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{{Distinguish2|his grand-nephew, ]}} {{distinguish|text=his grand-nephew, ]}}
{{Infobox royalty {{Infobox royalty
| name = Archduke Albrecht | name = Archduke Albrecht
| image = Albrecht Austria Teschen 1817 1895 marshal.jpg | image = Feldmarschall Erzherzog Albrecht 1895 Hof-Atelier Adele.jpg
| caption = | caption = Archduke Albrecht, {{circa|1890s}}
| succession = ] | succession = ]
| reign = 1847–1895 | reign = 30 April 1847 – 18 February 1895
| predecessor = ] | predecessor = ]
| successor = ] | successor = ]
| spouse = ] | spouse = ]
| issue = ]<br>Archduke Karl<br>] | issue = {{ubl|]|Archduke Karl|]}}
| full name = Albrecht Friedrich Rudolf Dominik | full name = Albrecht Friedrich Rudolf Dominik
| house = ] | house = ]
Line 15: Line 15:
| mother = ] | mother = ]
| birth_date = {{birth date|1817|8|3|df=y}} | birth_date = {{birth date|1817|8|3|df=y}}
| birth_place = ], ] | birth_place = ], ]
| death_date = {{death date and age|1895|2|18|1817|8|3|df=y}} | death_date = {{death date and age|1895|2|18|1817|8|3|df=y}}
| death_place = ] | death_place = ], ]
| burial_place = ] | burial_place = ]
}}
| religion = ]
|}}


'''Archduke Albrecht Friedrich Rudolf Dominik of Austria, ]''' (3 August 1817 – 18 February 1895) was an Austrian ] general. Inspector General for 36 years, he was honored with the rank of Field Marshal in the armies of ] (1888) and Germany (1893). '''Archduke Albrecht Friedrich Rudolf Dominik of Austria, ]''' (3 August 1817 – 18 February 1895), was an Austrian ] general. He was the grandson of Emperor ] and one of the chief military advisors of Emperor ]. As Inspector General for 36 years, he was an old-fashioned bureaucrat who largely controlled the ] and delayed modernization. He was honored with the rank of ] in the armies of ] (1863) and ] (1893).

According to historians ] and Andrew Wheatcroft:
: He was a firm conservative in all matters, military and civil, and took to writing pamphlets lamenting the state of the Army’s morale as well as fighting a fierce rearguard action against all forms of innovation…. Much of the Austrian failure in the First World War can be traced back to his long period of power…. His power was that of the bureaucrat, not the fighting soldier, and his thirty years of command over the peacetime Habsburg Army made it a flabby instrument of war.<ref>John Keegan and Andrew Wheatcroft, ''Who's Who in Military History: From 1453 to the Present Day'' (2001) p, 12.</ref>


==Early life== ==Early life==
A grandson of the ], he was the eldest son of ], who defeated French Emperor ] at ] (1809), and ]. He was the nephew of the ], and cousin to ]'s father ], and served under Franz Joseph. A grandson of the Emperor ], he was the eldest son of Archduke ], who defeated French Emperor ] at ] (1809), and ]. He was the nephew of the Emperor ], and cousin to Emperor ]'s father ], and served under Franz Joseph.


Born in Vienna, from an early age he had a military disposition, which his father encouraged. Albrecht was subject to a mild form of ], according to report, but this did not visibly interfere with his military career. Born in Vienna, from an early age he had a military disposition, which his father encouraged. Albrecht was subject to a mild form of ], according to report, but this did not visibly interfere with his military career.


He entered the Austrian army in 1837 with Feldmarshal ] as his military governor. Having received a thorough military education, Albrecht was named a ''Generalmajor'' in 1840 and promoted to ''Feldmarschall-Leutnant'' in 1843. He entered the ] in 1837 with Feldmarshal ] as his military governor. Having received a thorough military education, Albrecht was named a ''Generalmajor'' in 1840 and promoted to ''Feldmarschall-Leutnant'' in 1843.


==Military campaigns== ==Military campaigns==
Promoted to ''General der Kavallerie'' in 1845, Albert was given command of ], ], and ]. Upon the death of his father in 1847, he inherited the Palais Weilburg in ], which became the family's summer home. In the winter the family lived in ] in the Palais Erzherzog Albrecht (the modern ] museum). Promoted to ''General der Kavallerie'' in 1845, Albrecht was given command of ], ], and ]. Upon the death of his father in 1847, he inherited the Palais Weilburg in ], which became the family's summer home. In the winter the family lived in ] in the Palais Erzherzog Albrecht (the modern ] museum).
]

As the commandant of Vienna,<ref>Rothenburg, G. ''The Army of Francis Joseph''. West Lafayette: Purdue University Press, 1976. p 3.</ref> Albrecht was wounded in the street fighting on 13 March 1848 at the start of the ]. He issued live ammunition to his soldiers and secured the inner city, but was unable to suppress the disorder in the outlying districts. With the fall of ] and the formation of a city guard led by students, Albrecht pulled his troops into ]. Radicals resented his attempt to quell the revolution while some fellow officers thought he showed a lack of resolve. Unsatisfactory to both factions and under pressure from city authorities, Albrecht was replaced by Count Auersperg.{{sfn|Rothenburg|1976|p=23}} As the commandant of Vienna,{{sfn|Rothenburg|1976|p=3}} Albrecht was wounded in the street fighting on 13 March 1848 at the start of the ]. He issued live ammunition to his soldiers and secured the inner city, but was unable to suppress the disorder in the outlying districts. With the fall of ] and the formation of a city guard led by students, Albrecht pulled his troops into ]. Radicals resented his attempt to quell the revolution while some fellow officers thought he showed a lack of resolve. Unsatisfactory to both factions and under pressure from city authorities, Albrecht was replaced by Count Auersperg.{{sfn|Rothenburg|1976|p=23}}


Albrecht was sent south to command a division under Radetzky, who faced a ] of the Italian peninsula led by King ]. Albrecht personally supervised the crossing of the ] and by the handling of his division ensuring victory at ] on 23 March 1849. Albrecht was sent south to command a division under Radetzky, who faced a ] of the Italian peninsula led by King ]. Albrecht personally supervised the crossing of the ] and by the handling of his division ensuring victory at ] on 23 March 1849.


He became civil and military governor of Hungary in 1851, serving until his recall in 1860. When Archduchess Hildegard went to Munich in March 1864 for the funeral of her brother, King Maximilian II, she became ill with a lung inflammation and ]. She died in Vienna on 2 April 1864, two months short of her 38th birthday. He became civil and military governor of ] in 1851, serving until his recall in 1860. When Albrecht's wife, Archduchess ], went to Munich in March 1864 for the funeral of her brother, King ], she became ill with a lung inflammation and ]. She died in Vienna on 2 April 1864, two months short of her 38th birthday.


At the outbreak of the ] in June 1866, Albrecht was named commander of the southern army facing the Italian forces of King Victor Emmanuel II. Albrecht was decisively victorious in the ] (24 June 1866), but failed to exploit his victory when he neglected to pursue the beaten Italian ''Army of the Mincio''. Any advantages for the Austrians however were canceled out by the crushing defeat on 3 July at ], where ] was surprised by the speed of ]'s concentric advance into Bohemia. At the outbreak of the ] in June 1866, Albrecht was named commander of the southern army facing the Italian forces of King ]. Albrecht was decisively victorious in the ] (24 June 1866), but failed to exploit his victory when he neglected to pursue the beaten Italian ''Army of the Mincio''. Any advantages for the Austrians however were canceled out by the crushing defeat on 3 July at ], where ] was surprised by the speed of ]'s concentric advance into ].


Albrecht was named ''Oberkommandeur'' (Commander-in-Chief) on 10 July 1866. Benedek's defeat made any further action against Prussia impossible, however, and peace was shortly concluded with both Prussia and Italy. Besides the loss of Holstein to Prussia and ] to Italy in 1866, the war resulted in the transformation of the Austrian realm in 1867 as the ] – the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Albrecht was named ''Oberkommandeur'' (Commander-in-Chief) on 10 July 1866. Benedek's defeat made any further action against ] impossible, however, and peace was shortly concluded with both Prussia and ]. Besides the loss of ] to Prussia and ] to Italy in 1866, the war resulted in the transformation of the Austrian realm in 1867 as the ] – the Austro-Hungarian Empire.


==Inspector General== ==Inspector General==
Albrecht remained ''Oberkommandeur'' until 1869; when Kaiser Franz Josef I assumed the title that year, Albrecht became ''Generalinspekteur'' (Inspector General), the post he occupied until his death. In 1869 he published ''Über die Verantwortlichkeit im Kriege'' (''On Responsibility in War''). His reform of the ] was based on the Prussian model: development of railways and manufacturing, adoption of short-service conscription, procurement of modern weapons and reform of the General Staff. Albrecht's program gave Austria-Hungary the best army that a multinational empire could field at the time; his later clashes with liberals (including ]) may have resulted at least in part from his ability to see all too clearly the limitations imposed by the empire's finite resources. Albrecht remained ''Oberkommandeur'' until 1869; when Kaiser Franz Josef I assumed the title that year, Albrecht became ''Generalinspekteur'' (Inspector General), the post he occupied until his death. In 1869 he published ''Über die Verantwortlichkeit im Kriege'' (''On Responsibility in War''). His reform of the ] was based on the Prussian model: development of railways and manufacturing, adoption of short-service conscription, procurement of modern weapons and reform of the ]. Albrecht's program upgraded the army but he then froze it in place for the next three decades as it declined in quality. He fought liberals (including Crown Prince ]) claiming their reforms would be too expensive and disruptive.


In public affairs, he was leader of the conservative Court Party, and opposed the ministry of ] at every point, expressing the most inexorably reactionary views. As such he was an absolutist and opposed any liberal ideas and any weakening of the imperial power. He was somewhat more courteous to Beust's successors, though he remained given to bombastic pronouncements that may not have reflected his actual sentiments. He was widely thought, for instance, to be antipathetic toward Prussia after 1866, yet he modeled his military reforms on those of Prussia and even attended a parade of the Prussian Royal Guard in Berlin at the invitation of ]. In December 1876 Albrecht advocated a preventive war against Italy on the grounds that of all Austria's neighbors, Italy was the most hostile, could be beaten most easily, and be forced to pay compensation to Austria-Hungary, whose victory would establish it as a ].{{sfn|Rothenburg|1976|p=99}} In public affairs, he was leader of the conservative Court Party, and opposed the ministry of Count ] at every point, expressing the most inexorably reactionary views. As such he was an absolutist and opposed any liberal ideas and any weakening of the imperial power. He was somewhat more courteous to Beust's successors, though he remained given to bombastic pronouncements that may not have reflected his actual sentiments. He was widely thought, for instance, to be antipathetic toward Prussia after 1866, yet he modeled his military reforms on those of Prussia and even attended a parade of the Prussian Royal Guard in Berlin at the invitation of Emperor ]. In December 1876 Albrecht advocated a preventive war against Italy on the grounds that of all Austria's neighbors, Italy was the most hostile, could be beaten most easily, and be forced to pay compensation to Austria-Hungary, whose victory would establish it as a ].{{sfn|Rothenburg|1976|p=99}}


At the ] in 1878, the Austro-Hungarian Foreign Minister ], in addition to the ], also obtained the right to station garrisons in the ], which remained under ] administration. The Sanjak preserved the separation of Serbia and Montenegro, and the Austro-Hungarian garrisons there would open the way for a dash to Salonika, supported by Albrecht, that "would bring the western half of the Balkans under permanent Austrian influence."<ref>{{cite book|last=Albertini|first=Luigi|title=The Origins of the War of 1914|volume=I|publisher=]|year=1952|page=19}}</ref> "High military authorities desired immediate major expedition with Salonika as its objective."<ref name=LA33>{{cite book|last=Albertini|first=Luigi|title=The Origins of the War of 1914|volume=I|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=1952|page=33}}</ref> At the ] in 1878, the Austro-Hungarian Foreign Minister ], in addition to the ], also obtained the right to station garrisons in the ], which remained under ] administration. The Sanjak preserved the separation of ] and ], and the Austro-Hungarian garrisons there would open the way for a dash to ], supported by Albrecht, that "would bring the western half of the Balkans under permanent Austrian influence."<ref>{{cite book|last=Albertini|first=Luigi|title=The Origins of the War of 1914|volume=I|publisher=]|year=1952|page=19}}</ref> "High military authorities desired immediate major expedition with Salonika as its objective."<ref name=LA33>{{cite book|last=Albertini|first=Luigi|title=The Origins of the War of 1914|volume=I|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=1952|page=33}}</ref>


<blockquote> <blockquote>
On 28 September 1878 the Finance Minister, Koloman von Zell, threatened to resign if the army, behind which stood the Archduke Albert, were allowed to advance to Salonika. In the session of the Hungarian Parliament of 5 November 1878 the Opposition proposed that the Foreign Minister should be impeached for violating the constitution by his policy during the Near East Crisis and by the occupation of Bosnia-Herzegovina. The motion was lost by 179 to 95. By the Opposition rank and file the gravest accusations were raised against Andrassy.<ref name=LA33 /> On 28 September 1878 the Finance Minister, Koloman von Zell, threatened to resign if the army, behind which stood the Archduke Albert, were allowed to advance to Salonika. In the session of the ] of 5 November 1878 the Opposition proposed that the Foreign Minister should be impeached for violating the constitution by his policy during the Near East Crisis and by the occupation of Bosnia-Herzegovina. The motion was lost by 179 to 95. By the Opposition rank and file the gravest accusations were raised against Andrassy.<ref name=LA33 />
</blockquote> </blockquote>


Reputed to be the wealthiest of the Habsburgs, Albrecht owned some {{convert|300000|acre|km2}} in Hungary. He also owned a fine collection of paintings and engravings, later the nucleus of the ]. His popularity was profound, for his generosity to the poor was genuine and unfeigned; he was widely known as ''Engelsherz'' (Angel's-heart). Reputed to be the wealthiest of the Habsburgs, Albrecht owned some {{convert|300000|acre|km2}} in Hungary. He also owned a fine collection of paintings and engravings, later the nucleus of the ] museum. His popularity was profound, for his generosity to the poor was genuine and unfeigned; he was widely known as ''Engelsherz'' (Angel's-heart).


When Albrecht was made a ''Feldmarschall'' in March 1888, Crown Prince Rudolf was appointed his subordinate as ''Generalinspekteur der Infanterie'' (Inspector General of Infantry). The new Inspector found any move toward liberal reform blocked by the War Minister, ''Feldzeugmeister'' Ferdinand Freiherr von Bauer, the Chief of the General Staff, ''Feldzeugmeister'' Friedrich Graf Beck-Rzikowsky – and by Albrecht himself. Senior officers deferred to Albrecht who, after all, had laboriously modernized the Army after the disaster of 1866. However, the anomalous situation in the military administration was undoubtedly only one of many factors that contributed to Rudolf's suicide at ] on 30 January 1889.{{or|date=November 2012}} When Albrecht was made a ''Feldmarschall'' in March 1888, Crown Prince Rudolf was appointed his subordinate as ''Generalinspekteur der Infanterie'' (Inspector General of Infantry). The new Inspector found any move toward liberal reform blocked by the War Minister, ''Feldzeugmeister'' ], the Chief of the General Staff, ''Feldzeugmeister'' ] – and by Albrecht himself. Senior officers deferred to Albrecht who, after all, had laboriously modernized the Army after the disaster of 1866. However, the anomalous situation in the military administration was undoubtedly only one of many factors that contributed to Rudolf's suicide at ] on 30 January 1889.{{original research inline|date=November 2012}}


==Later life== ==Later life==
], Vienna]] ], Vienna]]
Having been made a ''Feldmarschall'' in his own army in 1888, Albrecht was the recipient of the equivalent rank of ''Generalfeldmarschall'' in the German Army in 1893, ] sending General ] to deliver the baton to Albrecht. Having been made a ''Feldmarschall'' in his own army in 1863, Albrecht was the recipient of the equivalent rank of ''Generalfeldmarschall'' in the ] in 1893, ] sending General ] to deliver the baton to Albrecht.


Archduke Albrecht continued to serve as ''Generalinspekteur'' even into advanced age - a situation not uncommon in Austria-Hungary where many commanders retained posts and commissions into old age.{{sfn|Rothenburg|1976|p=122}} By 1895, though still holding his office, he was partially blind and his horse had to be led by an adjutant.{{sfn|Rothenburg|1976|p=122}} Archduke Albrecht continued to serve as ''Generalinspekteur'' even into advanced age - a situation not uncommon in Austria-Hungary where many commanders retained posts and commissions into old age.{{sfn|Rothenburg|1976|p=122}} By 1895, though still holding his office, he was partially blind and his horse had to be led by an adjutant.{{sfn|Rothenburg|1976|p=122}}


When he died in ] on 18 February 1895, Archduke Albrecht received a state funeral and was buried in tomb 128 of the Imperial crypt in Vienna. His fortune and his title of Duke of Teschen were inherited by his nephew, ], who served as ''Oberkommandeur'' in 1914–17. When he died in ] on 18 February 1895, Archduke Albrecht received a state funeral and was buried in tomb 128 of the ] in Vienna. His fortune and his title of Duke of Teschen were inherited by his nephew, Archduke ], who served as ''Oberkommandeur'' in 1914–17.


Today, an equestrian statue of Archduke Albrecht stands near the entrance to the Albertina museum, his former city residence in Vienna. Today, an equestrian statue of Archduke Albrecht stands near the entrance to the Albertina museum, his former city residence in Vienna.


==Family and children== ==Family and children==
On 1 May 1844 Albrecht married in Munich ], daughter of ] and ]. Albrecht and Hildegard had 3 children: On 1 May 1844 Albrecht married in Munich ], daughter of King ] and ]. Albrecht and Hildegard had 3 children:
*] (15 July 1845, Vienna – 8 October 1927, Tübingen), married at Vienna on 18 January 1865 ] (1838, Neuilly-sur-Seine – 1917, Stuttgart) and had five children: *Archduchess ] (15 July 1845, Vienna – 8 October 1927, Tübingen), married at Vienna on 18 January 1865 ] (1838, Neuilly-sur-Seine – 1917, Stuttgart) and had five children:
**] (1865–1939), commander on the Western Front of the German Fourth Army, 1914–17, and Army Group Duke Albrecht, 1917–18; like his grandfather, he was made a German ] in 1916. **] (1865–1939), commander on the Western Front of the German ], 1914–17, and Army Group Duke Albrecht, 1917–18; like his grandfather, he was made a German ] in 1916.
**Marie Amelie of Württemberg (1865–1883) **Marie Amelie of Württemberg (1865–1883)
**] (1871–1904) **] (1871–1904)
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**Ulrich of Württemberg (1877–1944) **Ulrich of Württemberg (1877–1944)
*Archduke Karl of Austria-Teschen (3 January 1847, Vienna – 19 July 1848), died of smallpox and buried in tomb 131 of the Imperial Crypt. *Archduke Karl of Austria-Teschen (3 January 1847, Vienna – 19 July 1848), died of smallpox and buried in tomb 131 of the Imperial Crypt.
*] (25 January 1849, Vienna – 6 June 1867, Schloss Hetzendorf, near Vienna), buried in tomb 130 of the Imperial Crypt. *]-Teschen (25 January 1849, Vienna – 6 June 1867, Schloss Hetzendorf, near Vienna), buried in tomb 130 of the Imperial Crypt.
== Honours ==
Albrecht received the following decorations and awards:<ref>''Hof- und Staatshandbuch der Österreichisch-Ungarischen Monarchie'' (1895), Genealogy p. </ref>
{{columns-list|colwidth=25em|
* {{flagcountry|Austrian Empire}}:<ref>''Hof- und Staatshandbuch der Österreichisch-Ungarischen Monarchie'' (1895), Orders of Knighthood pp. , -</ref>
** ], ''1830''
** ], ''1852''
** Grand Cross of the ], ''1866''
** ] with War Decoration
** Long Service Cross for Officers, 1st Class
* {{flag|Sovereign Military Order of Malta}}: Grand Cross of Honour and Devotion
* {{flagicon|Tuscany|habsburg}} ]: ]
* {{flagcountry|Russian Empire}}:
** ], 1st Class
** ]
** ]
** ]
** ], 1st Class
** ], 1st Class
* {{flagicon image|Flag of the Kingdom of Prussia (1803-1892).svg}} ]:
** ], with Collar ''1891''
** ], 1st Class
** Grand Commander of the Royal ]
** ] (military), ''10 April 1849''<ref>{{cite book|last1=Lehmann|first1=Gustaf|title=Die Ritter des Ordens pour le mérite 1812–1913|year=1913|trans-title=The Knights of the Order of the Pour le Mérite|language=de|url=https://gdz.sub.uni-goettingen.de/id/PPN135808618|page=421|volume=2|location=Berlin|publisher=]}}</ref>
* {{flagcountry|Second French Empire}}: Grand Cross of the ]
* {{flagcountry|Empire of Brazil}}: ]
* {{flag|Ottoman Empire}}: ], 1st Class in Diamonds
* {{flagcountry|Kingdom of Italy}}: ], ''21 September 1873''<ref name="dell'interno1884">{{cite book|author=Italia : Ministero dell'interno|title=Calendario generale del Regno d'Italia|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nI42-d6rlRQC&pg=PR1|year=1884|publisher=Unione tipografico-editrice|page=}}</ref>
* {{flag|Denmark}}: ], ''19 September 1881''<ref>{{cite book|author=Jørgen Pedersen|title=Riddere af Elefantordenen, 1559–2009|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=glw-AQAAIAAJ|year=2009|publisher=Syddansk Universitetsforlag|language=da|isbn=978-87-7674-434-2|page=472}}</ref>
* {{flagcountry|Kingdom of Portugal}}: ]
* {{flagcountry|Restoration (Spain)}}:
** Grand Cross of the ], with Collar, ''25 June 1883''<ref>{{cite book|chapter-url=http://hemerotecadigital.bne.es/issue.vm?id=0000941464&search=&lang=es|chapter=Real y distinguida orden de Carlos III|title=Guía Oficial de España|date=1887|access-date=21 March 2019|page=149|language=es}}</ref>
** ]
* {{flagcountry|Kingdom of Bavaria}}:
** ], ''1843''<ref>{{Cite book|title=Hof- und Staats-Handbuch des Königreichs Bayern|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VJljAAAAcAAJ&pg=PP7|publisher=Königl. Oberpostamt|date=1867|access-date=2019-07-15|language=de|page=}}</ref>
** Grand Cross of the ]
* {{flagcountry|Kingdom of Saxony}}: ], ''1851''<ref name="Sachsen1866">{{cite book|author=Sachsen|title=Staatshandbuch für den Freistaat Sachsen: 1865/66|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SBFTAAAAcAAJ&pg=PP7|year=1866|publisher=Heinrich|page=}}</ref>
* {{flag|Württemberg}}: ], ''1856''<ref name="Württemberg1869">{{cite book|author=Württemberg|title=Hof- und Staats-Handbuch des Königreichs Württemberg: 1869|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=awdTAAAAcAAJ&pg=PR1|year=1869|page=}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Sweden|1844}} {{flagicon|Norway|1844}} ]: ], ''20 April 1885''<ref>{{cite book|author=Per Nordenvall |title=Kungliga Serafimerorden: 1748–1998 |year=1998 |chapter=Kungl. Maj:ts Orden |location=Stockholm |language=sv |isbn=91-630-6744-7}}</ref>
* {{flag|Belgium}}: Grand Cordon of the ], ''1 August 1856''<ref name="Veldekens1858">{{cite book|author=Ferdinand Veldekens|title=Le livre d'or de l'ordre de Léopold et de la croix de fer|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_6lAAAAAcAAJ&pg=PP11|year=1858|publisher=lelong|page=}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Greece|royal}} ]: ]
* {{flagcountry|Kingdom of Hanover}}:<ref name="Hannover1865">{{cite book|author=Staat Hannover|title=Hof- und Staatshandbuch für das Königreich Hannover: 1865|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_bAFTAAAAcAAJ|year=1865|publisher=Berenberg|pages=, }}</ref>
** ], ''1843''
** Grand Cross of the ], ''1843''
* {{flag|Two Sicilies}}:
** ]
** ]
* {{flagcountry|Kingdom of Romania}}: ], with War Insignia
* {{flagcountry|Kingdom of Serbia}}:
** ]
** ]
* {{flag|Baden}}:<ref>''Hof- und Staats-Handbuch des Großherzogtum Baden'' (1858), "Großherzogliche Orden" pp. , </ref>
** Knight of the ], ''1856''
** ], ''1856''
* {{flag|Grand Duchy of Hesse}}: Grand Cross of the ], ''7 September 1843''<ref>''Hof- und Staats-Handbuch des Großherzogtum Hessen'' (1879), "Großherzogliche Orden und Ehrenzeichen" p. </ref>
* {{flag|Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach}}: ], ''22 October 1859''<ref>''Staatshandbuch für das Großherzogtum Sachsen / Sachsen-Weimar-Eisenach'' (1869), "Großherzogliche Hausorden" p. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200608124432/https://zs.thulb.uni-jena.de/rsc/viewer/jportal_derivate_00183908/Staatshandbuch_Film_Nr_14_0018.tif |date=2020-06-08 }}</ref>
* {{flag|Nassau}}: ], ''June 1858''<ref>''Staats- und Adreß-Handbuch des Herzogthums Nassau'' (1866), "Herzogliche Orden" p. </ref>
* {{flag|Brunswick}}: ]
* {{flagcountry|Principality of Montenegro}}: Grand Cross of the ]
* {{flag|Netherlands}}: Commander of the ], ''27 June 1856''<ref name="Military William Order">{{cite web|url=https://www.defensie.nl/onderwerpen/onderscheidingen/dapperheidsonderscheidingen/databank-dapperheidsonderscheidingen/1856/06/27/sterreich-teschen-albrecht-friedrich-rudolf-erzherzog-von |title=Militaire Willems-Orde: Österreich-Teschen, Albrecht Friedrich Rudolf Erzherzog von|trans-title=Military William Order: Austria-Teschen, Albert Frederick Rudolf Archduke of |website=Ministerie van Defensie|language=nl|access-date=12 March 2016|date=27 June 1856}}</ref>
* {{flagicon image|Flag of the Vatican City (2 by 3).svg}} ]: Knight of the ]
}}


==Namesake== ==Namesake==
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==Ancestry== ==Ancestry==
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| 1 = 1. '''Archduke Albrecht, Duke of Teschen'''
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|boxstyle_5=background-color: #9fe;
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|1= 1. '''Archduke Albert, Duke of Teschen'''
|2= 2. ] | 6 = 6. ]
|3= 3. ] | 7 = 7. ]
|4= 4. ] | 8 = 8. ]
|5= 5. ] | 9 = 9. ], Queen of Hungary
|6= 6. ] | 10 = 10. ]
| 11 = 11. ]
|7= 7. ]
|8= 8. ] | 12 = 12. ]
|9= 9. ] | 13 = 13. ]
|10= 10. ] | 14 = 14. Wilhelm Georg, Burgrave of Kirchberg
| 15 = 15. Princess Isabelle Auguste Reuss of Greiz
|11= 11. ]
|12= 12. ]
|13= 13. ]
|14= 14. Georg, Landgrave of Kirchberg, Count of Sayn-Hachenburg
|15= 15. Countess Elisabeth Augusta Reuss of Greiz
|16= 16. ]
|17= 17. ]
|18= 18. ]
|19= 19. ]
|20= 20. ]
|21= 21. ]
|22= 22. ]
|23= 23. ]
|24= 24. Charles Augustus, Prince of Nassau-Weilburg
|25= 25. Princess Auguste Friederike of Nassau-Idstein
|26= 26. ]
|27= 27. ]
|28= 28. Wilhelm Ludwig, Landgrave of Kirchberg
|29= 29. Countess Luise of Dhaun
|30= 30. Heinrich XI, Prince Reuss of Greiz
|31= 31. Konradine Eleonore, Princess Reuss of Köstritz
}} }}
{{ahnentafel bottom}}</center>


==Notes== ==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Commons category|Archduke Albrecht, Duke of Teschen}}
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}


==References== ==Bibliography==
{{More footnotes|date=April 2009}}
* "Death of Archduke Albrecht", '']'', 19 February 1895 * "Death of Archduke Albrecht", '']'', 19 February 1895
* Robert Gardiner (editorial director), ''Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921''. London: Conway Maritime Press, 1985. ISBN 0-85177-245-5 * Robert Gardiner (editorial director), ''Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921''. London: Conway Maritime Press, 1985. {{ISBN|0-85177-245-5}}
* Robert A. Kann, ''A History of the Habsburg Empire 1526–1918''. Berkeley: ], 1974. * Robert A. Kann, ''A History of the Habsburg Empire 1526–1918''. Berkeley: ], 1974.
* ], ''The Eagles Die: Franz Joseph, Elisabeth, and Their Austria''. New York: ], 1974. ISBN 978-0-246-10880-7 * ], ''The Eagles Die: Franz Joseph, Elisabeth, and Their Austria''. New York: ], 1974. {{ISBN|978-0-246-10880-7}}
* Frederic Morton, ''A Nervous Splendour. Vienna 1888–1889''. London: The Folio Society, 2006 (first published in 1979). * Frederic Morton, ''A Nervous Splendour. Vienna 1888–1889''. London: The Folio Society, 2006 (first published in 1979).
* Alan Palmer, ''Twilight of the Habsburgs. The life and times of the Emperor Francis Joseph''. New York: Grove Press, 1994. * Alan Palmer, ''Twilight of the Habsburgs. The life and times of the Emperor Francis Joseph''. New York: Grove Press, 1994.
* {{cite book|last=Rothenburg|first=G.|title=The Army of Francis Joseph|location=West Lafayette|publisher= Purdue University Press|year=1976}}

== See also ==
{{Commons category|Archduke Albrecht, Duke of Teschen}}
*]


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Latest revision as of 14:34, 17 November 2024

Not to be confused with his grand-nephew, Archduke Albrecht Franz, Duke of Teschen. Duke of Teschen
Archduke Albrecht
Archduke Albrecht, c. 1890s
Duke of Teschen
Reign30 April 1847 – 18 February 1895
PredecessorCharles
SuccessorFriedrich
Born(1817-08-03)3 August 1817
Vienna, Austrian Empire
Died18 February 1895(1895-02-18) (aged 77)
Arco, Austria-Hungary
BurialImperial Crypt
SpousePrincess Hildegard of Bavaria
Issue
Names
Albrecht Friedrich Rudolf Dominik
HouseHabsburg-Lorraine
FatherArchduke Charles, Duke of Teschen
MotherPrincess Henrietta of Nassau-Weilburg

Archduke Albrecht Friedrich Rudolf Dominik of Austria, Duke of Teschen (3 August 1817 – 18 February 1895), was an Austrian Habsburg general. He was the grandson of Emperor Leopold II and one of the chief military advisors of Emperor Francis Joseph I. As Inspector General for 36 years, he was an old-fashioned bureaucrat who largely controlled the Austro-Hungarian Army and delayed modernization. He was honored with the rank of field marshal in the armies of Austria-Hungary (1863) and Germany (1893).

According to historians John Keegan and Andrew Wheatcroft:

He was a firm conservative in all matters, military and civil, and took to writing pamphlets lamenting the state of the Army’s morale as well as fighting a fierce rearguard action against all forms of innovation…. Much of the Austrian failure in the First World War can be traced back to his long period of power…. His power was that of the bureaucrat, not the fighting soldier, and his thirty years of command over the peacetime Habsburg Army made it a flabby instrument of war.

Early life

A grandson of the Emperor Leopold II, he was the eldest son of Archduke Charles of Austria, who defeated French Emperor Napoleon I at Aspern-Essling (1809), and Princess Henrietta of Nassau-Weilburg. He was the nephew of the Emperor Francis I, and cousin to Emperor Franz Joseph I's father Archduke Franz Karl of Austria, and served under Franz Joseph.

Born in Vienna, from an early age he had a military disposition, which his father encouraged. Albrecht was subject to a mild form of epilepsy, according to report, but this did not visibly interfere with his military career.

He entered the Austrian army in 1837 with Feldmarshal Joseph Radetzky as his military governor. Having received a thorough military education, Albrecht was named a Generalmajor in 1840 and promoted to Feldmarschall-Leutnant in 1843.

Military campaigns

Promoted to General der Kavallerie in 1845, Albrecht was given command of Upper Austria, Lower Austria, and Salzburg. Upon the death of his father in 1847, he inherited the Palais Weilburg in Baden bei Wien, which became the family's summer home. In the winter the family lived in Vienna in the Palais Erzherzog Albrecht (the modern Albertina museum).

As the commandant of Vienna, Albrecht was wounded in the street fighting on 13 March 1848 at the start of the revolutionary disturbances. He issued live ammunition to his soldiers and secured the inner city, but was unable to suppress the disorder in the outlying districts. With the fall of Metternich and the formation of a city guard led by students, Albrecht pulled his troops into barracks. Radicals resented his attempt to quell the revolution while some fellow officers thought he showed a lack of resolve. Unsatisfactory to both factions and under pressure from city authorities, Albrecht was replaced by Count Auersperg.

Albrecht was sent south to command a division under Radetzky, who faced a coalition of states of the Italian peninsula led by King Charles Albert of Sardinia. Albrecht personally supervised the crossing of the Ticino and by the handling of his division ensuring victory at Novara on 23 March 1849.

He became civil and military governor of Hungary in 1851, serving until his recall in 1860. When Albrecht's wife, Archduchess Hildegard, went to Munich in March 1864 for the funeral of her brother, King Maximilian II, she became ill with a lung inflammation and pleurisy. She died in Vienna on 2 April 1864, two months short of her 38th birthday.

At the outbreak of the Seven Weeks' War in June 1866, Albrecht was named commander of the southern army facing the Italian forces of King Victor Emmanuel II. Albrecht was decisively victorious in the Battle of Custoza (24 June 1866), but failed to exploit his victory when he neglected to pursue the beaten Italian Army of the Mincio. Any advantages for the Austrians however were canceled out by the crushing defeat on 3 July at Königgrätz, where Ludwig von Benedek was surprised by the speed of Helmuth von Moltke's concentric advance into Bohemia.

Albrecht was named Oberkommandeur (Commander-in-Chief) on 10 July 1866. Benedek's defeat made any further action against Prussia impossible, however, and peace was shortly concluded with both Prussia and Italy. Besides the loss of Holstein to Prussia and Venetia to Italy in 1866, the war resulted in the transformation of the Austrian realm in 1867 as the Dual Monarchy – the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Inspector General

Albrecht remained Oberkommandeur until 1869; when Kaiser Franz Josef I assumed the title that year, Albrecht became Generalinspekteur (Inspector General), the post he occupied until his death. In 1869 he published Über die Verantwortlichkeit im Kriege (On Responsibility in War). His reform of the Austro-Hungarian Army was based on the Prussian model: development of railways and manufacturing, adoption of short-service conscription, procurement of modern weapons and reform of the Austro-Hungarian General Staff. Albrecht's program upgraded the army but he then froze it in place for the next three decades as it declined in quality. He fought liberals (including Crown Prince Rudolf) claiming their reforms would be too expensive and disruptive.

In public affairs, he was leader of the conservative Court Party, and opposed the ministry of Count Friedrich Ferdinand von Beust at every point, expressing the most inexorably reactionary views. As such he was an absolutist and opposed any liberal ideas and any weakening of the imperial power. He was somewhat more courteous to Beust's successors, though he remained given to bombastic pronouncements that may not have reflected his actual sentiments. He was widely thought, for instance, to be antipathetic toward Prussia after 1866, yet he modeled his military reforms on those of Prussia and even attended a parade of the Prussian Royal Guard in Berlin at the invitation of Emperor William I. In December 1876 Albrecht advocated a preventive war against Italy on the grounds that of all Austria's neighbors, Italy was the most hostile, could be beaten most easily, and be forced to pay compensation to Austria-Hungary, whose victory would establish it as a Great Power.

At the Congress of Berlin in 1878, the Austro-Hungarian Foreign Minister Gyula Andrássy, in addition to the Austro-Hungarian occupation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, also obtained the right to station garrisons in the Sanjak of Novi Pazar, which remained under Ottoman administration. The Sanjak preserved the separation of Serbia and Montenegro, and the Austro-Hungarian garrisons there would open the way for a dash to Salonika, supported by Albrecht, that "would bring the western half of the Balkans under permanent Austrian influence." "High military authorities desired immediate major expedition with Salonika as its objective."

On 28 September 1878 the Finance Minister, Koloman von Zell, threatened to resign if the army, behind which stood the Archduke Albert, were allowed to advance to Salonika. In the session of the Hungarian Parliament of 5 November 1878 the Opposition proposed that the Foreign Minister should be impeached for violating the constitution by his policy during the Near East Crisis and by the occupation of Bosnia-Herzegovina. The motion was lost by 179 to 95. By the Opposition rank and file the gravest accusations were raised against Andrassy.

Reputed to be the wealthiest of the Habsburgs, Albrecht owned some 300,000 acres (1,200 km) in Hungary. He also owned a fine collection of paintings and engravings, later the nucleus of the Albertina museum. His popularity was profound, for his generosity to the poor was genuine and unfeigned; he was widely known as Engelsherz (Angel's-heart).

When Albrecht was made a Feldmarschall in March 1888, Crown Prince Rudolf was appointed his subordinate as Generalinspekteur der Infanterie (Inspector General of Infantry). The new Inspector found any move toward liberal reform blocked by the War Minister, Feldzeugmeister Ferdinand von Bauer, the Chief of the General Staff, Feldzeugmeister Friedrich von Beck-Rzikowsky – and by Albrecht himself. Senior officers deferred to Albrecht who, after all, had laboriously modernized the Army after the disaster of 1866. However, the anomalous situation in the military administration was undoubtedly only one of many factors that contributed to Rudolf's suicide at Mayerling on 30 January 1889.

Later life

Statue of Archduke Albrecht outside the Albertina, Vienna

Having been made a Feldmarschall in his own army in 1863, Albrecht was the recipient of the equivalent rank of Generalfeldmarschall in the Imperial German Army in 1893, Wilhelm II, German Emperor sending General Walther von Loë to deliver the baton to Albrecht.

Archduke Albrecht continued to serve as Generalinspekteur even into advanced age - a situation not uncommon in Austria-Hungary where many commanders retained posts and commissions into old age. By 1895, though still holding his office, he was partially blind and his horse had to be led by an adjutant.

When he died in Arco on 18 February 1895, Archduke Albrecht received a state funeral and was buried in tomb 128 of the Imperial Crypt in Vienna. His fortune and his title of Duke of Teschen were inherited by his nephew, Archduke Friedrich, who served as Oberkommandeur in 1914–17.

Today, an equestrian statue of Archduke Albrecht stands near the entrance to the Albertina museum, his former city residence in Vienna.

Family and children

On 1 May 1844 Albrecht married in Munich Princess Hildegard of Bavaria, daughter of King Ludwig I and Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. Albrecht and Hildegard had 3 children:

Honours

Albrecht received the following decorations and awards:

Namesake

Albrecht's name was given to a Panzerschiff (armorclad, later battleship) launched in 1872 as Erzherzog Albrecht. Renamed Feuerspeier in 1908, she was ceded to Italy in 1920 and renamed Buttafuoco. The old ironclad survived as a hulk until she was scrapped in 1947.

Ancestry

Ancestors of Archduke Albrecht, Duke of Teschen
8. Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
4. Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor
9. Maria Theresa, Queen of Hungary
2. Archduke Charles, Duke of Teschen
10. Charles III of Spain
5. Infanta Maria Louisa of Spain
11. Princess Maria Amalia of Saxony
1. Archduke Albrecht, Duke of Teschen
12. Charles Christian, Prince of Nassau-Weilburg
6. Frederick William, Prince of Nassau-Weilburg
13. Princess Carolina of Orange-Nassau
3. Princess Henrietta of Nassau-Weilburg
14. Wilhelm Georg, Burgrave of Kirchberg
7. Burgravine Louise Isabella of Kirchberg
15. Princess Isabelle Auguste Reuss of Greiz

References

  1. John Keegan and Andrew Wheatcroft, Who's Who in Military History: From 1453 to the Present Day (2001) p, 12.
  2. Rothenburg 1976, p. 3.
  3. Rothenburg 1976, p. 23.
  4. Rothenburg 1976, p. 99.
  5. Albertini, Luigi (1952). The Origins of the War of 1914. Vol. I. Oxford University Press. p. 19.
  6. ^ Albertini, Luigi (1952). The Origins of the War of 1914. Vol. I. Oxford University Press. p. 33.
  7. ^ Rothenburg 1976, p. 122.
  8. Hof- und Staatshandbuch der Österreichisch-Ungarischen Monarchie (1895), Genealogy p. 8
  9. Hof- und Staatshandbuch der Österreichisch-Ungarischen Monarchie (1895), Orders of Knighthood pp. 62, 64-65
  10. Lehmann, Gustaf (1913). Die Ritter des Ordens pour le mérite 1812–1913 [The Knights of the Order of the Pour le Mérite] (in German). Vol. 2. Berlin: Ernst Siegfried Mittler & Sohn. p. 421.
  11. Italia : Ministero dell'interno (1884). Calendario generale del Regno d'Italia. Unione tipografico-editrice. p. 47.
  12. Jørgen Pedersen (2009). Riddere af Elefantordenen, 1559–2009 (in Danish). Syddansk Universitetsforlag. p. 472. ISBN 978-87-7674-434-2.
  13. "Real y distinguida orden de Carlos III". Guía Oficial de España (in Spanish). 1887. p. 149. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
  14. Hof- und Staats-Handbuch des Königreichs Bayern (in German). Königl. Oberpostamt. 1867. p. 9. Retrieved 2019-07-15.
  15. Sachsen (1866). Staatshandbuch für den Freistaat Sachsen: 1865/66. Heinrich. p. 4.
  16. Württemberg (1869). Hof- und Staats-Handbuch des Königreichs Württemberg: 1869. p. 32.
  17. Per Nordenvall (1998). "Kungl. Maj:ts Orden". Kungliga Serafimerorden: 1748–1998 (in Swedish). Stockholm. ISBN 91-630-6744-7.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  18. Ferdinand Veldekens (1858). Le livre d'or de l'ordre de Léopold et de la croix de fer. lelong. p. 174.
  19. Staat Hannover (1865). Hof- und Staatshandbuch für das Königreich Hannover: 1865. Berenberg. pp. 37, 76.
  20. Hof- und Staats-Handbuch des Großherzogtum Baden (1858), "Großherzogliche Orden" pp. 34, 48
  21. Hof- und Staats-Handbuch des Großherzogtum Hessen (1879), "Großherzogliche Orden und Ehrenzeichen" p. 10
  22. Staatshandbuch für das Großherzogtum Sachsen / Sachsen-Weimar-Eisenach (1869), "Großherzogliche Hausorden" p. 12 Archived 2020-06-08 at the Wayback Machine
  23. Staats- und Adreß-Handbuch des Herzogthums Nassau (1866), "Herzogliche Orden" p. 7
  24. "Militaire Willems-Orde: Österreich-Teschen, Albrecht Friedrich Rudolf Erzherzog von" [Military William Order: Austria-Teschen, Albert Frederick Rudolf Archduke of]. Ministerie van Defensie (in Dutch). 27 June 1856. Retrieved 12 March 2016.

Bibliography

  • "Death of Archduke Albrecht", The New York Times, 19 February 1895
  • Robert Gardiner (editorial director), Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. London: Conway Maritime Press, 1985. ISBN 0-85177-245-5
  • Robert A. Kann, A History of the Habsburg Empire 1526–1918. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1974.
  • George R. Marek, The Eagles Die: Franz Joseph, Elisabeth, and Their Austria. New York: Harper & Row, 1974. ISBN 978-0-246-10880-7
  • Frederic Morton, A Nervous Splendour. Vienna 1888–1889. London: The Folio Society, 2006 (first published in 1979).
  • Alan Palmer, Twilight of the Habsburgs. The life and times of the Emperor Francis Joseph. New York: Grove Press, 1994.
  • Rothenburg, G. (1976). The Army of Francis Joseph. West Lafayette: Purdue University Press.

See also

Archduke Albrecht, Duke of Teschen House of HabsburgBorn: 3 August 1817 Died: 18 February 1895
Titles of nobility
Preceded byArchduke Karl Duke of Teschen
1847–1895 		Succeeded byArchduke Friedrich
Austrian archdukes
Generations are numbered by male-line descent from the first archdukes. Later generations are included although Austrian titles of nobility were abolished in 1919.
1st generation
2nd generation
3rd generation
4th generation
5th generation
6th generation
7th generation
8th generation
9th generation
11th generation
12th generation
13th generation
14th generation
15th generation
16th generation
Habsburg
Tuscany
Palatines
of Hungary
17th generation
Descent of
Charles I
Tuscany
Palatines
18th generation
Charles
19th generation
Charles
  • S: also an infante of Spain
  • P: also an infante of Portugal
  • T: also a prince of Tuscany
  • M: also a prince of Modena
  • B: also a prince of Belgium
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