The county was mediatized in 1806.

family

Looz married Marie Emmanuelle Josephe d'Aix (1740–1788) in 1763. The couple had several children:

  • Karl Ludwig August Ferdinand Emanuel (1869–1822) ⚭ 1803 Marie Caroline de Nue (1779–1852). She married Alfons Pruderentius Huyttens von Beaufort (1781–1860) in 1824
  • Marie Therese Charlotte Josepha (1768-1856)
  • Clementine Josephine Franziska Therese (1764–1820) ⚭ 1789 Florent von Lannoy de Clervaux (1760–1836)
  • Joseph Arnold (1770–1827) ⚭ 1813 Charlotte Constantine by Lasteyrie du Saillant
  • Marie (* 1774)
  • Cupid (* 1782)

After the death of his first wife, he married Rosalie Constance von Bylandt (* 1759) in 1792 .

literature

personal data
SURNAME Looz-Corswarem, Wilhelm Joseph von
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Looz-Corswarem, Wilhelm Joseph Graf von (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Imperial and Royal Major, Knight of the Maria Theresa Order, Prince of Rheina-Wolbeck
DATE OF BIRTH July 7, 1732
PLACE OF BIRTH Saint Pierre, Waremme
DATE OF DEATH March 20, 1803
Place of death Rheina Castle