Theodor von Reding (5 July 1755 – 23 April 1809) was a

Swiss mercenary The Swiss mercenaries (german: Reisläufer) were a powerful infantry force constituted by professional soldiers originating from the cantons of the Old Swiss Confederacy. They were notable for their service in foreign armies, especially among ...

who served as a general in the

Spanish Army The Spanish Army ( es, Ejército de Tierra, lit=Land Army) is the terrestrial army of the Spanish Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is one of the oldest active armies — dating back to the late 15th century. The ...

. He was a governor and military commander in Spain, leading troops against French forces during the

French Revolutionary Wars The French Revolutionary Wars (french: Guerres de la Révolution française) were a series of sweeping military conflicts lasting from 1792 until 1802 and resulting from the French Revolution. They pitted French First Republic, France against Ki ...

and the

Peninsular War The Peninsular War (1807–1814) was the military conflict fought in the Iberian Peninsula by Spain, Portugal, and the United Kingdom against the invading and occupying forces of the First French Empire during the Napoleonic Wars. In Spain ...

Biography

Reding was born in

Schwyz The town of Schwyz (; french: Schwytz; it, Svitto) is the capital of the canton of Schwyz in Switzerland. The Federal Charter of 1291 or ''Bundesbrief'', the charter that eventually led to the foundation of Switzerland, can be seen at the '' ...

Switzerland ). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institutions, such as the federal courts, are in other cities (Bellinzona, Lausanne, Luzern, Neuchâtel ...

, to Theodor Anton von Reding and Magdalena Freuler. His father served as a lieutenant-colonel in the Spanish Army. His brother was

Alois von Reding Alois (Latinized ''Aloysius'') is an Old Occitan form of the name Louis. Modern variants include ''Aloïs'' ( French), ''Aloys'' ( German), ''Alois'' (Czech), '' Alojz'' ( Slovak, Slovenian), '' Alojzy'' ( Polish), '' Aloísio'' (Portuguese, Spa ...

. At age 14, Reding became a mercenary in Spanish service. He was promoted to captain in 1772, to lieutenant-colonel in 1781, and to colonel of a Swiss mercenary regiment in 1788. During the

, his troops fought against the French in

Navarre Navarre (; es, Navarra ; eu, Nafarroa ), officially the Chartered Community of Navarre ( es, Comunidad Foral de Navarra, links=no ; eu, Nafarroako Foru Komunitatea, links=no ), is a foral autonomous community and province in northern Spain, ...

and the Basque Country, and he was promoted to brigadier in 1793. Governor of

Málaga Málaga (, ) is a municipality of Spain, capital of the Province of Málaga, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. With a population of 578,460 in 2020, it is the second-most populous city in Andalusia after Seville and the sixth most pop ...

(1806-1808), in July 1808 von Reding fought under

General Castaños A general officer is an officer of high rank in the armies, and in some nations' air forces, space forces, and marines or naval infantry. In some usages the term "general officer" refers to a rank above colonel."general, adj. and n.". OED On ...

at the

Battle of Bailén The Battle of Bailén was fought in 1808 between the Spanish Army of Andalusia, led by Generals Francisco Castaños and Theodor von Reding, and the Imperial French Army's II corps d'observation de la Gironde under General Pierre Dupont de l' ...

, where the 3rd Swiss Regiment Reding fought with conspicuous valour. After that, he was appointed to the defense of

Catalonia Catalonia (; ca, Catalunya ; Aranese Occitan: ''Catalonha'' ; es, Cataluña ) is an autonomous community of Spain, designated as a ''nationality'' by its Statute of Autonomy. Most of the territory (except the Val d'Aran) lies on the north ...

, where he tried to organize the Spanish forces and he was able to obtain 30,000 men for the war. He was wounded on 25 February 1809, during the

Battle of Valls The Battle of Valls was fought on 25 February 1809, during the Peninsular War, between a French force under Laurent Gouvion Saint-Cyr and a Spanish force under Theodor von Reding. Fought near the town of Valls in Catalonia, Spain, the battle en ...

against French forces led by Gouvion Saint-Cyr, and died in

Tarragona Tarragona (, ; Phoenician: ''Tarqon''; la, Tarraco) is a port city located in northeast Spain on the Costa Daurada by the Mediterranean Sea. Founded before the fifth century BC, it is the capital of the Province of Tarragona, and part of Tar ...

two months from consequences of his wounds.

Legacy

Numerous activities and actions are being carried out currently to honor him. The Historical Recreation Group 3rd Swiss Regiment Reding is one of the biggest events that honor him.

References

External links

Nota «El general Reding torna a Tarragona» (art)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Reding, Theodor Von 1755 births 1809 deaths People from the canton of Schwyz Swiss nobility Swiss generals Swiss mercenaries Spanish generals Spanish commanders of the Napoleonic Wars 18th-century Swiss military personnel 18th-century Spanish military personnel Swiss military personnel of the Napoleonic Wars People of the Peninsular War