Paul Kray

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Paul Kray
Feldzeugmeister
Battles / wars

Baron Paul Kray of

Austro–Turkish War (1787–1791), and the French Revolutionary Wars. He was born in Késmárk, Upper Hungary (today: Kežmarok, Slovakia
).

He withdrew from military service temporarily in 1792 because of poor health, but in 1793, he was recalled to the Habsburg military in the Netherlands at the request of Field Marshal Prince Coburg and fought in the Flanders Campaign.

In 1799 he was appointed commander of the Austrian forces in Italy and

Archduke John; Kray was discharged on 28 August 1800 and retired to Pest, Hungary
. He died there on 19 January 1804. For all his victories, for his fierce competitiveness on the battlefield, the French soldiers referred to him as Le terrible Kray, le fils cher de la victoire and men from both sides attended his funeral in 1804.

Biography

Early career

Kray was born in Késmárk, Upper Hungary (today: Kežmarok, Slovakia). He was educated in mathematical and other military sciences in Schemnitz and Vienna.[1]

Entering the Austrian army at the age of nineteen in 1754 in the Infantry Regiment 31 "Hallerstein" and fought in the

Austro-Turkish War of 1787 to 1791 he saw active service at Petrozsény and the Vulcan Pass.[3]

War of the First Coalition

Promoted

courts-martial found him guilty and sentenced him to two weeks arrest. He requested to resign in protest but this was denied.[6]

War of the Second Coalition

Kray commanded in

Heinrich Bellegarde.[7] On 6 November, he was defeated by the French in a second clash at Novi Ligure.[8]

The following year he commanded on the Rhine against

Emperor Francis II and dismissed from the service. Kray's successor, Archduke John of Austria was disastrously defeated at the Battle of Hohenlinden in December.[9]

Thoroughly discredited and personally demoralized, the once respected general retired to his estates to live out his life in exile. Austrian society could be cruel to its losers. When the Habsburg officer corps shunned him, he was left almost friendless, the memories of his fine service during the Seven Years' War vanished. Later Archduke Charles would write Kray a flattering letter explaining that the boorish behavior directed toward him stemmed from envy over his previous victories.[10]

Kray died in Pest, Hungary on 19 January 1804.[11]

Commentary

Kray was one of the best representatives of the old Austrian army. Tied to an obsolete system, and unable, from habit, to realize the changed conditions of warfare, he failed, but his enemies held him in the highest respect as a brave, skillful, and chivalrous opponent. It was he who, at

Marceau (1796), and the white uniforms of Kray and his staff mingled with the blue of the French in the funeral procession of the young general of the Republic.[12]

References

  1. ^ Smith, Digby. Paul Kray. Napoleon Series Research Biographies, Compiled by Leopold Kudrna.
  2. ^ Smith, Paul Kray.
  3. ^ a b c d e f  One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Kray von Krajova, Paul, Freiherr". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 15 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 925.
  4. ^ Rickard, J. (2009). "Combat of Uckerath, 19 June 1796". historyofwar.org. Retrieved 15 Oct 2014.
  5. ^ Smith, Paul Kray.
  6. ^ Smith, Paul Kray.
  7. ^ Smith, p 163
  8. ^ Smith, p 173
  9. ^ Smith, Paul Kray.
  10. ^ James Arnold, Marengo & Hohenlinden. Barnsley, South Yorkshire, UK:p 203
  11. ^ Smith, Paul Kray.
  12. ^ Chisholm 1911, p. 925.

Sources

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Paul_Kray&oldid=1252494720"