Henning Alexander von Kleist
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Henning Alexander von Kleist (1676/77–1749) was an 18th-century
Prussian Prussia, , Old Prussian: ''Prūsa'' or ''Prūsija'' was a German state on the southeast coast of the Baltic Sea. It formed the German Empire under Prussian rule when it united the German states in 1871. It was ''de facto'' dissolved by an e ...
field marshal. He fought 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 ...
, the
Great Northern War The Great Northern War (1700–1721) was a conflict in which a coalition led by the Tsardom of Russia successfully contested the supremacy of the Swedish Empire in Northern, Central and Eastern Europe. The initial leaders of the anti-Swed ...
, and in the Wars of Austrian Succession. In particular, his actions at the
Battle of Mollwitz The Battle of Mollwitz was fought by Prussia and Austria on 10 April 1741, during the First Silesian War (in the early stages of the War of the Austrian Succession). It was the first battle of the new Prussian King Frederick II, in which both s ...
brought him acclaim, although he had long been a stalwart supporter of Prussian military developments by the Prussian kings
Frederick Frederick may refer to: People * Frederick (given name), the name Nobility Anhalt-Harzgerode *Frederick, Prince of Anhalt-Harzgerode (1613–1670) Austria * Frederick I, Duke of Austria (Babenberg), Duke of Austria from 1195 to 1198 * Frederick ...
(1740–1786) and Frederick William I (1713–1740).


Family

HZenning belonged to an old Pomeranian
Kleist family The House of Kleist is the name of an old and distinguished Pomeranian Prussian noble family, whose members obtained many important military positions within the Kingdom of Prussia and later in the German Empire. Notable members * Henning Alex ...
that stemmed from the year 1175, and the family served the Duke
Bogislaw X, Duke of Pomerania Bogislaw X of Pomerania, ''the Great'', (3 June 1454 – 5 October 1523) was Duke of Pomerania from 1474 until his death in 1523. Biography Bogislaw was born in Rügenwalde (now Darłowo, Poland). His parents were Eric II, Duke of Pomerania ...
in his wars. In the 14th century, the family divided into three lines, from three brothers. The oldest line was the Dubberow-Tuchow line; the Muttrin-Damen line was second, and the third was Bilnow-Raddatz, which ended in 1784.Artikel, Kleist, Henning Alexander von“ von Heinrich Kypke in: Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie, herausgegeben von der Historischen Kommission bei der Bayerischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, Band 16 (1882), S. 150–151, Digitale Volltext-Ausgabe in Wikisource
von Kleist
Version vom 26. September 2015, 20:02 Uhr UTC)
In total, the Kleist line produced more than 19 generals, and an assortment of poets, inventors, scientists, and philosophers. Henning Alexander von Kleist was born on 4 May in 1676 or 1677Birthdate is disputed and also given as 1676. in Raddatz in
Pomerania Pomerania ( pl, Pomorze; german: Pommern; Kashubian: ''Pòmòrskô''; sv, Pommern) is a historical region on the southern shore of the Baltic Sea in Central Europe, split between Poland and Germany. The western part of Pomerania belongs to ...
. He was the third son of Joachim Daniel von Kleist. and his first wife, Maria Catherine von Ramel.She was the second daughter of Heinrich von Ramel and Else Sophia von Münchow, from Bulgrin. She died before 1688, and her husband subsequently remarried. See Gustav Kratz, L. Quandt, G. H. Kypke''Geschichte des Geschlechts von Kleist - Villnow-Raddatzer Linie.'
79–81
His father married three times. The first wife, Maria Catherine von Ramel, 18 May 1644, 1672 married, and died 3 January 1685. She was the second daughter of Heinrich von Ramel and Else Sophia von Münchow, from Bulgrin. She bore four sons, and one daughter: #Jürgen (died before 1688) #Philipp Heinrich. Initially served in Prussian military, but after a duel, left Prussia and settled in
Brussels Brussels (french: Bruxelles or ; nl, Brussel ), officially the Brussels-Capital Region (All text and all but one graphic show the English name as Brussels-Capital Region.) (french: link=no, Région de Bruxelles-Capitale; nl, link=no, Bruss ...
. There he married Antonia Catharine van der Linden on 26 February 1704. He entered French service as a lieutenant in the Regiment de la Mare, fought in the War of Spanish Succession and died on 10 September 1709, in the
Battle of Malplaquet The Battle of Malplaquet took place on 11 September 1709 during the War of the Spanish Succession and was fought between a French army commanded by the Duke of Villars and a Grand Alliance force under the Duke of Marlborough. In one of the blo ...
. He had one son, Ludwig, who died on 18 May 1780, without legitimate descendants. #Henning Alexander (1676–1747) #Maria Catherine 10 February 1677, 23 May 1701 married Jürgen Heinrich von Kleist (of Raddtz), 27 February 1753 (in Juchow). #Richard Christian, called himself Richard; served in the military, Infantry Regiment Borck (No 33z)., By 7 May 1714, he was Major, 24 July–4 August 1718, stationed in Colberg as commander. 22 October 1718, Lt Colonel with the Infantry Regiment Mosel. Died in Wesel 1723.Kratz, p. 94. #Leopold, died without male issue. #Balthazar Gustav 16 April 1689–8 April 1694.Kratz, p. 94.


Military service

Kleist served in the Prussian military during the reigns of three kings:
Frederick I Frederick I may refer to: * Frederick of Utrecht or Frederick I (815/16–834/38), Bishop of Utrecht. * Frederick I, Duke of Upper Lorraine (942–978) * Frederick I, Duke of Swabia (1050–1105) * Frederick I, Count of Zoll ...
, Frederick William I, and
Frederick the Great Frederick II (german: Friedrich II.; 24 January 171217 August 1786) was King in Prussia from 1740 until 1772, and King of Prussia from 1772 until his death in 1786. His most significant accomplishments include his military successes in the S ...
. He joined the Prussian military in the Alt-Anhalt Regiment in 1698 or 1699, and saw active service continuously from 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 ...
, which began in 1701, until the
Peace of Utrecht The Peace of Utrecht was a series of peace treaties signed by the belligerents in the War of the Spanish Succession, in the Dutch city of Utrecht between April 1713 and February 1715. The war involved three contenders for the vacant throne o ...
in 1713: he served in campaigns in the Netherlands, France and the Italian states under the command of
Leopold I, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau Leopold I, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau (3 July 1676 – 7 April 1747) was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Dessau from 1693 to 1747. He was also a ''Generalfeldmarschall'' in the Prussian army. Nickname ...
, known as the Old Dessauer (''der alte Dessauer''). Consequently, he learned the military craft under the leadership of one of the foremost infantry commanders of the age. He fought at the memorable Battle of Blenheim in 1704 in the
wing A wing is a type of fin that produces lift while moving through air or some other fluid. Accordingly, wings have streamlined cross-sections that are subject to aerodynamic forces and act as airfoils. A wing's aerodynamic efficiency is e ...
commanded by Prince Eugene of Savoy. During the 1704 campaign, he also saw action under the leadership of the legendary Türken-Louis. After the victories in southern Germany, his regiment went to northern Italy, where it participated in the fighting of Cassano in 1705. He also helped to break the siege at
Turin Turin ( , 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 from 1861 to 1865. The ...
in 1706, as part of the relief column that attacked the French army. Subsequently, he served in the
Great Northern War The Great Northern War (1700–1721) was a conflict in which a coalition led by the Tsardom of Russia successfully contested the supremacy of the Swedish Empire in Northern, Central and Eastern Europe. The initial leaders of the anti-Swed ...
(1705–1721), and participated in the lengthy Siege of Stralsund (1711–15). He acquired the patent as Chief (
Inhaber A Proprietor, or Inhaber, was a term used in the Habsburg military to denote special honors extended to a noble or aristocrat. The Habsburg army was organized on principles developed for the feudal armies in which regiments were raised by a wealth ...
) of his regiment in 1718, which he held until retirement in 1723. In 1726 he was recalled to service by Frederick William I. In 1730 he acquired the patent as proprietor of the Old Prussian Infantry Regiment, which, in 1806 became regiment No. 26. He held that patent until his death in 1749. During the decade of the 1730s, he was in regular communication with the then-Prince Frederick, and became one of his trusted commanders.Frederick wrote his father that he had visited Kleist and that the colonel was sick with a chest cold. See Fridericus II. rex Borussiae, ''Friedrichs des Großen, Briefe an seinen Vater geschrieben, in den Jahren 1732–1737...'' Ernst Siegfried Mittler, 1838
p. 122
/ref> During the
War of Austrian Succession War is an intense armed conflict between states, governments, societies, or paramilitary groups such as mercenaries, insurgents, and militias. It is generally characterized by extreme violence, destruction, and mortality, using regular o ...
, in 1741 as a lieutenant general he commanded the city Kolberg. As a participant in the
Battle of Mollwitz The Battle of Mollwitz was fought by Prussia and Austria on 10 April 1741, during the First Silesian War (in the early stages of the War of the Austrian Succession). It was the first battle of the new Prussian King Frederick II, in which both s ...
, his infantry regiment not only held its line despite the flight of the Prussian cavalry, but subsequently attacked the Austrian line with such ferocity that he and his soldiers received special mention in
Kurt Christoph Graf von Schwerin Kurt Christoph, Graf von Schwerin (26 October 1684 – 6 May 1757) was a Prussian ''Generalfeldmarschall'', one of the leading commanders under Frederick the Great. Biography He was born in Löwitz, Pomerania, and at an early age entered the ...
's report. He was wounded in the fighting.Julius Mebes. ''Beiträge zur Geschichte des brandenburgisch-preußischen Staates ...,'' Lüderitz, 1861, Volume 1
p. 317
The regiment's actions here reflected the iron training imposed by the prince of Anhalt Dessau on his subordinates, and their subsequent training of their own regiments. In addition, the Prussian infantry benefited not only from the discipline of drill but also the latest in military technology; unlike their Austrian counterparts, they had iron ramrods which allowed them to fire faster and more accurately. After the battle, he was made a Knight of the Order of the Black Eagle on 15 April 1741, and later awarded the Order Pour le Mérite. During the
Silesian Wars The Silesian Wars (german: Schlesische Kriege, links=no) were three wars fought in the mid-18th century between Prussia (under King Frederick the Great) and Habsburg Austria (under Archduchess Maria Theresa) for control of the Central European ...
, in 1744 he acquired as
war booty Looting is the act of stealing, or the taking of goods by force, typically in the midst of a military, political, or other social crisis, such as war, natural disasters (where law and civil enforcement are temporarily ineffective), or rioting. ...
the gold-plated carriage originally belonging to
Jan Sobieski John III Sobieski ( pl, Jan III Sobieski; lt, Jonas III Sobieskis; la, Ioannes III Sobiscius; 17 August 1629 – 17 June 1696) was King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1674 until his death in 1696. Born into Polish nobility, Sobi ...
; Kleist gave the carriage to his local church. In 1745 Kleist was promoted to
General of Infantry General of the Infantry is a military rank of a General officer in the infantry and refers to: * General of the Infantry (Austria) * General of the Infantry (Bulgaria) * General of the Infantry (Germany) ('), a rank of a general in the German Impe ...
and two years later, in 1747, to field marshal, at the conclusion of a grand troop revue. He was promoted at the same time as Count Friedrich Ludwig, Graf zu Dohna-Carwinden, von Kalckstein (Frederick's educator and lifelong Councillor), Joachim Christof von Jeetze and Dietrich of Anhalt-Dessau. He became ill in 1749; von Kleist died on 22 August, at age of 73.


Descendants

Kleist married Albertine Marie von Biedersee, daughter of Georg Burchardt of Biedersee from Ilberstädt, who died on 23 June 1731 in Rindbett. She bore him seven sons and three daughters.Gustav Kratz, L. Quandt, G. H. Kypke''Geschichte des Geschlechts von Kleist - Villnow-Raddatzer Linie.'
90–91
#Nicholas Valentine, died as a child.Kratz, p. 96. #Charlotte Louisa, married Conrad von der Golz #Friedrich Wilhelm, born c January 1718.On 13 January 1718, the father wrote to the king from Halle, "As one son is taken from me, another one fills his place. " The King served as godfather of the child. but this child also died young. #Leopold, born 29 January 1719 in Hall. He entered military service in the Munchow regiment (later regiment No. 36) on 7 September 1738, and was promoted to first lieutenant on 6 August 1741. He attained the rank of colonel, and died in 1787 in Neuenhagen bei Cöslin. #Wilhelmine Philippine, born 1720, 1745 married War and Land Minister Georg Ernst #Helene Albertine Christiane, born 1722, in 174 married the Colonel of the Watch Casimir Ernst von Schmeling. #Friedrich Albrecht Christian. 21 December 1723–11 March 1724Kratz, p. 98 #Wilhelm Alexander 1724–19 February 1725. #Alexander Ludwig 25 October 1725–20 May 1751. #Wilhelm Christoph, 1 August 1727. As a 19-year-old, he entered the Holy Orders of the Knights of St. John. In 1749, he volunteered as a ''freicorporal'' in the Regiment of Major General Haut Charmon, known on 8 June the following year as Gefreiter Corporal Wilhelm Christoph. He eventually inherited the family properties of Raddatz line. He purchased a position as an ensign in 1755. In the Seven Years' War he was a captain of the Pomeranian battalion Stosch, and served from 1760–1762. He y advanced to the position of major before he left military service. In 1768 he lived in Dutzerow, a property he purchased. He married three times. One wife bore him son, but died in 1760 with the boy.Kratz, pp. 98–99. The male Raddatzline ended in 1793, with his death.


Other family

His nephew, also named Henning Alexander von Kleist, the son of his sister Maria Katharine (married Johan Daniel von Kleist), also served in the Prussian military (1724–?.)Anton Balthasar König, ''Henning Alexander von Kleist,''Biographisches Lexikon aller Helden und Militärpersonen: T. G-L, A. Wever, 1789
pp. 275–276
Accessed 26 September 2015.


Notes and citations


Notes


Citations


Literature

* König, Anton Balthasar, ''Henning Alexander von Kleist,'' Biographisches Lexikon aller Helden und Militärpersonen: T. G-L, A. Wever, 1789. * Kypke, "Kleist, Henning Alexander von" in: Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie 16 (1882), S. 150–151 nlinefassungbr>Henning Alexander von Kleist
Accessed 26 September 2015. {{DEFAULTSORT:Kleist, Henning Alexander von 1677 births 1749 deaths Field marshals of Prussia Recipients of the Pour le Mérite (military class) Henning Alexander