Baron Paul Kray of
Krajova and
Topolya (german: Paul Freiherr Kray von Krajova und
Topola; hu,
Krajovai és
Topolyai báró Kray Pál; 5 February 1735 – 19 January 1804), was a soldier, and general in
Habsburg service during the
Seven Years' War
The Seven Years' War (1756–1763) was a global conflict that involved most of the European Great Powers, and was fought primarily in Europe, the Americas, and Asia-Pacific. Other concurrent conflicts include the French and Indian War (1754– ...
, the
War of Bavarian Succession, the
Austro–Turkish War (1787–1791) The term Austro-Turkish War may refer to:
* Austro-Turkish War (1593–1606)
* Austro-Turkish War (1663–1664)
* Austro-Turkish War (1683–1699)
* Austro-Turkish War (1716–1718)
* Austro-Turkish War (1737–1739)
* Austro-Turkish War (1788–1 ...
, and 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 France against Britain, Austria, Pruss ...
. He was born in
Késmárk,
Upper Hungary (today: Kežmarok,
Slovakia
Slovakia (; sk, Slovensko ), officially the Slovak Republic ( sk, Slovenská republika, links=no ), is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is bordered by Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east, Hungary to the south, Austria to the ...
).
He withdrew from military service temporarily in 1792 because of poor health, but in 1793, he was recalled to the Habsburg military in the
Netherlands
)
, anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau")
, image_map =
, map_caption =
, subdivision_type = Sovereign state
, subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands
, established_title = Before independence
, established_date = Spanish Netherl ...
at the request of Field Marshal
Prince Coburg and fought in the
Flanders Campaign
The Flanders Campaign (or Campaign in the Low Countries) was conducted from 20 April 1792 to 7 June 1795 during the first years of the War of the First Coalition. A coalition of states representing the Ancien Régime in Western Europe – Au ...
.
In 1799 he was appointed commander of the Austrian forces in Italy and
Colonel-Proprietor of the Infantry Regiment N.34, a ceremonial position he held until his death. On 18 April 1799, Kray was promoted to Feldzeugmeister. In the 1800 campaign, Kray commanded the Austrian force on the Upper Rhine, charged with the defense of all approaches to
Vienna
en, Viennese
, iso_code = AT-9
, registration_plate = W
, postal_code_type = Postal code
, postal_code =
, timezone = CET
, utc_offset = +1
, timezone_DST ...
through the German states. After being out-maneuvered by the French, he was disastrously defeated in five consecutive battles. After the
Battle of Neuburg
The Battle of Neuburg occurred on 27 June 1800 in the south German state of Bavaria, on the southern bank of the Danube river. Neuburg is located on the Danube between Ingolstadt and Donauwörth. This battle occurred late in the War of the ...
, the French acquired both shores of the river, and commanded access to the Danube waterway as far east as
Regensburg. During the subsequent armistice, Emperor Francis II replaced Kray with his brother,
Archduke John; Kray was discharged on 28 August 1800 and retired to
Pest, Hungary
Pest () is the eastern, mostly flat part of Budapest, Hungary, comprising about two-thirds of the city's territory. It is separated from Buda and Óbuda, the western parts of Budapest, by the Danube River. Among its most notable sights are the ...
. He died there on 19 January 1804. For all his victories, for his fierce competitiveness on the battlefield, the French soldiers referred to him as ''Le terrible Kray, le fils cher de la victoire'' and men from both sides attended his funeral in 1804.
Biography
Early career
Kray was born in
Késmárk,
Upper Hungary (today: Kežmarok,
Slovakia
Slovakia (; sk, Slovensko ), officially the Slovak Republic ( sk, Slovenská republika, links=no ), is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is bordered by Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east, Hungary to the south, Austria to the ...
). He was educated in mathematical and other military sciences in
Schemnitz and
Vienna
en, Viennese
, iso_code = AT-9
, registration_plate = W
, postal_code_type = Postal code
, postal_code =
, timezone = CET
, utc_offset = +1
, timezone_DST ...
.
Entering the Austrian army at the age of nineteen in 1754 in the Infantry Regiment 31 "Hallerstein" and fought in the
Seven Years' War
The Seven Years' War (1756–1763) was a global conflict that involved most of the European Great Powers, and was fought primarily in Europe, the Americas, and Asia-Pacific. Other concurrent conflicts include the French and Indian War (1754– ...
. In 1778, he was promoted from grenadier captain to major and transferred to Infantry Regiment "Preysach" 39. After the
War of Bavarian Succession, he transferred to the 2nd Szeckler Grenz (border) Infantry Regiment as lieutenant colonel. In 1784 he suppressed a Romanian peasants' uprising in Transylvania. Kray served in the
Turkish wars of 1787-91. On 10 May 1788, he defeated a superior Turkish force of 5,000 men commanded by
Osman Pazvantoğlu and Kara Mustapha Pasha on the borders of
Transylvania
Transylvania ( ro, Ardeal or ; hu, Erdély; german: Siebenbürgen) is a historical and cultural region in Central Europe, encompassing central Romania. To the east and south its natural border is the Carpathian Mountains, and to the west the ...
. He later led the capture of the
Krajova fortress; for this, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the
Military Order of Maria Theresa on 21 December 1789, in May of the following year, Kray was promoted Generalmajor and subsequently ennobled by Emperor
Joseph II with the
title
A title is one or more words used before or after a person's name, in certain contexts. It may signify either generation, an official position, or a professional or academic qualification. In some languages, titles may be inserted between the f ...
of
Freiherr
(; male, abbreviated as ), (; his wife, abbreviated as , literally "free lord" or "free lady") and (, his unmarried daughters and maiden aunts) are designations used as titles of nobility in the German-speaking areas of the Holy Roman Empire ...
"von Krajow und Topolya". In the
Austro-Turkish War of 1787 to 1791 he saw active service at
Petrozsény and the
Vulcan Pass
Vulcan Pass ( ro, Pasul Vulcan, hu, Vulkán-szoros) is a mountain pass in the Hunedoara county of Romania, on the Jiu valley. The nearby city of Vulcan
Vulcan may refer to:
Mythology
* Vulcan (mythology), the god of fire, volcanoes, metalwor ...
.
War of the First Coalition
Promoted
major general
Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of a ...
in 1790, three years later Kray commanded the advance guard of the
Allies under Prince Coburg, operating in Flanders and the Austrian Netherlands. He distinguished himself at
Famars,
Menin,
Wissembourg,
Charleroi
Charleroi ( , , ; wa, Tchålerwè ) is a city and a municipality of Wallonia, located in the province of Hainaut, Belgium. By 1 January 2008, the total population of Charleroi was 201,593. ,
Fleurus
Fleurus (; wa, Fleuru) is a city and municipality of Wallonia located in the province of Hainaut, Belgium. It has been the site of four major battles.
The municipality consists of the following districts: Brye, Heppignies, Fleurus, Lambusart, ...
, and, indeed, at almost every encounter in the
Flanders Campaign
The Flanders Campaign (or Campaign in the Low Countries) was conducted from 20 April 1792 to 7 June 1795 during the first years of the War of the First Coalition. A coalition of states representing the Ancien Régime in Western Europe – Au ...
with the armies of the
French Republic
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...
.
Promoted to Feldmarschalleutnant on 5 March 1796 Kray served in
Archduke Charles's Army of the Lower Rhine. On 19 June, after the
Battle of Wetzlar, he forced General
Jean-Baptiste Kléber to withdraw from
Uckerath. He also defeated French General of Division
Jourdan in the clash at Limburg on 16 September. He then fought in various actions, including the victory at
Amberg
Amberg () is a town in Bavaria, Germany. It is located in the Upper Palatinate, roughly halfway between Regensburg and Bayreuth. In 2020, over 42,000 people lived in the town.
History
The town was first mentioned in 1034, at that time under t ...
on 24 August, and at the
Battle of Würzburg as a divisional commander, when he was largely responsible for the victory of
Archduke Charles of Austria. On 19 September, he captured the mortally wounded General of Division
François Séverin Marceau-Desgraviers, one of the ablest and bravest French commanders of the day; he returned the corpse to French lines with a guard of honor of the Bethlen Hussars N.35.
On 4 March 1796 he received promotion to
lieutenant general
Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a three-star military rank (NATO code OF-8) used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title of lieutenant general was held by the second-in-command on the ...
(''Feldmarschal-Leutnant''). In the celebrated campaign of 1796, on the
Rhine
The Rhine ; french: Rhin ; nl, Rijn ; wa, Rén ; li, Rien; rm, label=Sursilvan, Rein, rm, label=Sutsilvan and Surmiran, Ragn, rm, label=Rumantsch Grischun, Vallader and Puter, Rain; it, Reno ; gsw, Rhi(n), including in Alsatian dialect, Al ...
and
Danube
The Danube ( ; ) is a river that was once a long-standing frontier of the Roman Empire and today connects 10 European countries, running through their territories or being a border. Originating in Germany, the Danube flows southeast for , ...
, he performed conspicuous service as a
corps
Corps (; plural ''corps'' ; from French , from the Latin "body") is a term used for several different kinds of organization. A military innovation by Napoleon I, the formation was first named as such in 1805. The size of a corps varies great ...
commander. In the following year, he was less successful, being defeated on the
Lahn
The Lahn is a , right (or eastern) tributary of the Rhine in Germany. Its course passes through the federal states of North Rhine-Westphalia (23.0 km), Hesse (165.6 km), and Rhineland-Palatinate (57.0 km).
It has its source in ...
, and at
Mainz
Mainz () is the capital and largest city of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.
Mainz is on the left bank of the Rhine, opposite to the place that the Main joins the Rhine. Downstream of the confluence, the Rhine flows to the north-west, with Ma ...
.
Worse, his command was surprised and defeated by the French General
Louis-Lazarre Hoche in the
Battle of Neuwied of 1797. Kray was accused of negligence; a
courts-martial found him guilty and sentenced him to two weeks arrest. He requested to resign in protest but this was denied.
War of the Second Coalition
Kray commanded in
Italy
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical ...
in 1799, and reconquered the plain of
Lombardy from the French. He won a sharp action at
Legnago on 26 March. For his victory over the French at the
Battle of Magnano on 5 April, he was promoted
Feldzeugmeister (artillery lieutenant general).
This victory caused the French army to withdraw to the
Adda River. Nevertheless, Kray was replaced when
Michael von Melas arrived to take command of the Austrian forces. While the field army won two more major battles, Kray conducted the successful sieges of
Peschiera del Garda
Peschiera del Garda (; vec, Pischera; la, Ardelica, ''Arilica'') is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Verona, in Veneto, Italy. When Lombardy-Venetia was under Austrian rule, Peschiera was the northwest anchor of the four fortified tow ...
and
Mantua
Mantua ( ; it, Mantova ; Lombard language, Lombard and la, Mantua) is a city and ''comune'' in Lombardy, Italy, and capital of the Province of Mantua, province of the same name.
In 2016, Mantua was designated as the Italian Capital of Culture ...
. At the
Battle of Novi, he commanded the divisions of
Peter Ott and
Heinrich Bellegarde. On 6 November, he was defeated by the French in a second clash at
Novi Ligure.
The following year he commanded on the Rhine against
Jean Moreau. As a consequence of his defeats at the battles of
Stockach,
Messkirch,
Biberach,
Iller River, and
Höchstädt, Kray was driven into
Ulm. However, by a skillful march round Moreau's flank he succeeded in escaping to
Bohemia.
After a 15 July truce became effective he was relieved of his command by
Emperor Francis II and dismissed from the service. Kray's successor,
Archduke John of Austria was disastrously defeated at the
Battle of Hohenlinden
The Battle of Hohenlinden was fought on 3 December 1800 during the French Revolutionary Wars. A French army under Jean Victor Marie Moreau won a decisive victory over an Austrian and Bavarian force led by 18-year-old Archduke John of Austri ...
in December.
Kray died in Pest, Hungary on 19 January 1804.
[Smith]
''Paul Kray.''
Commentary
Kray was one of the best representatives of the old Austrian army. Tied to an obsolete system, and unable, from habit, to realize the changed conditions of warfare, he failed, but his enemies held him in the highest respect as a brave, skillful, and chivalrous opponent. It was he who, at
Altenkirchen, cared for the dying
Marceau (1796), and the white uniforms of Kray and his staff mingled with the blue of the French in the funeral procession of the young general of the Republic.
References
Sources
* Arnold, James R. ''Marengo & Hohenlinden.'' Barnsley, South Yorkshire, UK:
Pen & Sword, 2005.
* Clausewitz, Carl von (2020). ''Napoleon Absent, Coalition Ascendant: The 1799 Campaign in Italy and Switzerland, Volume 1.'' Trans and ed. Nicholas Murray and Christopher Pringle. Lawrence, Kansas: University Press of Kansas.
* Clausewitz, Carl von (2021). ''The Coalition Crumbles, Napoleon Returns: The 1799 Campaign in Italy and Switzerland, Volume 2.'' Trans and ed. Nicholas Murray and Christopher Pringle. Lawrence, Kansas: University Press of Kansas.
*
*
Smith, Digby. ''The Napoleonic Wars Data Book.'' London: Greenhill, 1998.
* Smith, Digby. ''Paul Kray,'
Kray
External links
Hungarian Aristocracy
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kray, Paul
1735 births
1804 deaths
People from Kežmarok
18th-century Slovak people
Military leaders of the French Revolutionary Wars
Austrian nobility
Hungarian nobility
Hungarian generals
Austrian generals
Austro-Hungarian people
Austrian people of Hungarian descent
18th-century Austrian military personnel