Ludwig August, Ritter von Benedek
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Ludwig August ritter von Benedek (* 14 July 1804 in Ödenburg, Hungary; † 27 April 1881 in Graz) was an Austrian general (Feldzeugmeister). He commanded the imperial army in 1866 in battle of Königgrätz against the Prussian army.
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[edit] Early years
Ludwig von Benedek was the son of a physician and was trained at the Theresiana military academy in Viennese new city. He graduated seventh in seniority and was assigned to the 27th infantry regiment in 1822. He was made a first lieutenant in 1833 when he was assigned to be quartermaster generals and than made captin in 1835. In 1840 he was made a Major and aide to the general commander at Galizien. While still serving there he was again promoted to lieutenant colonel in 1843. For suppressing an uprising in the town of Gdow in 1846 he was awarded the Knights' Cross of the Order of Leopold as well as given the rank of Colonels.
[edit] Commander in Italy
In August 1847 Benedek was entrusted with the command of the 33rd infantry regiment in Italy called Gyulai. On 5 April 1848 he took over the command of a newly formed brigade that consisted of two battalions. This brigade drew battle in the first Italian war of independence several times, in particular at Curtatone in 1848. In the following day he participated in the Battle of Goito. For these battles he was awarded the Commanders' Cross of the Order of Leopold as well as the Knights' Cross of the Military Order of Maria Theresa. This officially made Benedek a knight (hence Ludwig Ritter von Benedek). On April 3, 1849 he became major general and was appointed to the Staff of the Chief of quartermaster general with the 2nd Army in Italy.
[edit] Hungarian Rebellion
With the Hungarian Rebellion in 1849 Benedek was ordered to the army in Hungary and participated in the battle of Raab and struck down the insurgent rebellion. At another battle in the Hungarian rebellion at Szony he was severely wounded. In honor of this he was given the Military Merit Cross and made Regimental Colonel. Benedek was made a field marshall as well as Chief of Staff to Radetzky in Italy. He was promoted to field marshall second lieutenant in 1852 and when Radetzky retired in 1857 Benedek became the commander of the II army corps.
[edit] Battle of San Martino/Solferino
In early 1859 Ludwig von Benedek participated as Commander General of the VIIITH army corps in the Second Italian War of Independence. On May 27, 1859 he became field things masters (corresponded in the Austrian army to the second highest rank after general field marshal). On 24 June under the command of the young emperor Franz Joseph I the bloody battle of Solferino against the troops französi of the emperor Napoleon III. Ludwig von Benedek was attacked on the right flank by the entire army of king Viktor Emanuels II. of Piedmont-Sardinia just a few kilometers north of Solferino in the battle of San Martino. The Austrian units threw the Piemont esen back at first and were able to hold their ground. In the meantime Franz Josephs I was defeated at Solferino and Benedek had to help aid their retreat to San Martino which was still going on. Eventually the Austrians had to admit defeat and retreated after the epic battle. Advanced to the rank of Feldzeugmeister on November 27, 1859 he was appointed Chief of the General Quartermaster Staff on January 31st, 1860 followed by the Governorship of Hungary in April. On October 20th, 1860 he assumed command of the Austrian forces in Lombardy-Venetia, Carinthia, Carniola, the Tyrol and the Adriatic Coastland and was awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of Leopold with War Decoration on January 14th, 1862.
[edit] Battle of Königgrätz
Benedek's past achievements he had acquired such confidence and such popularity that with the outbreak of the Austro-Prussian War in 1866 he was made the commander in chief of the northern army. Benedek had denied the appointment three times, since he knew neither the terrain in the north nor the enemy, finally however he accepted it. The superior squib rifles provided Prussia a large advantage, since they could fire a round faster than the Austrians. Battle of Königgrätz marked a turning point in military history. Surprised by rapid penetrating Prussia, he committed the error to separating his troops; he was opposed furthermore by the army of the Prussian Crown Prince Friedrich William with the invasion into Böhmen. On July 3rd, 1866 at the decisive battle of this war was fought at Königgrätz. Here the Austrian army faced a great loss in which that could not recover, and for all intents and purposes was the final large battle of the war.
[edit] Loss of Command
This placed Emperor Franz Josephs I in a difficult position after being greatly weakened by the defeat at Königgrätz there was high demand for blame to be placed on Benedek. He relinquished control as Command at Pressburg on July 26th 11866. The highest military law senate imposed a war judicial against him and was to do an investigation of the battle. This was stopped however by the instruction of the emperor. In return he was ordered to silence about the circumstances of the defeat. He was therefore mortified when a scathing article in the Wiener-Zeitung on December 8th held him alone responsible for the catastrophe and he had no right to reply. The once first soldier of the Empire lived for another fifteen years in quiet retirement at Graz and died there on April 27th 1881.
