Karl Mack von Leiberich
Karl Mack von Leiberich entered an Austrian cavalry regiment in 1770. He served under his uncle Georg Wilhelm Leiberich, who commanded a squadron within that unit. Seven years later, the young officer received his commission as a lieutenant. During the War of the Bavarian Succession, he joined the staff of Count Kinsky. This assignment placed him directly under Field Marshal Count Lacy, the foremost soldier of the Austrian army at that time. Lacy held the highest opinion of his young assistant. Mack performed excellent work on this staff during the brief conflict. He advanced to first lieutenant in 1778 and became captain on the quartermaster-general's staff by 1783. In 1785, he married Katherine Gabrieul and was ennobled under the name Mack von Leiberich.
Mack served on the headquarters staff during the Turkish War. He rose to major and became personal aide-de-camp to Emperor Joseph II in 1788. The following year, he led troops in the storming of Belgrade. This action earned him promotion to lieutenant colonel. Disagreements arose between Mack and Ernst Gideon von Laudon, the new commander-in-chief. These tensions led Mack to demand a court-martial before leaving the front lines. Despite the conflict, he received a colonelcy and the Order of Maria Theresa in 1789. Reconciliation occurred when Laudon and Mack returned to the field together in 1790. During these campaigns, Mack suffered a severe head injury from which he never fully recovered. His reputation grew further when he served as quartermaster-general to Prince Josias of Saxe-Coburg in the Netherlands in 1793. Archduke Charles later wrote that Colonel Mack deserved thanks for their successes in the 1st of March 1793 battle.
Initial coalition successes in March and April 1793 were credited to Mack. However, the ultimate failure of the allies was also blamed on him despite political factors beyond his control. He fell into disfavour within military circles while only Emperor Francis II remained his supporter. In 1797, he achieved the rank of Feldmarschall-leutnant. The following year, he accepted command of the Neapolitan army at the personal request of the Emperor. The material available for this new command proved unpromising against French revolutionary troops. Danger of being murdered by his own men prompted Mack to abandon his post. He took refuge in the French camp instead. Napoleon ordered him sent to France as a prisoner of war rather than returning him to Austria. This decision removed him from active service for several years.
Mack escaped from Paris in disguise two years after his capture. Allegations claimed he broke his parole, though some biographers considered these false. He remained unemployed until 1804 when the Austrian court needed a general to oppose peace policies. Archduke Charles had advocated for peace, but the war party demanded action. Mack became quartermaster-general with instructions to prepare for war with France. On the opening of the 1805 campaign, he served under Archduke Ferdinand Karl Joseph of Austria-Este. This titular commander-in-chief lacked experience in military command. Consequently, Mack held real responsibility for the army opposing Napoleon in Bavaria. His authority received minimal respect from other general officers. Restructuring of the Habsburg military remained incomplete during this period. Mack chose to initiate some innovations while ignoring others. His frequent reversals of Viennese policy undermined an already fragile command structure. In October 1805 at Ulm, he surrendered the entire army to Napoleon. Most of the Austrian high command was captured along with 25,000 men and 65 guns. A few officers including Prince von Schwarzenberg escaped through French defenses.
Following the Battle of Austerlitz, Mack faced conviction by court-martial for cowardice. The tribunal stripped him of his rank, regiment, and honors. He lost chiefly the Order of Maria Theresa among these distinctions. Imprisonment lasted two years before his release in 1808. After leaving prison, he lived in relative obscurity until 1819. The ultimate victory of the allies had obliterated memories of earlier disasters by that time. At the request of Prince Schwarzenberg, he returned to service as Feldmarschall-leutnant. He also regained membership in the Order of Maria Theresa upon reinstatement. Mack died on the 22nd of October 1828 at S. Pölten. His life story appears briefly as a character in book two of Volume I of Tolstoy's War and Peace.
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Common questions
When was Karl Mack von Leiberich born and when did he die?
Karl Mack von Leiberich lived from 1752 until the 22nd of October 1828. He died at S. Pölten after a long military career spanning over five decades.
What major battle caused Karl Mack von Leiberich to surrender his army in 1805?
Karl Mack von Leiberich surrendered his entire army to Napoleon at Ulm in October 1805. This event resulted in the capture of 25,000 men and 65 guns along with most of the Austrian high command.
Who commanded the Austrian cavalry regiment that Karl Mack von Leiberich joined in 1770?
Karl Mack von Leiberich served under his uncle Georg Wilhelm Leiberich who commanded a squadron within the Austrian cavalry regiment. The young officer received his commission as a lieutenant seven years later during this service.
Why did Karl Mack von Leiberich face conviction by court-martial after Austerlitz?
Following the Battle of Austerlitz, Karl Mack von Leiberich faced conviction by court-martial for cowardice. The tribunal stripped him of his rank, regiment, and honors including the Order of Maria Theresa before he spent two years in prison.
How many years was Karl Mack von Leiberich imprisoned following his military failures?
Imprisonment lasted two years before Karl Mack von Leiberich gained release in 1808. He lived in relative obscurity until 1819 when Prince Schwarzenberg requested his return to service.