Wilhelm of Brandenburg (1819-1892)

Alexander Ferdinand Julius Wilhelm Graf von Brandenburg (born March 30, 1819 in Potsdam , † March 21, 1892 in Berlin ) was a Prussian cavalry general and diplomat.

Life

origin

Wilhelm was the son of the later Prussian Prime Minister Friedrich Wilhelm Graf von Brandenburg and his wife Mathilde Aurora, born von Massenbach (1795–1855). His twin brother Friedrich also rose to be general of the cavalry.

Coat of arms of the Count of Brandenburg 1795

Military career

Brandenburg joined the Guard Cuirassier Regiment of the Prussian Army on July 1, 1836 . There he was promoted to second lieutenant on March 28, 1837 and from 1846 was used as a regimental adjutant. By June 22nd, 1852 he was promoted to Rittmeister and two years later he became squadron chief . On August 11, 1857, he was promoted to major and on January 12, 1858, he was transferred to the 2nd Guard Uhlan Regiment as a regular staff officer . For the duration of the mobilization on the occasion of the Sardinian War , Brandenburg was in charge of the regiment in 1859. This relationship then extended until he was finally appointed regimental commander on May 12, 1860. With his promotion to lieutenant colonel Brandenburg was leaving in this position for adjutant of Prince Regent Wilhelm appointed. At the end of June 1864 he was promoted to colonel and in 1866 took part in the campaign against Austria . For his achievements in the battle of Königgrätz Brandenburg received the Order of the Crown, 2nd Class with Swords.

After the war he was appointed commander of the 5th Cavalry Brigade in Frankfurt (Oder) on September 17, 1866 . On January 14, 1868, Brandenburg received command of the 3rd Guards Cavalry Brigade and was promoted to major general and appointed general à la suite to the king two months later, leaving it in this position . In 1870/71 he led his brigade in the war against France . He was promoted to lieutenant general in 1872 , adjutant general to the emperor and king in 1873, and to cavalry general in 1880. Brandenburg was put up for disposal in 1884, leaving its position as adjutant general .

From 1888 he was the Prussian envoy in Brussels and Lisbon in the position of Real Privy Councilor . He died unmarried just under four months before his twin brother.

Brandenburg was a knight of the Black Eagle Order with the chain , holder of the Grand Cross of the Red Eagle Order with oak leaves and swords and with swords on a ring, and a legal knight of the Order of St. John .

literature

• Gustav von Glasenapp : Military biographies of the officer corps of the Prussian army. Berlin 1868, p. 264.

Web links

• Short biography in the Berlin State Library