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), best known for commanding the imperial army in 1866 in the Battle of Königgrätz against the Prussian army.
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[edit] Early years
Ludwig von Benedek was the son of a physician. He was trained at the Theresiana Military Academy in Vienna, from which he graduated seventh in his class. In 1822, he was assigned to the 27th infantry regiment of the Austrian Imperial Army. He was made a First Lieutenant in 1833, and was assigned to the Quartermaster-General. In 1835, he was promoted to the rank of Captain.
In 1840 he was made a Major and aide to the General Commander at Galizien. While still serving at Galizien 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 Colonel.
[edit] Commander in Italy
In August 1847, Benedek was entrusted with the command of the 33rd infantry regiment in Italy. On 5 April 1848 he took over the command of a newly formed brigade that consisted of two battalions. This brigade saw battle in the first Italian war of independence several times, notably at Curtatone in 1848. The following day, Benedek led his troops in the Battle of Goito.
He was afterwards awarded the Commanders' Cross of the Order of Leopold, and 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
In 1849, Benedek was sent to Hungary. Leading troops in the Battle of Raab, he was instrumental in striking down the rebellion. At another battle in Szony he was seriously wounded. He was given the Military Merit Cross and made Regimental Colonel. Benedek was made a Field Marshal as well as Chief of Staff to Radetzky in Italy.
He was promoted to Field Marshal 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, Benedek was Commander General of the VIIITH army corps in the Second Italian War of Independence. On May 27, 1859, he was promoted to the rank of Feldzeugmeister, second in command of the entire Austrian Army. On 24 June, under the command of the young Emperor Franz Joseph I, he fought in the Battle of Solferino against the Französi troops of the Emperor Napoleon III.
Benedek was attacked on the right flank by the entire army of King Victor Emmanuel II of Piedmont-Sardinia, just a few kilometers north of Solferino in the Battle of San Martino. The Austrian units threw the Piedmontese back at first and were able to hold their ground. In the meantime Franz Joseph was defeated at Solferino and Benedek aided his retreat to San Martino.
The Austrians were defeated. Benedek was appointed Chief of the General Quartermaster Staff on January 31, 1860, and to the Governorship of Hungary in April.
On October 20, 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 14, 1862.
[edit] Battle of Königgrätz
At the outbreak of the Austro-Prussian War in 1866, Benedek was made the Commander in Chief of the Northern Army. Benedek had previously declined the appointment three times, claiming that he knew neither the terrain in the north nor the enemy. Prussia's superior squib rifles could fire a round faster than the Austrians, and provided an advantage to that side.
The Battle of Königgrätz marked a turning point in military history. Surprised by rapid advance of Prussia, Benedek separated his troops. He was attacked by the army of the Prussian Crown Prince Friedrich William, which invaded Böhmen.
On July 3, 1866, the decisive battle of this war was fought at Königgrätz. The Austrian army faced a great loss, and to all intents and purposes lost the war.
[edit] Loss of command
This placed Emperor Franz Joseph I in a difficult position. There was extensive demand for the blame for the defeat to be placed on Benedek. Benedek resigned the Commander-in-Chiefship at Pressburg on July 26, 1866. The highest military law senate imposed a court martial against him and was to investigate of the battle. This was stopped by the instruction of the emperor.
Benedek was ordered never to speak about the circumstances of the defeat. When a scathing article in the Wiener-Zeitung on December 8, 1866 blamed him alone for the catastrophe, he had no right to reply.
The former first soldier of the Empire lived for another fifteen years in quiet retirement at Graz, and died there on April 27, 1881.
