Prince Leopold of Bavaria
9 February 1846 marks the birth of Prince Leopold of Bavaria. This took place
in Munich.
Family
Prince Leopold of Bavaria was the son of Prince Regent Luitipold of Bavaria
and Archduchess Auguste Ferdinande of Austria.
and Archduchess Auguste Ferdinande of Austria.
In the army
Prince Leopold entered the Bavarian Army at the age of 15, and received
his patent as a lieutenant dated 28 November 1861.
his patent as a lieutenant dated 28 November 1861.
He saw first combat during the Austro-Prussian War in 1866, where he
commanded an artillery battery at Kissingen and Rossbrunn.
commanded an artillery battery at Kissingen and Rossbrunn.
In 1870, King Ludwig II of Bavaria sent Leopold to the battlefields of
France, where the Bavarian Army was fighting alongside the Prussian
Army in the Franco-Prussian War. He served with the 3rd Bavarian
Artillery Regiment and saw action at Sedan and Beauvert. He was
promoted to major in December 1870.
France, where the Bavarian Army was fighting alongside the Prussian
Army in the Franco-Prussian War. He served with the 3rd Bavarian
Artillery Regiment and saw action at Sedan and Beauvert. He was
promoted to major in December 1870.
For his bravery against the enemy he received both the Iron Cross 1st and
2nd Classes, the Bavarian Military Merit Order Knight 1st Class, the Knight's
Cross of the Military Order of Max Joseph, Bavaria's highest military decoration,
and decorations from several other German states.
2nd Classes, the Bavarian Military Merit Order Knight 1st Class, the Knight's
Cross of the Military Order of Max Joseph, Bavaria's highest military decoration,
and decorations from several other German states.
Travels
In the post-war years, Prince Leopold spent most of his time travelling,
visiting Africa, Asia and countries of Europe.
visiting Africa, Asia and countries of Europe.
Marriage
He was married on 20 April 1873 at Vienna to his second cousin
Archduchess Gisela of Austria, daughter of Emperor
Franz Joseph of Austria and the Empress Elisabeth.
Archduchess Gisela of Austria, daughter of Emperor
Franz Joseph of Austria and the Empress Elisabeth.
Prince Leopold and his wife Gisela had four children:
* Princess Elisabeth Marie of Bavaria (1874–1957), who married
Otto Ludwig Philipp Graf von Seefried auf Buttenheim
Otto Ludwig Philipp Graf von Seefried auf Buttenheim
* Princess Auguste Maria of Bavaria (1875–1964), who married
Archduke Joseph August of Austria
Archduke Joseph August of Austria
* Prince Georg of Bavaria (1880–1943), married
Archduchess Isabella of Austria
Archduchess Isabella of Austria
* Prince Konrad of Bavaria (1883–1969), who married Princess
Bona Margherita of Savoy-Genoa
Bona Margherita of Savoy-Genoa
Army
From 1881 to 1887 Leopold was the commander of the 1st Royal Bavarian
Division, from 1887 to 1892 of the I Royal Bavarian Corps. In both commands
he would be succeeded by his younger brother, Prince Arnulf of Bavaria.
Division, from 1887 to 1892 of the I Royal Bavarian Corps. In both commands
he would be succeeded by his younger brother, Prince Arnulf of Bavaria.
In 1892 Leopold became the inspector general of the 4th Army Inspection,
replacing Leonhard Graf von Blumenthal. After his appointment, the 4th
Army Inspection gradually became consistent of Bavarian corps.
replacing Leonhard Graf von Blumenthal. After his appointment, the 4th
Army Inspection gradually became consistent of Bavarian corps.
He remained in the Bavarian Army and was finally promoted to the rank
of field marshal (Generalfeldmarschall) on 1 January 1905.
of field marshal (Generalfeldmarschall) on 1 January 1905.
In 1911 he ordered a 6m racing yacht "Ralle II" from the great British
yacht designer Alfred Mylne, built at the Rambeck yard on Lake Starnberg.
He retired from active duty in 1913 to give chances to Rupprecht,
Crown Prince of Bavaria.
yacht designer Alfred Mylne, built at the Rambeck yard on Lake Starnberg.
He retired from active duty in 1913 to give chances to Rupprecht,
Crown Prince of Bavaria.
,_1873.jpg)
World War I
Prince Leopold's retirement, however, did not last long. On 16 April 1915,
he was given command of the German 9th Army, replacing General
August von Mackensen. Leopold quickly proved himself an able
commander as he took Warsaw on 4 August 1915. Following this success,
he was put in command of Army Group Prince Leopold of Bavaria
(Heeresgruppe Prinz Leopold von Bayern), which was a German force
in the central/northern sector of the Eastern Front. He was awarded the
Grand Cross of the Military Order of Max Joseph on 5 August 1915,
the prestigious Pour le Mérite, Prussia's highest military decoration,
on 9 August 1915 and the oak leaves to the Pour le Mérite on 25 July 1917.
he was given command of the German 9th Army, replacing General
August von Mackensen. Leopold quickly proved himself an able
commander as he took Warsaw on 4 August 1915. Following this success,
he was put in command of Army Group Prince Leopold of Bavaria
(Heeresgruppe Prinz Leopold von Bayern), which was a German force
in the central/northern sector of the Eastern Front. He was awarded the
Grand Cross of the Military Order of Max Joseph on 5 August 1915,
the prestigious Pour le Mérite, Prussia's highest military decoration,
on 9 August 1915 and the oak leaves to the Pour le Mérite on 25 July 1917.
On 29 August 1916, after the brutal summer campaigns succeeded in
reversing the Brusilov Offensive against the Austrians, Leopold became
the Supreme Commander of the German forces on the Eastern front
(Oberbefehlshaber Ost), succeeding Field Marshal Paul von Hindenburg.
Leopold held this post for the rest of the war. Because of his position,
Leopold was a potential German candidate for the throne of the puppet
Kingdom of Poland.
reversing the Brusilov Offensive against the Austrians, Leopold became
the Supreme Commander of the German forces on the Eastern front
(Oberbefehlshaber Ost), succeeding Field Marshal Paul von Hindenburg.
Leopold held this post for the rest of the war. Because of his position,
Leopold was a potential German candidate for the throne of the puppet
Kingdom of Poland.
On 4 March 1918, Leopold received yet another high honor, the
Grand Cross of the Iron Cross, awarded only five times during World War I.
Grand Cross of the Iron Cross, awarded only five times during World War I.
Prince Leopold retired again in 1918 after the signing of the
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, which had ended the war on the Eastern Front.
This treaty was highly favorable to Germany, and Leopold ended his
career with success.
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, which had ended the war on the Eastern Front.
This treaty was highly favorable to Germany, and Leopold ended his
career with success.
Death
He died on 28 September 1930 in Munich and is buried in the Colombarium
in the Michaelskirche in Munich.
in the Michaelskirche in Munich.
Source pictures: Wikipedia
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