PRINCE

See also:

• ALFRED

ALFRED

See also:

• PRINCE ALFRED WINDISCHGRATZ (1787-1862)

WINDISCHGRATZ (1787-1862)  , Austrian field-marshal, entered the Austrian army in 1804, participated in all the wars against Napoleon and fought with distinction at Leipzig and in the campaign of 1814 . In the following years of peace he held successive commands in Prague, being appointed head of the army in Bohemia in 1840 . Having gained a reputation as a champion of energetic measures against revolution he was called upon to suppress the insurrection of March 1848 in Vienna, but finding himself ill-supported by the ministers he speedily threw up his post . Having returned to Prague he there showed firmness in quelling an armed outbreak of the Czech separatists (June 1848) . Upon the recrudescence of revolt in Vienna he was summoned at the head of a large army and reduced the city by a formal siege (Oct..20-29) . Appointed to the chief command against the Hungarian rebels he gained some early successes and reoccupied Budapest (Jan . 1849), but by his slowness in pursuit he allowed the enemy to rally in superior numbers and to prevent an effective concentration of the Austrian forces . In April 1849 he was relieved of his command and henceforth rarely appeared again in public life . See Furst Windischgreitz . Eine Lebens-Skizze . Aus den Papieren eines Zeitgenossen der Sturm-Jahre 1848 and 1849 (2nd ed., Leipzig, 1898) .