František Zach
Encyclopedia
František Aleksandr Zach (ˈfrancɪʃɛk ˈzax; ; May 1, 1807 – January 14, 1892) was a Czech-born soldier
and military theorist
, best known for being the first acting General
and Chief of the General Staff
to the Principality of Serbia from 1876 to 1877.
Zach was known for being a flamboyant freedom fighter and Pan-Slavist
, fighting in both the November Uprising
in Poland
of 1830, as well as in Serbia during the latter half of the 19th century. He played a vital role in the formation of the Načertanije
in 1844, which later served as a guideline for the unification of Serbs
divided by Ottoman
and Austria-Hungary
rule.
, in the Margraviate of Moravia, then part of the Austrian Empire
. In 1824 he graduated from the German gymnasium in Brno and studied law
in Vienna
, which he later graduated and subsequently worked as a clerk in numerous locations across Moravia.
He fought on the side of the Polish insurgents during the uprising against the Russians
in 1830. Following the uprising, he spent some time in France
practicing military theory
, afterwords leaving for Serbia to fight in the independence wars. He was present on the 1848 all-Slavic convocation in Prague as a member of the Czech and Slovak
delegation.
Upon returning to Belgrade
in 1849, Zach founded the Belgrade Military Academy
and worked there for an extensive amount of time. He was also the supervisor, as well as a tutor
at the Belgrade artillery
school. Later on, he became the military advisor for prince Mihailo Obrenović, who later gave Zach the commission of General. Zach was historically the first modern Serbian general to have a full military commission, and the first Czech ever to reach such a high commission whilst serving abroad. He was heavily wounded and lost his leg in 1876 while fighting against the Turks.
Zach died in Brno in 1892 after retiring from a long military career. A street in Brno was named after him in his honor.
Soldier
A soldier is a member of the land component of national armed forces; whereas a soldier hired for service in a foreign army would be termed a mercenary...
and military theorist
Military theory
Military theory is the analysis of normative behavior and trends in military affairs and military history, beyond simply describing events in war and military theories, especially since the influence of Clausewitz in the nineteenth century attempt to encapsulate the complex cultural, political and...
, best known for being the first acting 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 Chief of the General Staff
Chief of the General Staff (Serbia)
The Chief of the General Staff is the Chief of the General Staff of the Military of Serbia. He is appointed by the President of Serbia, who is the commander-in-chief. The position dates to the period of the Principality of Serbia The current Chief of the General Staff is Lt...
to the Principality of Serbia from 1876 to 1877.
Zach was known for being a flamboyant freedom fighter and Pan-Slavist
Pan-Slavism
Pan-Slavism was a movement in the mid-19th century aimed at unity of all the Slavic peoples. The main focus was in the Balkans where the South Slavs had been ruled for centuries by other empires, Byzantine Empire, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, and Venice...
, fighting in both the November Uprising
November Uprising
The November Uprising , Polish–Russian War 1830–31 also known as the Cadet Revolution, was an armed rebellion in the heartland of partitioned Poland against the Russian Empire. The uprising began on 29 November 1830 in Warsaw when the young Polish officers from the local Army of the Congress...
in Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
of 1830, as well as in Serbia during the latter half of the 19th century. He played a vital role in the formation of the Načertanije
Nacertanije
Načertanije is a document drawn up by the Serbian politician Ilija Garašanin in 1844, aimed at uniting the Serbian people, living under the Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman empires. It represents the first formalization of the political program of Serbia....
in 1844, which later served as a guideline for the unification of Serbs
Serbs
The Serbs are a South Slavic ethnic group of the Balkans and southern Central Europe. Serbs are located mainly in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and form a sizable minority in Croatia, the Republic of Macedonia and Slovenia. Likewise, Serbs are an officially recognized minority in...
divided by Ottoman
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
and Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
rule.
Biography
Zach was born in BrnoBrno
Brno by population and area is the second largest city in the Czech Republic, the largest Moravian city, and the historical capital city of the Margraviate of Moravia. Brno is the administrative centre of the South Moravian Region where it forms a separate district Brno-City District...
, in the Margraviate of Moravia, then part of the Austrian Empire
Austrian Empire
The Austrian Empire was a modern era successor empire, which was centered on what is today's Austria and which officially lasted from 1804 to 1867. It was followed by the Empire of Austria-Hungary, whose proclamation was a diplomatic move that elevated Hungary's status within the Austrian Empire...
. In 1824 he graduated from the German gymnasium in Brno and studied law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, which he later graduated and subsequently worked as a clerk in numerous locations across Moravia.
He fought on the side of the Polish insurgents during the uprising against the Russians
Russians
The Russian people are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Russia, speaking the Russian language and primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries....
in 1830. Following the uprising, he spent some time in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
practicing military theory
Military theory
Military theory is the analysis of normative behavior and trends in military affairs and military history, beyond simply describing events in war and military theories, especially since the influence of Clausewitz in the nineteenth century attempt to encapsulate the complex cultural, political and...
, afterwords leaving for Serbia to fight in the independence wars. He was present on the 1848 all-Slavic convocation in Prague as a member of the Czech and Slovak
Slovaks
The Slovaks, Slovak people, or Slovakians are a West Slavic people that primarily inhabit Slovakia and speak the Slovak language, which is closely related to the Czech language.Most Slovaks today live within the borders of the independent Slovakia...
delegation.
Upon returning to Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
in 1849, Zach founded the Belgrade Military Academy
Military Academy Belgrade
The Military Academy Belgrade is a training college devoted to military education and career development in Belgrade, Serbia. The academy forms part of the Serbian higher education system, offering accredited graduate and postgraduate curriculum. It contains a military high school, offering...
and worked there for an extensive amount of time. He was also the supervisor, as well as a tutor
Tutor
A tutor is a person employed in the education of others, either individually or in groups. To tutor is to perform the functions of a tutor.-Teaching assistance:...
at the Belgrade artillery
Artillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
school. Later on, he became the military advisor for prince Mihailo Obrenović, who later gave Zach the commission of General. Zach was historically the first modern Serbian general to have a full military commission, and the first Czech ever to reach such a high commission whilst serving abroad. He was heavily wounded and lost his leg in 1876 while fighting against the Turks.
Zach died in Brno in 1892 after retiring from a long military career. A street in Brno was named after him in his honor.