Noble family House of Wittelsbach | Name Count William | |
Father John Charles, Count Palatine of Gelnhausen Mother Esther Maria of Witzleben-Elgersburg Born 4 January 1701
Gelnhausen ( 1701-01-04 ) Died December 25, 1760, The Hague, Netherlands Parents John Charles, Count Palatine of Gelnhausen Grandparents Christian I, Count Palatine of Birkenfeld-Bischweiler Great-grandparents Charles I, Count Palatine of Zweibrucken-Birkenfeld People also search for John, Count Palatine of Gelnhausen | ||
Count Palatine William of Birkenfeld-Gelnhausen (4 January 1701 in Gelnhausen – 25 December 1760 in The Hague) was a titular Count Palatine of Zweibrucken-Birkenfeld and an Imperial Field Marshal.
Life
William was the youngest son of the Count Palatine John Charles of Gelnhausen (1638–1704) from his second marriage, Esther Maria (1665–1725), a daughter of George Frederick, Baron Witzleben of Elgersburg.
Wilhelm served from 1729 in the Austrian army and was wounded during the Battle of Mollwitz. In 1742, he won a victory against the French general Bouffleur and drove the French from Tein. In 1743, he became General of the Cavalry in the Dutch army. In 1754, he accompanied Emperor Francis I to his coronation in Frankfurt. In the same year, he became imperial field marshal. In 1757 he was appointed governor of Namur.