Archduke Leopold Ludwig of Austria
Encyclopedia
Archduke Leopold Ludwig of Austria (German: Leopold Ludwig Maria Franz Julius Estorgius Gerhard Erzherzog von Ósterreich) (b. Milan 6 June 1823 - d. Hórnstein 24 May 1898) was an Austrian general and admiral who served as Oberkommandant der Marine ('High Commander of the Navy') from 1864 to 1868.
(1783–1853) and Princess Elisabeth of Savoy (1800–1856) and a grandson of Emperor Leopold II
. Rainer was born in 1823 in Milan
, where his father served as Viceroy of Lombardy-Venetia from 1818 to 1848. A younger brother, Archduke Rainer Ferdinand (1827–1913), served as Austrian Minister President from 1859 to 1861. Leopold followed his father in a military career, attaining the rank of Feldmarschall-leutnant (lieutenant general) in the Austrian Army.
When Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian was preparing to accept the throne of Mexico
in March 1864, Emperor Franz Josef I sent Leopold to Miramar to induce Maximilian to sign the Act of Renunciation. The two cousins had never been on friendly terms, and Maximilian viewed Leopold as one of the archdukes who would benefit from the renunciation of his hereditary rights in Austria. Maximilian delayed signing the 'Family Compact', as it was called, until the visit of Franz Josef to Miramar on 9 April 1864.
Undoubtedly to Maximilian's chagrin and irritation, Leopold was named his successor as Oberkommandant der Marine with the rank of Vizeadmiral (vice admiral) in April 1864.
During Leopold's tenure as administrative head of the Navy, two notable sea battles were fought by Austrian forces under Wilhelm von Tegetthoff
. On 9 May 1864 Austrian and Prussian warships clashed with a Danish squadron off Helgoland in the North Sea
; although tactically indecisive, the battle achieved Tegetthoff's objective of causing the Danish squadron to lift its blockade of the Weser and Elbe
ports.
In the second action, on 20 July 1866 a weaker Austrian squadron under Tegetthoff fell upon and decisively defeated a powerful Italian squadron off the island of Lissa (now Vis
) in the Adriatic.
.svg.png)
Owing to rapid developments in technology and the need to study the lessons of the Battle of Lissa
, ships already under construction when Leopold took office in 1864 were completed but only two major vessels were begun during his tenure: the central battery ironclad Lissa and the screw sloop Helgoland, both laid down in 1867.
With the organization of the Dual Monarchy
in 1867, the naval service was reconstituted as the Austro-Hungarian Navy
. Leopold was succeeded as head of the Navy in March 1868 by Tegetthoff, who received the new title of Kommandant der Marine ('Commander of the Navy').
Tegetthoff was also named to the new post of Chef der Marinesektion (Chief of the Naval Section) of the Imperial War Ministry.
Leopold never married, and after stepping down as head of the Navy he faded into obscurity. He died at Hörnstein
on 24 May 1898.
Life
He was the eldest son of Archduke Rainer of AustriaArchduke Rainer of Austria
Rainer Joseph of Austria was a Viceroy of the Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia from 1818 to 1848. He was also an Archduke of Austria, Prince Royal of Hungary and Bohemia.-Biography:...
(1783–1853) and Princess Elisabeth of Savoy (1800–1856) and a grandson of Emperor Leopold II
Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor
Leopold II , born Peter Leopold Joseph Anton Joachim Pius Gotthard, was Holy Roman Emperor and King of Hungary and Bohemia from 1790 to 1792, Archduke of Austria and Grand Duke of Tuscany from 1765 to 1790. He was a son of Emperor Francis I and his wife, Empress Maria Theresa...
. Rainer was born in 1823 in Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
, where his father served as Viceroy of Lombardy-Venetia from 1818 to 1848. A younger brother, Archduke Rainer Ferdinand (1827–1913), served as Austrian Minister President from 1859 to 1861. Leopold followed his father in a military career, attaining the rank of Feldmarschall-leutnant (lieutenant general) in the Austrian Army.
When Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian was preparing to accept the throne of Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
in March 1864, Emperor Franz Josef I sent Leopold to Miramar to induce Maximilian to sign the Act of Renunciation. The two cousins had never been on friendly terms, and Maximilian viewed Leopold as one of the archdukes who would benefit from the renunciation of his hereditary rights in Austria. Maximilian delayed signing the 'Family Compact', as it was called, until the visit of Franz Josef to Miramar on 9 April 1864.
Undoubtedly to Maximilian's chagrin and irritation, Leopold was named his successor as Oberkommandant der Marine with the rank of Vizeadmiral (vice admiral) in April 1864.
During Leopold's tenure as administrative head of the Navy, two notable sea battles were fought by Austrian forces under Wilhelm von Tegetthoff
Wilhelm von Tegetthoff
Wilhelm von Tegetthoff was an Austrian admiral. Considered one of the prominent naval commanders of the 19th century, Tegetthoff was known for his innovative tactics as well as his inspirational leadership....
. On 9 May 1864 Austrian and Prussian warships clashed with a Danish squadron off Helgoland in the North Sea
North Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
; although tactically indecisive, the battle achieved Tegetthoff's objective of causing the Danish squadron to lift its blockade of the Weser and Elbe
Elbe
The Elbe is one of the major rivers of Central Europe. It rises in the Krkonoše Mountains of the northwestern Czech Republic before traversing much of Bohemia , then Germany and flowing into the North Sea at Cuxhaven, 110 km northwest of Hamburg...
ports.
In the second action, on 20 July 1866 a weaker Austrian squadron under Tegetthoff fell upon and decisively defeated a powerful Italian squadron off the island of Lissa (now Vis
Vis (island)
Vis is the most outerly lying larger Croatian island in the Adriatic Sea, and is part of the Central Dalmatian group of islands, with an area of 90.26 km² and a population of 3,617 . Of all the inhabited Croatian islands, it is the farthest from the coast...
) in the Adriatic.
Battle of Lissa (1866)
The Battle of Lissa took place on 20 July 1866 in the Adriatic Sea near the Dalmatian island of Lissa and was a decisive victory for an outnumbered Austrian Empire force over a superior Italian force...
, ships already under construction when Leopold took office in 1864 were completed but only two major vessels were begun during his tenure: the central battery ironclad Lissa and the screw sloop Helgoland, both laid down in 1867.
With the organization of the Dual Monarchy
Dual monarchy
Dual monarchy occurs when two separate kingdoms are ruled by the same monarch, follow the same foreign policy, exist in a customs union with each other and have a combined military but are otherwise self-governing...
in 1867, the naval service was reconstituted as the Austro-Hungarian Navy
Austro-Hungarian Navy
The Austro-Hungarian Navy was the naval force of Austria-Hungary. Its official name in German was Kaiserliche und Königliche Kriegsmarine , abbreviated as k.u.k. Kriegsmarine....
. Leopold was succeeded as head of the Navy in March 1868 by Tegetthoff, who received the new title of Kommandant der Marine ('Commander of the Navy').
Tegetthoff was also named to the new post of Chef der Marinesektion (Chief of the Naval Section) of the Imperial War Ministry.
Leopold never married, and after stepping down as head of the Navy he faded into obscurity. He died at Hörnstein
Hornstein, Austria
Hornstein is a town in the district of Eisenstadt-Umgebung in Burgenland in Austria....
on 24 May 1898.
Ancestry
See also
- Austro-Hungarian NavyAustro-Hungarian NavyThe Austro-Hungarian Navy was the naval force of Austria-Hungary. Its official name in German was Kaiserliche und Königliche Kriegsmarine , abbreviated as k.u.k. Kriegsmarine....