Count Wirich Philipp von Daun (19 October 1669 – 30 July 1741) was an

Austrian Austrian may refer to: * Austrians, someone from Austria or of Austrian descent ** Someone who is considered an Austrian citizen, see Austrian nationality law * Austrian German dialect * Something associated with the country Austria, for example: ...

Field Marshal Field marshal (or field-marshal, abbreviated as FM) is the most senior military rank, ordinarily senior to the general officer ranks. Usually, it is the highest rank in an army and as such few persons are appointed to it. It is considered as ...

of the Imperial Army in the

War of Spanish Succession The War of the Spanish Succession was a European great power conflict that took place from 1701 to 1714. The death of childless Charles II of Spain in November 1700 led to a struggle for control of the Spanish Empire between his heirs, Phili ...

, and father of the better known

Leopold Josef Graf Daun Count Leopold Joseph von Daun (german: Leopold Joseph Maria, Reichsgraf von und zu Daun; 24 September 17055 February 1766), later Prince of Thiano, was an Austrian field marshal of the Imperial Army in the War of the Austrian Succession and S ...

. In 1710 he was created Prince of Teano.

Biography

Daun was born in Vienna, the son of Wilhelm Graf Daun, also a Field Marshal. He served in the War of Spanish Succession under

Eugene of Savoy Prince Eugene Francis of Savoy–Carignano, (18 October 1663 – 21 April 1736) better known as Prince Eugene, was a field marshal in the army of the Holy Roman Empire and of the Austrian Habsburg dynasty during the 17th and 18th centuries. He ...

, and gained his fame in the successful defence of

Turin Turin ( , Piedmontese language, Piedmontese: ; it, Torino ) is a city and an important business and cultural centre in Northern Italy. It is the capital city of Piedmont and of the Metropolitan City of Turin, and was the first Italian capital ...

in 1706. He also laid siege to and conquered

Gaeta Gaeta (; lat, Cāiēta; Southern Laziale: ''Gaieta'') is a city in the province of Latina, in Lazio, Southern Italy. Set on a promontory stretching towards the Gulf of Gaeta, it is from Rome and from Naples. The town has played a consp ...

on 30 September 1707. After the war, in 1713 Daun became the first Austrian

Viceroy of Naples This is a list of viceroys of the Kingdom of Naples. Following the conquest of Naples by Louis XII of France in 1501, Naples was subject to the rule of the foreign rulers, the Kings of France, Aragon and Spain and the Habsburg Archdukes of Austria ...

. In 1718 he lost the Battle of Milazzo during the

War of the Quadruple Alliance The War of the Quadruple Alliance (1718–1720) was caused by Spanish attempts to recover territories in Italy (geographical region), Italy ceded in the 1713 Peace of Utrecht. Largely focused on Sicily, it included minor engagements in North Amer ...

, when Spain invaded neighbouring Sicily. From February until October 1725 Daun was interim

Governor of the Habsburg Netherlands The governor ( nl, landvoogd) or governor-general () of the Habsburg Netherlands was a representative appointed by the Holy Roman emperor (1504-1556), the king of Spain (1556-1598, 1621-1706), and the archduke of Austria (1716-1794), to administ ...

. He was to prepare for the arrival of the new governor, Archduchess Maria Elisabeth of Austria, sister of the Emperor Charles VI. The situation in the Austrian Netherlands was very difficult after the mismanagement by the previous plenipotentiary minister

Hercule-Louis Turinetti, marquis of Prié Ercole Giuseppe Lodovico Turinetti, marchese di Priero e di Pancalieri also marchese di Priè (in Italian) or Hercule-Louis Turinetti, marquis de Prié (in French) (Turin, 27 November 1658 – Vienna, 12 January 1726), was interim Governor of the ...

. Daun profited from the positive atmosphere resulting from the departure of Prié. He enforced a reform of the military organisation and administration in the Southern Netherlands, in which he incorporated the existing 'Belgian' army into the imperial forces.Zedinger, R. (2000). ''Die Verwaltung der Österreichischen Niederlande in Wien (1714 - 1795)'', Böhlau Verlag, p. 141-142. From 1725 until 1736 he was Governor of Milan. Daun died at Vienna and was buried in the Georgskapelle of the Augustinerkirche, together with his son.

Notes

{{DEFAULTSORT:Daun, Wirich Philipp Count 1669 births 1741 deaths Military personnel from Vienna Austrian army commanders in the War of the Spanish Succession Field marshals of Austria Generals of the Holy Roman Empire Knights of the Golden Fleece of Austria Politicians of the Austrian Netherlands