Tassilo Festetics de Tolna (1813-1883)
Tassilo Graf Festetics de Tolna (b. 2 June 1813 - d. 7 February 1883) was a Royal Hungarian court official and an Austrian General der Kavallerie, who commanded the Austrian IV Army Corps during the Austro-Prussian War.
Biography
Born in Vienna into the noble family Festetics de Tolna, Tassilo Festetics was the grandson of the agricultural pioneer György Festetics. In 1827 he joined the Chevauxlegers Regiment No. 2 as a second lieutenant. He served in the army until he left active servive on 15 February 1846. Recalled he took part in the suppression of the Kraków uprising and in the campaign in Italy in 1849. On 31 July 1849 he returned to active service as a lieutenant colonel and from September 1849 to July 1857 he commanded Hussar Regiment No. 7.
On 25 July 1857 Festetics was promoted to major general and on 3 April 1858 he received command of a brigade in the 5th Army Corps. Festetics led his brigade in the Battle of Solferino. For his performance, he was awarded the Order of the Iron Crown 2nd Class. On 21 January 1864 Festetics was promoted to Feldmarshall-Leutnant.
During the Austro-Prussian War of 1866 Festetics received the command of the 4th Army Corps, which was parth of the North Army, and led it in the battle of Königgrätz, where he was wounded by shrapnel in the foot.
On 3 October 1866 Festetics received the Grand Cross of the Order of Leopold and on 15 August 1869 he was awarded the Order of the Golden Fleece. On 20 April 1879 he was promoted to General der Kavallerie.
Tassilo Festetics de Tolna died on 7 February 1883 in Petrovardin.
References
- Oscar Criste, Festetics de Tolna, Tassilo Graf in Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie (ADB). Band 48, Duncker & Humblot, Leipzig 1904, S. 523 f.
- Geoffrey Wawro, The Austro-Prussian War. Austria´s War with Prussia and Italy in 1866, Cambridge 1996.