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Joseph Nikolaus de Vins

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Joseph Nikolaus de Vins
Joseph Baron Nikolaus de Vins
Born1732(1732)
Mantua,Lombardy,Habsburg Austria
Died26 September 1798(1798-09-27)(aged 66)
Vienna,Habsburg Austria
AllegianceHabsburg monarchyHabsburg monarchy
Service/branchInfantry
RankFeldzeugmeister
Battles/warsSeven Years' War
Austro-Turkish War (1787-1791)
French Revolutionary Wars
AwardsMilitary Order of Maria Theresa,KC 1758, GC 1790
Other workInhaberInfantry Regiment Nr. 37
Privy Councillor

Joseph Nikolaus Freiherr de VinsorJoseph de Wins(1732 – 26 September 1798), joined the army ofHabsburg Austriaand fought in theSeven Years' Warwhere he was decorated for bravery. By 1773 he earned promotion togeneral officer.From 1783 he held important posts on theMilitary Frontierand led an independent corps inCroatiaduring theAustro-Turkish War.In theFrench Revolutionary Warshe commanded the joint forces of Austria and theKingdom of Sardinia-Piedmontfrom 1792 until 1795. Though the French were held at bay during his tenure, his slowness and poor health prevented Piedmont's lost territories from being recovered. Throughout the period much tension existed between the two allies. Ironically, the day after De Vins resigned, the French attacked and badly defeated his replacement. He wasProprietor (Inhaber)of an Austrian infantry regiment from 1784 until his death.

Early career

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Born atMantuainItalyin 1732, De Vins was the son of Hektor Franz de Vins, an Austrian general killed in theBattle of Piacenzain 1746. He went into the army of theHabsburg monarchyand fought in theSeven Years' War.[1]Wartime promotion was rapid. On 8 September 1757 De Vins becameMajor,on 16 July 1760 he was namedOberstleutnant,and on 13 October 1761 he was elevated toOberst(colonel). He won the Knight's Cross of theMilitary Order of Maria Theresaon 4 December 1758. His promotion toGeneral-majorcame through on 1 May 1773. Another elevation in rank toFeldmarschall-Leutnantoccurred on 3 April 1783. In that month he was appointed to command the Banal-WarasdinMilitary Frontier.He became Proprietor of theDe VinsInfantry Regiment Nr. 37 on 7 February 1784 and held the office during his lifetime.[2]

De Vins commanded the Banal-Warasdin-KarlstadtMilitary Frontier beginning in August 1786. On 10 November 1788 he received promotion toFeldzeugmeister.He led the Autonomous Corps in Croatia during theAustro-Turkish War (1787-1791).His tenure in corps command lasted from October 1787 to October 1790, though it was not continuous. He briefly led the Karlstadt-Warasdin Military Frontier from May 1790 to December 1791.The Croatian Corpsof the Habsburg Army under his command[3]with 24,380 men and 1,280 horses moved fromKarlovacto the southeast in order to stop the Ottoman incursions into the border area and to liberate parts of Croatia in the regions ofKordunandLika.This Corps won thebattle of Cetingradand succeeded in retaking some border areas of Croatian territory from the Ottoman Empire, including Cetingrad,Furjan,Lapac,BoričevacandSrb,again to become parts of theKingdom of Croatia within the Habsburg Monarchy.

De Vins received the Grand Cross of the Military Order of Maria Theresa on 19 December 1790. After the war he served asInspector Generalof the Military Frontier from 1791 until his death.[2]

French Revolution

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Full-length portrait of a bewigged monarch in white tights and a red robe with his crown sitting on a table
King Victor Amadeus asked for the Austrians to provide him with a general

In the spring of 1792, theFirst French Republicdeclared war on theKingdom of Sardinia-Piedmont.In the fall, the French invaded theCounty of Niceon theMediterraneancoast andDuchy of Savoyin the northwest. The French seizedChambéryin Savoy on 24 September andNiceon 29 September. In the south, the Piedmontese army withdrew to a powerful defensive position atSaorge (Saorgio),blocking access to the strategically importantCol de Tende (Tenda Pass).The onset of winter weather spared Piedmont the loss of more territories.[4]

Shocked at the incompetence of his high-ranking officers, KingVictor Amadeus III of Sardiniabegged the Austrians to send a general to supervise the combined Austrian and Piedmontese armies. Accordingly, De Vins was appointed to fill the position on 21 December 1792.[1]The French attacked Saorgio in June 1793 and were defeated. The Allies tried to mount a counteroffensive, but this effort was crippled by the new commander's slowness. De Vins planned to recapture both Savoy and Nice. Because he suffered badly from gout, De Vins intended to supervise both operations from the capital ofTurin.Prince Maurizio, Duke of Montferrat,named to lead the invasion of Savoy, was directed to follow strict daily instructions from De Vins. Since Turin was 45 miles (72 km) away, the arrangement was impractical.[5]In any case, the Savoy column was turned back with heavy losses at theBattle of Epierreon 15 September 1793.[6]

Map of battle area on French-Italian border
This map shows the Battle of Saorgio campaign in April 1794. The progress of the French offensive is displayed with flags and dates where known. The locations of the events of 1792 and 1793 are also shown.

Charles-François Thaon, Count of Saint-Andréwas directed to advance on Nice from Saorgio. This effort was complicated by the dislike that Saint-André and his Austrian subordinateMichelangelo Alessandro Colli-Marchihad for one another. Furthermore, the Piedmontese officer corps hated De Vins'chief of staff,Eugène-Guillaume Argenteau.At this time, areas of southern France rebelled against the revolutionary government. Large forces were diverted to contain the revolt at theSiege of Toulon,giving the allies a chance to recover territory. De Vins and King Victor Amadeus left in August for the southern front, where operations were supposed to start on 7 September 1793.[7]On 18 October, six Piedmontese battalions defeated the French atGilette.Three days later, there was an inconclusive skirmish atUtelle.[8]In the end, the offensive petered out when snow began to fall in the mountains, prompting the disappointed king to return to his capital in mid-November.[9]

The following year, Sardinian General Dellera wanted to occupyBriga Altanortheast of Saorgio, but De Vins overruled him. However, Dellera convinced the army commander to position an Austrian force atDegoto the east.[10]On 6 April 1794, French GeneralPierre Jadart Dumerbionlaunched an offensive which seized the port ofOnegliaon the 9th. Argenteau attempted to organize a defense atOrmeabut the French captured that town on 18 April andGaressiothe next day. With Saorgio outflanked on the east, De Vins advised Colli to hold the position but to send back other forces not needed for immediate defense. Meanwhile, the Austrian force at Dego failed to send any help. Relations between the Allies were so poor at this time that some Piedmontese officers believed that De Vins had betrayed their nation.[11]TheBattle of Saorgiotook place on 24 April and also included clashes at the Col Ardente on the 24th and Briga on the 27th.[12]The French seized Saorgio on 28 April after Colli withdrew. By early May he abandoned the Col de Tende and fell back nearly to the fortress ofCuneo.[13]On the coast, the French advanced to seizeAlbengaandLoano.[14]

From August 1794 until March 1795, De Vins went on leave from the army.[2]In his absence,Olivier, Count of Wallissuffered a defeat at theFirst Battle of Degoon 21 September 1794.[15]The French failed to exploit the success and instead withdrew toVado Ligure.[16]After De Vins returned, he launched an attack along theItalian Rivieraon 29 June 1795.[17]French generalFrançois Christophe de Kellermannwas defeated and driven back west, losing Vado.[18]Kellermann was replaced byBarthélemy Louis Joseph Schérerand the new general counterattacked in the fall, recapturing some lost territory. However, a winter gale struck on 18 November, apparently halting operations. De Vins, suffering fromscurvyaccording to Colli's chief of staff, named Wallis as his replacement and left the army on 22 November 1795.[19]Schérer mounted a major assault the next day in theBattle of Loano.For casualties of 3,000, the French inflicted 2,500 killed and wounded on the Allies, while capturing 4,000 soldiers, 48 guns, and five colors.[20]Fortunately for the allies, Schérer declined to follow up his victory.[21]

De Vins died on 26 September 1798 atVienna.[2]

Notes

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  1. ^abBoycott-Brown, 76
  2. ^abcdSmith & Kudrna,De Vins
  3. ^"Biographical Dictionary of all Austrian Generals during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars 1792–1815 (page D32)".Leopold Kudrna.Retrieved2022-02-16.
  4. ^Boycott-Brown, 75-76
  5. ^Boycott-Brown, 77-78
  6. ^Smith, 56
  7. ^Boycott-Brown, 78
  8. ^Smith, 59-60
  9. ^Boycott-Brown, 80
  10. ^Boycott-Brown, 88-89
  11. ^Boycott-Brown, 90-91
  12. ^Smith, 74-75
  13. ^Boycott-Brown, 91
  14. ^Chandler, 31
  15. ^Smith, 92
  16. ^Chandler, 35
  17. ^Chandler, 36
  18. ^Boycott-Brown, 102-103
  19. ^Boycott-Brown, 110
  20. ^Smith, 108
  21. ^Chandler, 38

References

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Military offices
Preceded by
Josef Siskovics
 Proprietor (Inhaber)of Infantry Regiment Nr. 37
1784–1798 		Succeeded by
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