Ernst Rüdiger von Starhemberg

This article is about the 17th century Austrian field marshal. For the 20th century conservative politician, seeErnst Rüdiger Starhemberg.

Ernst Rüdiger von Starhemberg
Portrait, copy afterPeter Schenk the Elder
Born	(1638-01-12)12 January 1638 Graz,Duchy of Styria
Died	4 January 1701(1701-01-04)(aged 62) Vösendorf,Archduchy of Austria
Buried	Vienna
Allegiance	Holy Roman Empire
Service/branch	Imperial Army
Years of service	c.1660–1701
Rank	Generalfeldmarschall
Battles/wars	Great Turkish War Battle of Vienna Battle of Buda
Awards	Order of the Golden Fleece

Count Ernst Rüdiger von Starhemberg(12 January 1638 – 4 January 1701) was military governor ofViennafrom 1680, the city's defender during theBattle of Viennain 1683,Imperialgeneral during theGreat Turkish War,and President of theHofkriegsrat.By birth, he was a member of theHouse of Starhemberg.

Life

He was born inGraz,Styria,as son of Count Conrad Balthasar von Starhemberg (1612-1687) and his first wife Countess Anna Elisabeth vonZinzendorf und Pottendorf(died in 1659). His cousinCount Guido von Starhembergalso became a famous soldier and fought as an adjutant at his side. Ernst Rüdiger von Starhemberg fought in the 1660s under Imperial Lieutenant generalRaimondo MontecuccoliagainstFrenchandOttomanforces.

In 1683 he was military commander of the city of Vienna, with fewer than 20,000 men to oppose about 120,000 besieging Ottomans. On 15 July 1683 Starhemberg refused an offer by the Turkish commanderKara Mustafa Pashato capitulate, counting on the speedy arrival of an Imperial army, sent by theHabsburgemperorLeopold Iwho had fled his residence, and the strength of city walls which had been fortified after the first OttomanSiege of Viennain 1529.

When after two months the relief army under the command ofPolishkingJan Sobieskiarrived in the first half of September, Vienna was on the brink of collapse. Its walls were breached by Turkishsapperswho had tunnelled under the walls, packed the tunnels with gunpowder, and detonated the explosive charges. Finally, on 12 September, 80,000 Polish,Venetian,Bavarian,andSaxontroops attacked the Turks and were able to defeat them in the Battle on theKahlenberg.

Starhemberg, engraving byJean Le Pautre

Ernst Rüdiger von Starhemberg was promoted to the rank of afield marshalby the Emperor, recognizing Starhemberg's action in saving the imperial capital. He was also made a minister of the state. Going after the retiring Ottoman troops, Starhemberg was severely wounded in 1686 during theSiege of Budaby a shot in his left hand and had to abandon his command. In 1691 he was made President of the Hofkriegsrat and was responsible for the organisation of theHabsburgarmy.

Personal life

He married firstly his third cousin, Countess Helena Dorothea vonStarhemberg(1634-1688). After the death of his first wife, he married again in 1689 to Countess Maria JosephaJörger von Tollet(1668-1746), his fourth cousin, once removed. He left issue from both marriages. The later Austrian politicianErnst Rüdiger, Fürst zu Starhemberg(1899-1956) was his descendant.

Death

Epitaph of Count Starhemberg in Vienna's Schottenkirche

Starhemberg died at Vösendorf on 4 January 1701, aged 62. His tomb (byJoseph Emanuel Fischer von Erlach) is situated in the ViennaSchottenkirche.

Legacy

Later generations have idealized Starhemberg as saviour of theWestern worldandculture.By order of EmperorFranz Joseph I of Austria,a statue was erected in his honour in 1872 at theHeeresgeschichtliches Museumin Vienna, where the Battle of Vienna is thoroughly documented, with Starhemberg'sépéeandarmouron display.

Sources

Adolf Schinzl: Starhemberg, Ernst Rüdiger Graf von. In: Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie (ADB). Band 35, Duncker & Humblot, Leipzig 1893, S. 468–470. Die Türkenkriege, Angriff auf das Abendland (= G/Geschichte; Heft Juni 2007)

See also

• Starhemberg