Rudolf Ritter von Otto
Encyclopedia
Rudolf Ritter von Otto began his military career in the army of the Kingdom of Saxony
, transferred to the Austrian army and had a distinguished combat record during the Seven Years War and the French Revolutionary Wars
.
in 1735, Otto joined the Saxon army in 1753 as a cavalryman. In the Seven Years War he fought at the battles of Kolin
and the Breslau
in 1757. He was also present at several sieges and skirmishes. He joined an Austrian Freikorps
raised by his brother Wilhelm and participated in several successful ambushes and raids in 1760-1762.
. Promoted to captain in 1769 and major
in 1777, he transferred to the Graeven Hussar Regiment # 34. Because he improved his new regiment's efficiency, he was rapidly promoted, first to Oberstleutnant
in 1783 and Oberst
in 1784. In the Austro-Turkish War (1787-1791)
, he led his regiment in action at Chernivtsi
and Cornia. Promoted to General-major
in 1788, he continued to distinguish himself against the Turks.
In 1793 during the War of the First Coalition, Otto joined the Austrian army in Flanders, serving at the siege of Valenciennes
. At the battle of Caesar's Camp on August 7, he commanded an infantry-cavalry brigade in the Count of Clerfayt
's column. On September 12, he participated in the cavalry action at Avesnes-le-Sec
in which a French force was cut to pieces. On October 30, he led his troops in battle at Marchiennes
. He was promoted to Feldmarschal-Leutnant
on January 1, 1794 and also became proprietor (inhaber) of the Hussar Regiment # 32.
On April 24, while leading two Austrian and two British cavalry squadrons on a reconnaissance toward Cambrai
, Otto encountered a force of French cavalry. At this time, he discovered that Emperor Francis II
was nearby with his retinue. Fearing that his sovereign was about to be captured, he resolved to attack the enemy. In the ensuing Battle of Villers-en-Cauchies
, Otto's troopers smashed a 7,000-man French division, inflicting 1,200 casualties.
Two days later, Otto led the main attack in the Duke of York's
victory at Beaumont
, rolling up the French flank and capturing the French commander René Chapuis
. At the Battle of Tourcoing, he led one of York's three columns. Though the Anglo-Austrian army went down to defeat, Otto performed well.
and was promoted to full general upon retirement in 1803. He died at his estate near Königgrätz
on August 7, 1811.
Kingdom of Saxony
The Kingdom of Saxony , lasting between 1806 and 1918, was an independent member of a number of historical confederacies in Napoleonic through post-Napoleonic Germany. From 1871 it was part of the German Empire. It became a Free state in the era of Weimar Republic in 1918 after the end of World War...
, transferred to the Austrian army and had a distinguished combat record during the Seven Years War and the French Revolutionary Wars
French Revolutionary Wars
The French Revolutionary Wars were a series of major conflicts, from 1792 until 1802, fought between the French Revolutionary government and several European states...
.
Early career
Born in Weissenfels in the Kingdom of SaxonyKingdom of Saxony
The Kingdom of Saxony , lasting between 1806 and 1918, was an independent member of a number of historical confederacies in Napoleonic through post-Napoleonic Germany. From 1871 it was part of the German Empire. It became a Free state in the era of Weimar Republic in 1918 after the end of World War...
in 1735, Otto joined the Saxon army in 1753 as a cavalryman. In the Seven Years War he fought at the battles of Kolin
Battle of Kolin
-Results:The battle was Frederick's first defeat in this war. This disaster forced him to abandon his intended march on Vienna, raise his siege of Prague, and fall back on Litoměřice...
and the Breslau
Battle of Breslau (1757)
The Battle of Breslau was a battle fought on November 22, 1757 during the Seven Years' War. A Prussian army of 28,000 men fought an Austrian army of 84,000 men. The Prussians held off the Austrian attack, losing 6,000 men to the Austrians 5,000 men. But one day later the Prussians beat a retreat...
in 1757. He was also present at several sieges and skirmishes. He joined an Austrian Freikorps
Freikorps
Freikorps are German volunteer military or paramilitary units. The term was originally applied to voluntary armies formed in German lands from the middle of the 18th century onwards. Between World War I and World War II the term was also used for the paramilitary organizations that arose during...
raised by his brother Wilhelm and participated in several successful ambushes and raids in 1760-1762.
Austrian service
At the end of the war he formally entered the Austrian army, joining the Hesse-Darmstadt Dragoon Regiment # 19 as an OberleutnantFirst Lieutenant
First lieutenant is a military rank and, in some forces, an appointment.The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations , but the majority of cases it is common for it to be sub-divided into a senior and junior rank...
. Promoted to captain in 1769 and major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
in 1777, he transferred to the Graeven Hussar Regiment # 34. Because he improved his new regiment's efficiency, he was rapidly promoted, first to Oberstleutnant
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
in 1783 and Oberst
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
in 1784. In the Austro-Turkish War (1787-1791)
Austro-Turkish War (1787-1791)
The Austro-Turkish War of 1787 was an inconclusive struggle between the Austrian and Ottoman Empires. It took place concomitantly with the Russo-Turkish War of 1787-1792.-History:...
, he led his regiment in action at Chernivtsi
Chernivtsi
Chernivtsi is the administrative center of Chernivtsi Oblast in southwestern Ukraine. The city is situated on the upper course of the River Prut, a tributary of the Danube, in the northern part of the historic region of Bukovina, which is currently divided between Romania and Ukraine...
and Cornia. Promoted to General-major
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
in 1788, he continued to distinguish himself against the Turks.
In 1793 during the War of the First Coalition, Otto joined the Austrian army in Flanders, serving at the siege of Valenciennes
Valenciennes
Valenciennes is a commune in the Nord department in northern France.It lies on the Scheldt river. Although the city and region had seen a steady decline between 1975 and 1990, it has since rebounded...
. At the battle of Caesar's Camp on August 7, he commanded an infantry-cavalry brigade in the Count of Clerfayt
François Sebastien Charles Joseph de Croix, Count of Clerfayt
François Sebastien Charles Joseph de Croix, Count of Clerfayt , a Walloon, joined the army of the Habsburg Monarchy and soon fought in the Seven Years War. Later in his military career, he led Austrian troops in the war against Ottoman Turkey...
's column. On September 12, he participated in the cavalry action at Avesnes-le-Sec
Avesnes-le-Sec
Avesnes-le-Sec is a commune in the Nord department in northern France.-Heraldry:-References:*...
in which a French force was cut to pieces. On October 30, he led his troops in battle at Marchiennes
Marchiennes
-References:*...
. He was promoted to Feldmarschal-Leutnant
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
on January 1, 1794 and also became proprietor (inhaber) of the Hussar Regiment # 32.
On April 24, while leading two Austrian and two British cavalry squadrons on a reconnaissance toward Cambrai
Cambrai
Cambrai is a commune in the Nord department in northern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.Cambrai is the seat of an archdiocese whose jurisdiction was immense during the Middle Ages. The territory of the Bishopric of Cambrai, roughly coinciding with the shire of Brabant, included...
, Otto encountered a force of French cavalry. At this time, he discovered that Emperor Francis II
Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor
Francis II was the last Holy Roman Emperor, ruling from 1792 until 6 August 1806, when he dissolved the Empire after the disastrous defeat of the Third Coalition by Napoleon at the Battle of Austerlitz...
was nearby with his retinue. Fearing that his sovereign was about to be captured, he resolved to attack the enemy. In the ensuing Battle of Villers-en-Cauchies
Battle of Villers-en-Cauchies
In the Battle of Villers-en-Cauchies, fought on 24 April 1794, a small Anglo-Austrian cavalry force routed a vastly more numerous French division during the Flanders Campaign of the French Revolutionary Wars...
, Otto's troopers smashed a 7,000-man French division, inflicting 1,200 casualties.
Two days later, Otto led the main attack in the Duke of York's
Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany
The Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany was a member of the Hanoverian and British Royal Family, the second eldest child, and second son, of King George III...
victory at Beaumont
Battle of Beaumont (1794)
The Battle of Beaumont-en-Cambresis 26th April 1794 was an action forming part of a multi-pronged attempt to relieve the besieged fortress of Landrecies, during the Flanders Campaign of the French Revolutionary War...
, rolling up the French flank and capturing the French commander René Chapuis
René-Bernard Chapuy
René-Bernard Chapuy was a French soldier and General who served in the Caribbean, American War of Independence and Wars of the French Revolution.-Career:...
. At the Battle of Tourcoing, he led one of York's three columns. Though the Anglo-Austrian army went down to defeat, Otto performed well.
Later career
In 1796, Otto declined a command in Italy due to ill-health. He became a member of the Aulic CouncilAulic Council
The Aulic Council was originally an executive-judicial council for the Holy Roman Empire....
and was promoted to full general upon retirement in 1803. He died at his estate near Königgrätz
Hradec Králové
Hradec Králové is a city of the Czech Republic, in the Hradec Králové Region of Bohemia. The city's economy is based on food-processing technology, photochemical, and electronics manufacture. Traditional industries include musical instrument manufacturing – the best known being PETROF pianos...
on August 7, 1811.