Hans Albrecht von Barfus

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Hans Albrecht von Barfus
Hans Albrecht von Barfus (copper engraving)
Born1635
Died27 December 1704(1704-12-27) (aged 68–69)
NationalityBrandenburg
Kingdom of Prussia
Occupation(s)Field marshal, prime minister
Known forBrief service as Brandenburg prime minister; military victories

Hans Albrecht von Barfus (1635 – 27 December 1704) was a field marshal in the service of Brandenburg and Prussia, serving briefly as prime minister under King Frederick I.

Military career

Barfus was born in 1635 to a cuirassier captain

Elector of Brandenburg, quickly rose through the ranks, eventually being granted a colonelcy. By the time of the battle of Vienna he was a major-general, and served under King John
of Poland during that campaign.

When the Elector died,

von Schoning. The argument resulted in both men drawing their swords,[1] but they were, with some difficulty, separated before either was injured. The Elector ordered the arrest of both men, and Schoning was dismissed from the army.[1]

Despite the slight damage to his reputation caused by the incident, Barfus was given command of a Brandenburg contingent assigned to an Austrian army invading Ottoman Turk territory. Despite suffering heavy losses, the German forces defeated the Turks, and Barfus was promoted to field marshal.

Prime minister

Barfus held several commands during the later part of the decade, including leading a detachment sent to secure the borders with Poland in the aftermath of the death of that nation's king. In 1699, with the fall from grace of his political ally Eberhard von Danckelmann, he was first made Governor of Berlin and then de facto prime minister, with authority over military, political, and financial affairs.[1]

Barfus, considered to be incorruptible,

King of Prussia, Barfus traveled with him as the army representative. He was, also, in 1701 granted the Black Eagle
, the highest Prussian military award at the time.

References

  1. ^ a b c d (in German) Hans Albrecht von Barfus. Retrieved November 26, 2010.[circular reference]
  2. ^ (in German) Druckansicht – Projekt Gutenberg-DE – Kultur – SPIEGEL ONLINE – Nachrichten. Retrieved November 26, 2010.