Theodor Franz, Count Baillet von Latour
Encyclopedia
Count Theodor Franz Baillet von Latour (June 15, 1780October 6, 1848) was an Austrian
soldier and statesman. As the Imperial Minister of War, he was killed by a mob at the beginning of the Vienna Uprising
.
the son of Count Maximilian Anton Karl Baillet de Latour
(17371806), a Feldmarschall-Leutnant
in Austrian service during the Revolutionary Wars
of Walloon
descent. After a military and engineering training at the Theresian Military Academy
, he entered the corps of engineers in 1799 and became a member of the general staff of the Austrian Imperial and Royal Army
in 1804. Latour took part in various military campaigns of the Napoleonic Wars
in which he distinguished himself and was highly decorated.
During European Restoration he filled an array of leadership roles in the military ranks up to a Feldzeugmeister
, and in addition served as the head of the military commission attached to the Bundesversammlung
(assembly) of the German Confederation
at Frankfurt, contributed to the design of the fortifications at Rastatt
, and finally was director of engineering.
In the Revolutions of 1848
he was called to head the war ministry in the cabinet of Minister-President Count Karl Ludwig von Ficquelmont
, whose direction he saw to without regard to his advanced years. A distinct asserter of conservatism
, his efforts especially sought to give the public no cause for unrest. Faced with the Hungarian Revolution
, Latour backed the loyal forces of Ban Josip Jelačić
and arranged troops to second his campaign. These efforts sparked the Vienna Uprising
: On October 6, 1848 a crowd of students, workers and mutinous soldiers forcibly tried to prevent the troops marching off. In the following street fights, an outraged mob sought Latour out in the war ministry and lynched
him.
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...
soldier and statesman. As the Imperial Minister of War, he was killed by a mob at the beginning of the Vienna Uprising
Vienna Uprising
The Vienna Uprising or October Revolution of October 1848 was the last uprising in the Austrian Revolution of 1848....
.
Biography
Latour was born at LinzLinz
Linz is the third-largest city of Austria and capital of the state of Upper Austria . It is located in the north centre of Austria, approximately south of the Czech border, on both sides of the river Danube. The population of the city is , and that of the Greater Linz conurbation is about...
the son of Count Maximilian Anton Karl Baillet de Latour
Maximilian Anton Karl, Count Baillet de Latour
Count Maximilian Anton Karl Baillet de Latour was a general in Austrian service during the French Revolutionary Wars.- Biography :...
(17371806), a Feldmarschall-Leutnant
Generalfeldmarschall
Field Marshal or Generalfeldmarschall in German, was a rank in the armies of several German states and the Holy Roman Empire; in the Austrian Empire, the rank Feldmarschall was used...
in Austrian service during the 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...
of Walloon
Walloons
Walloons are a French-speaking people who live in Belgium, principally in Wallonia. Walloons are a distinctive community within Belgium, important historical and anthropological criteria bind Walloons to the French people. More generally, the term also refers to the inhabitants of the Walloon...
descent. After a military and engineering training at the Theresian Military Academy
Theresian Military Academy
The Theresian Military Academy is an academy, where the Austrian Armed Forces train their officers. The Academy is located in the castle of Wiener Neustadt in Lower Austria.- History :...
, he entered the corps of engineers in 1799 and became a member of the general staff of the Austrian Imperial and Royal Army
Imperial and Royal Army during the Napoleonic Wars
The Imperial and Royal Army was that of the Austrian Empire, formed on 11 August 1804 preceding the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire ruled by the Habsburgs, under Emperor Francis II .-Background to the army:...
in 1804. Latour took part in various military campaigns of the Napoleonic Wars
Napoleonic Wars
The Napoleonic Wars were a series of wars declared against Napoleon's French Empire by opposing coalitions that ran from 1803 to 1815. As a continuation of the wars sparked by the French Revolution of 1789, they revolutionised European armies and played out on an unprecedented scale, mainly due to...
in which he distinguished himself and was highly decorated.
During European Restoration he filled an array of leadership roles in the military ranks up to a Feldzeugmeister
Feldzeugmeister
Feldzeugmeister was a military rank in various European armies , especially in the artillery. It was commonly used in the 16th or 17th century, but could even be found in the beginning of the 20th century in some European countries...
, and in addition served as the head of the military commission attached to the Bundesversammlung
Bundesversammlung (German Confederation)
The Federal Assembly was the only central institution of the German Confederation from 1815 until 1848, and from 1850 until 1866. The Federal Assembly had its seat in the palais Thurn und Taxis in Frankfurt...
(assembly) of the German Confederation
German Confederation
The German Confederation was the loose association of Central European states created by the Congress of Vienna in 1815 to coordinate the economies of separate German-speaking countries. It acted as a buffer between the powerful states of Austria and Prussia...
at Frankfurt, contributed to the design of the fortifications at Rastatt
Rastatt
Rastatt is a city and baroque residence in the District of Rastatt, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is located on the Murg river, above its junction with the Rhine and has a population of around 50'000...
, and finally was director of engineering.
In the Revolutions of 1848
Revolutions of 1848 in the Habsburg areas
From March 1848 through July 1849, the Habsburg Austrian Empire was threatened by revolutionary movements. Much of the revolutionary activity was of a nationalist character: the empire, ruled from Vienna, included Austrian Germans, Hungarians, Slovenes, Poles, Czechs, Slovaks, Ruthenians,...
he was called to head the war ministry in the cabinet of Minister-President Count Karl Ludwig von Ficquelmont
Count Karl Ludwig von Ficquelmont
Karl Ludwig Graf von Ficquelmont was an Austrian aristocrat, statesman and general of the Austrian Imperial army of French noble origin.-French nobleman:He was born Gabriel-Charles-Louis-Bonnaventure, Count de Ficquelmont at the Castle of...
, whose direction he saw to without regard to his advanced years. A distinct asserter of conservatism
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
, his efforts especially sought to give the public no cause for unrest. Faced with the Hungarian Revolution
Hungarian Revolution of 1848
The Hungarian Revolution of 1848 was one of many of the European Revolutions of 1848 and closely linked to other revolutions of 1848 in the Habsburg areas...
, Latour backed the loyal forces of Ban Josip Jelačić
Josip Jelacic
Count Josip Jelačić of Bužim was the Ban of Croatia between 23 March 1848 and 19 May 1859...
and arranged troops to second his campaign. These efforts sparked the Vienna Uprising
Vienna Uprising
The Vienna Uprising or October Revolution of October 1848 was the last uprising in the Austrian Revolution of 1848....
: On October 6, 1848 a crowd of students, workers and mutinous soldiers forcibly tried to prevent the troops marching off. In the following street fights, an outraged mob sought Latour out in the war ministry and lynched
Lynching
Lynching is an extrajudicial execution carried out by a mob, often by hanging, but also by burning at the stake or shooting, in order to punish an alleged transgressor, or to intimidate, control, or otherwise manipulate a population of people. It is related to other means of social control that...
him.