- Pál Kray
Baron Pál Kray de Krajova et Topolya ( _de. Paul Freiherr Kray von Krajova und Topola) (
February 5 ,1735 –January 19 ,1804 ) was an Hungarian-Austria n soldier. He was born inKésmárk ,Hungary . He was educated in mathematical and other military sciences inSchemmitz andVienna .Entering the Austrian army at the age of nineteen, he arrived somewhat rapidly at the grade of major, but it was many years before he had any opportunity of distinguishing himself. In 1784 he suppressed a rising in
Transylvania , and in theTurkish wars he took an active part atPorczeny and theVulcan Pass .Made major-general in 1790, three years later, he commanded the advance guard of the Allies operating in
France . He distinguished himself atFamars ,Charleroi , Fleurus,Weissenberg , and, indeed, at almost every encounter with the troops of theFrench Republic . In the celebrated campaign of 1796, on theRhine andDanube , he did conspicuous service as acorps commander. AtWetalar , he defeated Kléber, and, at Amberg and Würzburg, he was largely responsible for the victory of theArchduke Charles of Austria . In the following year, he was less successful, being twice defeated on theLahn and theMainz .Kray commanded in
Italy in 1799, and reconquered from the French the plain ofLombardy . For his victories ofVerona , Mantua,Legnago , andMagnano , he was promoted "Feldzeugmeister " (artillery lieutenant general), and he ended the campaign by further victories at Novi andFossano . The following year, he commanded on the Rhine against Moreau. As a consequence of the defeats he underwent atBiberach ,Messkirch , etc., Kray was driven intoUlm , but by a skilful march round Moreau's flank he succeeded in escaping toBohemia . He was relieved of his command by the Austrian government in 1800, and passed his remaining years in retirement. He died inPest, Hungary in 1804.Kray was one of the best representatives of the old Austrian army. Tied to an obsolete system, and unable, from habit, to realise the changed conditions of warfare, he failed, but his enemies held him in the highest respect as a brave, skilful, 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
*1911
* [http://ferenczygen.tripod.com Hungarian Aristocracy]External links
* [http://www.epoche-napoleon.net/pages/bio/kray.htm Longer biography in German]
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