Carl Friedrich Heinrich Graf von Wylich und Lottum
Encyclopedia
Carl Friedrich Heinrich Graf von Wylich und Lottum (5 November 1767 – 14 February 1841), also called Graf Lottum (Count Lottum), was a Prussia
n infantry general
and minister of the State. He is the son of general Friedrich Wilhelm Graf von Wylich und Lottum and his wife.
and visited the Academie des Nobles, the principal educational establishment of the state, founded by Frederick the Great. On April 9, 1784 he became ensign
of the Infantry Regiment of Anhalt-Bernburg, and on October 26, 1786 lieutenant
. One year later, he was transferred to the newly formed fusilier battalion von Schenck, also stationed in Halle
. His battalion participated in the Dutch campaign of 1787. Shortly thereafter, as an ordonnance officer, he accompanied general Graf Schulenburg-Renert in the war against France. A fall from his horse in 1793 led to a fracture of his foot and rendered him unusable for field duties.
He was assigned as an assistant to the Upper War Collegium, where he remained, raising in his rank, until the treaty of Tilsit in 1807. In the same year he was assigned to hold the Report of Military Affairs in front of the king, which should prove to be deciding for his career. During this time, and until the report was passed on to von Scharnhorst, Frederick William III came to know and esteem Graf Lottum.
In his charge as counselor for the king and being the head of the Reorganization Committee, he used his influence to strengthen the conservative tendencies in the aristocracy of Prussia. He opposed the admission of officers of civic origin, and fought against the Landsturm
and the Städteordnung.
On December 16, 1808, Graf Lottum was reassigned as the head of the Military Economy Department. Then, he left the active military service with the title of Councillor of the State. This did not last long however, as he became general major on February 3, 1810.
In the war of 1812 against Russia, he was sent by the king to Warsaw
, to negotiate with Emperor Napoleon the right of passage through Prussian territories. In spring 1813 he was assigned to the Upper Governmental Commission, which had to lead most state affairs in the absence of the king.
In 1814 and 1815, Graf Lottum remained mostly in Paris
, to manage outstanding payments owed by France. After his return in 1817, he quit the army for a second time. In the following he led the financial affairs for the State Council, for a shorter time the external affairs and the financial affairs for the Ministry of the Interior.
On August 3, 1828, he was appointed General of the Infantry by the king.
Graf Lottum died in Berlin on February 14, 1841, shortly after his wife. He has been characterized as a hard-working, but gentle person without strong political ambitions.
Graf Lottum is an honorary citizen of the city of Berlin. The street Lottumstraße in the district Prenzlauer Berg
is named after him.
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Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
n infantry general
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
and minister of the State. He is the son of general Friedrich Wilhelm Graf von Wylich und Lottum and his wife.
Career
Graf Lottum was born in BerlinBerlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
and visited the Academie des Nobles, the principal educational establishment of the state, founded by Frederick the Great. On April 9, 1784 he became ensign
Ensign (rank)
Ensign is a junior rank of a commissioned officer in the armed forces of some countries, normally in the infantry or navy. As the junior officer in an infantry regiment was traditionally the carrier of the ensign flag, the rank itself acquired the name....
of the Infantry Regiment of Anhalt-Bernburg, and on October 26, 1786 lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
. One year later, he was transferred to the newly formed fusilier battalion von Schenck, also stationed in Halle
Halle, Saxony-Anhalt
Halle is the largest city in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt. It is also called Halle an der Saale in order to distinguish it from the town of Halle in North Rhine-Westphalia...
. His battalion participated in the Dutch campaign of 1787. Shortly thereafter, as an ordonnance officer, he accompanied general Graf Schulenburg-Renert in the war against France. A fall from his horse in 1793 led to a fracture of his foot and rendered him unusable for field duties.
He was assigned as an assistant to the Upper War Collegium, where he remained, raising in his rank, until the treaty of Tilsit in 1807. In the same year he was assigned to hold the Report of Military Affairs in front of the king, which should prove to be deciding for his career. During this time, and until the report was passed on to von Scharnhorst, Frederick William III came to know and esteem Graf Lottum.
In his charge as counselor for the king and being the head of the Reorganization Committee, he used his influence to strengthen the conservative tendencies in the aristocracy of Prussia. He opposed the admission of officers of civic origin, and fought against the Landsturm
Landsturm
German-speaking countries used the word Landsturm to refer to third-class infantry or militias.- 1813 :King Frederick William III of Prussia established the Prussian Landsturm as irregular military forces on 21 April 1813 by royal edict – the decree appeared in the preussische Gesetzesammlung...
and the Städteordnung.
On December 16, 1808, Graf Lottum was reassigned as the head of the Military Economy Department. Then, he left the active military service with the title of Councillor of the State. This did not last long however, as he became general major on February 3, 1810.
In the war of 1812 against Russia, he was sent by the king to Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
, to negotiate with Emperor Napoleon the right of passage through Prussian territories. In spring 1813 he was assigned to the Upper Governmental Commission, which had to lead most state affairs in the absence of the king.
In 1814 and 1815, Graf Lottum remained mostly in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, to manage outstanding payments owed by France. After his return in 1817, he quit the army for a second time. In the following he led the financial affairs for the State Council, for a shorter time the external affairs and the financial affairs for the Ministry of the Interior.
On August 3, 1828, he was appointed General of the Infantry by the king.
Graf Lottum died in Berlin on February 14, 1841, shortly after his wife. He has been characterized as a hard-working, but gentle person without strong political ambitions.
Graf Lottum is an honorary citizen of the city of Berlin. The street Lottumstraße in the district Prenzlauer Berg
Prenzlauer Berg
Prenzlauer Berg is a locality of Berlin, in the borough of Pankow.Until 2001, Prenzlauer Berg was a borough of Berlin; in that year it was included in the borough of Pankow....
is named after him.
Terminology note
- Regarding personal names, GrafGrafGraf is a historical German noble title equal in rank to a count or a British earl...
is a German title, translated as CountCountA count or countess is an aristocratic nobleman in European countries. The word count came into English from the French comte, itself from Latin comes—in its accusative comitem—meaning "companion", and later "companion of the emperor, delegate of the emperor". The adjective form of the word is...
, not a first or middle name. The feminine form is Grafin.
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Sources
- Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie, 1875-1912 - online version