François Sébastien Charles Joseph de Croix, Count of Clerfayt
April 05, 2023
François Sébastien Charles Joseph de Croix, Count of Clerfayt (14 October 1733 – 21 July 1798),[1] a Walloon, joined the army of the Habsburg monarchy and soon fought in the Seven Years' War. Later in his military career, he led Austrian troops in the war against Ottoman Turkey. During the French Revolutionary Wars he saw extensive fighting and rose to the rank of Field Marshal.
François Sébastien Charles Joseph de Croix, Count of Clerfayt
During the revolt in the Netherlands in 1787, Clerfayt, as a Walloon by birth, came under great pressure to abandon Emperor Joseph II. But he resisted all overtures, and in the following year went to fight in the Austro-Turkish War with the rank of Feldmarschal-Leutnant (lieutenant field marshal). In an independent command Clerfayt achieved great success, defeating the Turks at Mehadia and Calafat.[2] On 10 November 1788, the emperor appointed him to the rank of Feldzeugmeister.[3]
French Revolutionary Wars
In 1792, as one of the most distinguished of the emperor's generals, he received the command of the Austrian contingent in army of the duke of Brunswick, and at La Croix-aux-Bois his corps inflicted a reverse on the troops of the French Revolution.[4] In the Netherlands, he commanded the center at the Battle of Jemappes on 6 November. He opened the campaign of 1793 with the victory of Aldenhoven and the relief of Maastricht, and on 18 March 1793 proved instrumental in causing the complete defeat of Charles Dumouriez at the Battle of Neerwinden. In October, however, his victorious career suffered a reverse at the Battle of Wattignies.[2]
He participated in the Flanders Campaign against Charles Pichegru in 1794.[2] Leading a flanking column from the north, he fought at the Battle of Tourcoing on 17–18 May. A French force under Dominique Vandamme slowed his progress until Joseph Souham defeated the Anglo-Austrian army on the southern part of the battlefield. Souham then turned against Clerfayt and compelled him to retreat to the northeast. In the course of the campaign.[citation needed] Clerfayt succeeded Prince Josias of Coburg in the supreme command, but he failed to make headway against the French, and had to recross the Rhine.[2]
A Feldmarschall from 22 April 1795,[3] he commanded on the middle Rhine against Jean-Baptiste Jourdan, and this time the fortunes of war changed. Clerfayt beat Jourdan at Höchst and brilliantly relieved Mainz. But the Austrian Foreign Minister Johann Thugut did not approve Clerfayt's action in concluding an armistice with the French, so the field marshal resigned his command and became a member of the Aulic Council in Vienna. He died in 1798.[2]
Clerfaytgasse in Hernals, Vienna is named after him.
Commentary
A brave and skillful soldier, Clerfayt perhaps achieved more than any other Austrian commander (except the Archduke Charles of Austria) in the hopeless struggle of small dynastic armies against a French "nation in arms".[2]
Notes
^His title is also spelled Count of Clairfayt and Count of Clairfait
Kudrna, Leopold; Smith, Digby. "C2 Clerfayt de Croix, (Franz Sebastian) Karl Joseph Graf". A Biographical Dictionary of All Austrian Generals during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars •1792–1815 (with Biographical Essays by Digby Smith). Napoleon Series website. Retrieved 2017-01-04.
Attribution
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Clerfayt, François Sebastien Charles Joseph de Croix, Count of". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 6 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 496. cites as a source:
von Vivenot, Alfred (1869). Thugut, Clerfayt, und Würmser. Vienna.
Further reading
Ebert, Jens-Florian. "Feldmarschall de Croix Graf von Clerfayt". Retrieved 2017-01-04. (in German)
Smith, Digby (1998). The Napoleonic Wars Data Book. London: Greenhill. ISBN1-85367-276-9.
April 05, 2023
françois, sébastien, charles, joseph, croix, count, clerfayt, october, 1733, july, 1798, walloon, joined, army, habsburg, monarchy, soon, fought, seven, years, later, military, career, austrian, troops, against, ottoman, turkey, during, french, revolutionary, . Francois Sebastien Charles Joseph de Croix Count of Clerfayt 14 October 1733 21 July 1798 1 a Walloon joined the army of the Habsburg monarchy and soon fought in the Seven Years War Later in his military career he led Austrian troops in the war against Ottoman Turkey During the French Revolutionary Wars he saw extensive fighting and rose to the rank of Field Marshal Francois Sebastien Charles Joseph de Croix Count of ClerfaytFrancois de Croix Count of ClerfaytBorn14 October 1733 1733 10 14 Died21 July 1798 1798 07 22 aged 64 Allegiance Habsburg MonarchyService wbr branchSeven Years WarPrussian invasion of HollandAustro Turkish WarFrench Revolutionary Wars War of the First Coalition Flanders Campaign Battle of Jemappes Battle of Aldenhoven 1793 Battle of Neerwinden 1793 Battle of Wattignies Battle of Tourcoing Battle of Courtrai 1794 Battle of Aldenhoven 1794 Battle of Sprimont Battle of Hochst 1795 Battle of Mainz Rhine campaign of 1795 Battle of Pfeddersheim 1795 Years of service1753 c 1798RankField marshal Contents 1 Early career 2 French Revolutionary Wars 3 Commentary 4 Notes 5 References 6 Further readingEarly career EditBorn at the Castle of Bruille in Hainaut in the Austrian Netherlands he entered the Austrian army in 1753 citation needed In the Seven Years War 1756 1763 he distinguished himself earning rapid promotion and received the Military Order of Maria Theresa decoration At the conclusion of the peace Treaty of Hubertusburg 15 February 1763 though still under thirty he had already become an Oberst colonel 2 During the revolt in the Netherlands in 1787 Clerfayt as a Walloon by birth came under great pressure to abandon Emperor Joseph II But he resisted all overtures and in the following year went to fight in the Austro Turkish War with the rank of Feldmarschal Leutnant lieutenant field marshal In an independent command Clerfayt achieved great success defeating the Turks at Mehadia and Calafat 2 On 10 November 1788 the emperor appointed him to the rank of Feldzeugmeister 3 French Revolutionary Wars EditIn 1792 as one of the most distinguished of the emperor s generals he received the command of the Austrian contingent in army of the duke of Brunswick and at La Croix aux Bois his corps inflicted a reverse on the troops of the French Revolution 4 In the Netherlands he commanded the center at the Battle of Jemappes on 6 November He opened the campaign of 1793 with the victory of Aldenhoven and the relief of Maastricht and on 18 March 1793 proved instrumental in causing the complete defeat of Charles Dumouriez at the Battle of Neerwinden In October however his victorious career suffered a reverse at the Battle of Wattignies 2 His Grave in Vienna Hernals Cemetery He participated in the Flanders Campaign against Charles Pichegru in 1794 2 Leading a flanking column from the north he fought at the Battle of Tourcoing on 17 18 May A French force under Dominique Vandamme slowed his progress until Joseph Souham defeated the Anglo Austrian army on the southern part of the battlefield Souham then turned against Clerfayt and compelled him to retreat to the northeast In the course of the campaign citation needed Clerfayt succeeded Prince Josias of Coburg in the supreme command but he failed to make headway against the French and had to recross the Rhine 2 A Feldmarschall from 22 April 1795 3 he commanded on the middle Rhine against Jean Baptiste Jourdan and this time the fortunes of war changed Clerfayt beat Jourdan at Hochst and brilliantly relieved Mainz But the Austrian Foreign Minister Johann Thugut did not approve Clerfayt s action in concluding an armistice with the French so the field marshal resigned his command and became a member of the Aulic Council in Vienna He died in 1798 2 Clerfaytgasse in Hernals Vienna is named after him Commentary EditA brave and skillful soldier Clerfayt perhaps achieved more than any other Austrian commander except the Archduke Charles of Austria in the hopeless struggle of small dynastic armies against a French nation in arms 2 Notes Edit His title is also spelled Count of Clairfayt and Count of Clairfait a b c d e f g Chisholm 1911 p 496 a b Kudrna amp Smith Clerfayt de Croix Combat de La Croix aux BoisReferences EditKudrna Leopold Smith Digby C2 Clerfayt de Croix Franz Sebastian Karl Joseph Graf A Biographical Dictionary of All Austrian Generals during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars 1792 1815 with Biographical Essays by Digby Smith Napoleon Series website Retrieved 2017 01 04 Attribution This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 Clerfayt Francois Sebastien Charles Joseph de Croix Count of Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 6 11th ed Cambridge University Press p 496 cites as a source von Vivenot Alfred 1869 Thugut Clerfayt und Wurmser Vienna Further reading EditEbert Jens Florian Feldmarschall de Croix Graf von Clerfayt Retrieved 2017 01 04 in German Smith Digby 1998 The Napoleonic Wars Data Book London Greenhill ISBN 1 85367 276 9 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Francois Sebastien Charles Joseph de Croix Count of Clerfayt amp oldid 1145448079, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
