Count Wirich Philipp von Daun
Encyclopedia
Count Wirich Philipp von Daun (19 October 1669 – 30 July 1741) was an Austrian Field Marshal
in the War of Spanish Succession, and father of the better known Leopold Josef Graf Daun
.
He was born in Vienna to Wilhelm Graf Daun, also a Field Marshal. Wirich served in the War of Spanish Succession under Eugene of Savoy, and gained his glory in the successful defence of Turin
in 1706. He also laid siege to
and conquered Gaeta
on 30 September 1707.
After the war, in 1713 he became first Austrian Viceroy of Naples. In 1718 he lost the Battle of Milazzo
during the War of the Quadruple Alliance
, when Spain invaded neighbouring Sicily.
From February until October 1725 he was interim Governor of the Habsburg Netherlands. He was to prepare the arrival of the new governor Archduchess Maria Elisabeth of Austria
, sister of emperor Charles VI. The situation in the Austrian Netherlands was very difficult after the mismanagement by the previous plenipotentiary minister Hercule-Louis Turinetti, marquis of Prié
. Daun profited from the positive atmosphere resulting from the departure of Prié. He enforced a reform of the military organisation and administration in the Southern Netherlands, in which he incorporated the existing 'Belgian' army into the imperial forces.
From 1725 until 1736 he was Governor of Milan
.
Von Daun died at Vienna, and was buried in the Georgskapelle of the Augustinerkirche
, together with his son.
Field Marshal
Field Marshal is a military rank. Traditionally, it is the highest military rank in an army.-Etymology:The origin of the rank of field marshal dates to the early Middle Ages, originally meaning the keeper of the king's horses , from the time of the early Frankish kings.-Usage and hierarchical...
in the War of Spanish Succession, and father of the better known Leopold Josef Graf Daun
Leopold Josef Graf Daun
Count Leopold Joseph von Daun , later Prince of Thiano, Austrian field marshal, was born at Vienna, as son of Count Wirich Philipp von Daun.- Background :...
.
He was born in Vienna to Wilhelm Graf Daun, also a Field Marshal. Wirich served in the War of Spanish Succession under Eugene of Savoy, and gained his glory in the successful defence of Turin
Battle of Turin
The Siege of Turin was undertaken by the Duke of Orléans and Marshal de la Feuillade between May and September 1706 against the Savoyard city of Turin during the War of the Spanish Succession...
in 1706. He also laid siege to
Siege of Gaeta (1707)
The siege of Gaeta was a three-month siege of the Italian city of Gaeta in 1707 by Austrian forces under Wirich Philipp von Daun, during the War of the Spanish Succession. It ended on 30 September with the total destruction of the city's historic fortifications....
and conquered Gaeta
Gaeta
Gaeta is a city and comune in the province of Latina, in Lazio, central Italy. Set on a promontory stretching towards the Gulf of Gaeta, it is 120 km from Rome and 80 km from Naples....
on 30 September 1707.
After the war, in 1713 he became first Austrian Viceroy of Naples. In 1718 he lost the Battle of Milazzo
Battle of Milazzo (1718)
The Battle of Milazzo was fought on October 15, 1718 near the city of Milazzo in Sicily, Italy between Spain and Austria as part of the War of the Quadruple Alliance.-Context:...
during the War of the Quadruple Alliance
War of the Quadruple Alliance
The War of the Quadruple Alliance was a result of the ambitions of King Philip V of Spain, his wife, Elisabeth Farnese, and his chief minister Giulio Alberoni to retake territories in Italy and to claim the French throne. It saw the defeat of Spain by an alliance of Britain, France, Austria , and...
, when Spain invaded neighbouring Sicily.
From February until October 1725 he was interim Governor of the Habsburg Netherlands. He was to prepare the arrival of the new governor Archduchess Maria Elisabeth of Austria
Archduchess Maria Elisabeth of Austria
Archduchess Maria Elisabeth of Austria may refer to:* Archduchess Maria Elisabeth of Austria * Archduchess Maria Elisabeth of Austria...
, sister of emperor Charles VI. The situation in the Austrian Netherlands was very difficult after the mismanagement by the previous plenipotentiary minister Hercule-Louis Turinetti, marquis of Prié
Hercule-Louis Turinetti, marquis of Prié
Hercule-Louis Turinetti, marquis of Prié , was interim Governor of the Habsburg Netherlands between 1716 and 1724....
. Daun profited from the positive atmosphere resulting from the departure of Prié. He enforced a reform of the military organisation and administration in the Southern Netherlands, in which he incorporated the existing 'Belgian' army into the imperial forces.
From 1725 until 1736 he was Governor of Milan
Governors of the Duchy of Milan
The Governor of Milan ruled the Duchy of Milan as a representative of the King of Spain and the Archduke of Austria and...
.
Von Daun died at Vienna, and was buried in the Georgskapelle of the Augustinerkirche
Augustinerkirche
The Augustinian Church in Vienna is a parish church located on Josefsplatz, next to the Hofburg, the winter palace of the Habsburg dynasty in Vienna. Originally built in the 14th century as the parish church of the imperial court of the Habsburgs, the harmonious Gothic interior was added in the...
, together with his son.