Johann von Werth

Johann von Werth, imperial general of cavalry

Count Johann von Werth (1591 – 16 January 1652), also Jan von Werth or in French Jean de Werth, was a German general of cavalry in the Thirty Years' War.

Biography

Werth was born in 1591 at Büttgen in the Duchy of Jülich as the eldest son with eight more brothers and sisters. His parents (Johann von Wierdt († 1606) and Elisabeth Streithoven). He belonged to the numerous class of the lesser nobility, and at an early age he left home to follow the career of a soldier of fortune in the Walloon cavalry of the Spanish service. In 1622, at the taking of Jülich, he won promotion to the rank of lieutenant. He served as a colonel of cavalry in the Bavarian army in 1630. He obtained the command of a regiment, both titular and effective, in 1632, and in 1633 and 1634 laid the foundations of his reputation as a swift and terrible leader of cavalry forays. His services were even more conspicuous in the great pitched Battle of Nördlingen (1634), after which the emperor made him a Freiherr of the Empire, and the elector of Bavaria gave him the rank of lieutenant field-marshal. About this time he armed his regiment with the musket as well as the sword. [1]

Johann von Werth as burgrave (governor) of Odenkirchen, oil on canvas

In 1635 and 1636 Werth's forays extended into Lorraine and Luxembourg, after which he projected an expedition into the heart of France. Starting in July 1636, from the country of the lower Meuse, he raided far and wide, and even urged the cardinal infante, who commanded in chief, to "plant the double eagle on the Louvre".[1] Though this was not attempted. Worth's horsemen appeared at Saint-Denis before the uprising of the French national spirit in the shape of an army of fifty thousand men at Compiègne forced the invaders to retire whence they had come. The memory of this raid lasted long, and the name of "Jean de Wert" figures in folk-songs and serves as a bogey to quiet unruly children.[1]

In 1637 Werth was once more in the Rhine valley, destroying convoys, relieving besieged towns and surprising the enemy's camps. In February 1638 he defeated the Weimar troops in an engagement at Rheinfelden, but shortly afterwards was made prisoner by Bernhard of Saxe-Weimar. His hopes of being exchanged for the Swedish field marshal Gustaf Horn were disappointed for Bernhard had to deliver up his captive to the French. The terrible Jean de Wert was brought to Paris, amidst great rejoicings from the country people. He was lionized by the society of the capital, visited in prison by high ladies, who marvelled at his powers of drinking and his devotion to tobacco. So light was his captivity that he said that nothing bound him but his word of honour. However, he looked forward with anxiety for his release, which was delayed until March 1642 because the imperial government feared to see Horn at the head of the Swedish army and would not allow an exchange.[1]

When at last Werth reappeared in the field it was as general of cavalry in the imperial and Bavarian and Cologne services. His first campaign against the French marshal Guebriant was uneventful, but his second (1643) in which Baron Franz von Mercy was his commander-in-chief, ended with the victory of Tuttlingen, a surprise on a large scale, in which Werth naturally played the leading part. In 1644 he was in the lower Rhine country, but he returned to Mercy's headquarters in time to take a brilliant share in the battle of Freiburg. In the following year his resolution and bravery, and also his uncontrolled rashness, played the most conspicuous part in deciding the day at the second battle of Nördlingen. Mercy was killed in this action, and Werth succeeded to the command of the defeated army, but he was soon superseded by Field-marshal Geleen. Werth was disappointed, but remained thoroughly loyal to his soldierly code of honour, and found an outlet for his anger in renewed military activity.[1]

In 1647 differences arose between the elector and the emperor as to the allegiance due from the Bavarian troops, in which, after long hesitation, Werth, fearing that the cause of the Empire and of the Catholic religion would be ruined if the elector resumed control of the troops, attempted to take his men over the Austrian border. But they refused to follow and, escaping with great difficulty from the elector's vengeance, Werth found a refuge in Austria. The emperor was grateful for his conduct in this affair, ordered the elector to rescind his ban, and made Werth a count.[1] The last campaign of the war (1648) was uneventful, and shortly after its close he retired to live on the estates which he had bought in the course of his career, and on one of these, Benatek 40 kilometres (25 mi) NE of Prague in Bohemia, a gift from the emperor, he died on 16 of January 1652,[1] and was buried in the church of Nativity of the Virgin Mary in Benátky.

Johann von Werth memorial in Cologne
The Legend of Jan and Jriet at the St. Severinus City Gate of Cologne
Johann von Werth (right) among the statues of the (currently) 125 most important people from 64 b. C. till A. D. 1985 at the Cologne City Hall

Legend of Jan and Jriet

A vita like Johann von Werth's was uncommon at his time which likely supported the rise of a legend popular in the Rhineland and Cologne:

Jan was a poor Farmworker. He fell in love with a Maid, Jriet. Believing, they were too poor for a marriage, or wanting to wait for a wealthier bridegroom, she declined his pledge. In a depressed mood he followed a foreign drafter, became a soldier, and with luck, strength, and courage, became a victorious general and was eventually knighted. Having conquered Feast Hermannstein, he returned to Cologne triumphantly. Coming through the St. Severin Gate, he found his former love Jriet at a market selling cheap pottery (or fruit). He rode there, stepped down, and bowing with his hat in his hand, said: "Jriet, wo had done it!" She replied: "Jan, who could (did) know it!" He turned his horse, and rode away.

The Legend exists in a variety of versions and is attributed to different places. Several recorded versions are available including one sung by he rock band BAP on their 2001 LP, Aff un zo (Colognian (Kölsch) pronunciation: [ˈafʊnˌtsoˑ]). Both Cologne and Düsseldorf host annual performances or reenactments of the legend in the carnival and have large traditional carnival cavalry regiments dedicated to Johann von Werth since centuries.

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Chisholm 1911, p. 524.

References

Attribution

External links