Hans Ernst Karl, Graf von Zieten

Hans Ernst Karl, Graf[1] von Zieten (5 March 1770 – 3 May 1848[2])[3][4] was an officer in the Prussian Army during the Napoleonic Wars.

Zieten was born in Dechtow in the Margraviate of Brandenburg; he was not related to the Frederician general Hans Joachim von Zieten.[2]

During the Waterloo Campaign of 1815, Lieutenant-General von Zieten commanded the Prussian I Corps. The corps fought a holding action against the French on 15 June, and was heavily engaged against the French the next day at the Battle of Ligny, and then again two days later on June 18 at the Battle of Waterloo.[5]

On 1 June, Zieten's I Corps participated in the Battle of Issy just outside the walls of Paris. At the end of the campaign on 7 June, his corps was granted the honour of being the first major Coalition force to enter Paris.[6]

King Frederick William III of Prussia granted Zieten the title of Graf, or count, on 3 September 1817.[2] At the age of 69, he was promoted to Generalfeldmarschall on 9 September 1839.[2] Zieten died in Warmbrunn.

References and notes

  1. ^ Regarding personal names: Graf was a title, translated as Count, not a first or middle name. The female form is Gräfin. In Germany, however, since 1919 Graf is no title any more but part of the surname, thus following the given name(s) and not to be translated.
  2. ^ a b c d Epoche-Napoleon.net. "Hans Karl Friedrich Ernst Graf von Zieten". (German)
  3. ^ Decorations and Awards: Awards of the ‘Pour le Merite’ to Prussian General Officers 1792-1815 The Napoleon Series
  4. ^ Regarding personal names: Graf was a title, translated as Count, not a first or middle name. The female form is Gräfin. In Germany, however, since 1919 Graf is no title any more but part of the surname, thus following the given name(s) and not to be translated.
  5. ^ Encyclopaedia Britannica Eleventh Edition Waterloo Campaign
  6. ^ Prussian Army During the Napoleonic Wars: The Race to Paris