View source for Duke William of Württemberg

{{Short description|Austrian Army General}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{No footnotes|date=April 2017}}
{{Infobox governor 
|honorific-prefix   = His Royal Highness
|name               = Duke William of Württemberg
|native_name        = Wilhelm Herzog von Württemberg
|image              = William of Württemberg.jpg
|caption            = Duke William, {{circa}}1878
|order              = 2nd
|office             = Governor of Bosnia and Herzegovina
|term_start         = 18 November 1878
|term_end           = 6 April 1881
|lieutenant         = 
|predecessor        = [[Josip Filipović]]
|successor          = [[Hermann, Freiherr Dahlen von Orlaburg]]
|appointed          = [[Franz Joseph I of Austria]]
|birth_date         = {{Birth date|1828|07|20|df=y}}
|birth_place        = [[Pokój, Opole Voivodeship|Carlsruhe]], [[Kingdom of Prussia]]
|death_date         = {{Death date and age|1896|11|05|1828|07|20|df=y}}
|death_place        = [[Merano]], [[Tyrol (state)|Tyrol]], [[Austria-Hungary]]
|restingplace       = 
|spouse             = 
|relations          = 
|children           = 
|alma_mater         = 
|occupation         = 
|profession         = Soldier
|signature          = 
<!--Military service-->
|nickname           = 
|allegiance         = {{flag|Austrian Empire}}{{Clear}}<small>(until 1867)</small>{{Clear}}{{flag|Austria-Hungary}}{{Clear}}<small>(1867-1891)</small>
|branch             = [[Austro-Hungarian Army]]
|serviceyears       = 1848-1891
|rank               = Lieutenant [[Colonel General]]
|unit               = 1st Infantry Regiment{{Clear}}Northern Army
|commands           = 27th Infantry Regiment{{Clear}}11th Infantry Division
|battles            = 
{{tree list}}
* [[First Italian War of Independence]]
* [[Second Italian War of Independence]]
** [[Battle of Magenta]]
* [[Austro-Prussian War]]
** [[Battle of Königgrätz]]
* [[Franco-Prussian War]]
* [[Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878)|Russo-Turkish War]]
{{tree list/end}}
|awards             = [[Order of the Crown (Württemberg)|Order of the Crown]]{{Clear}}[[Military Merit Order (Württemberg)|Military Merit Order]]{{Clear}}[[Order of Leopold (Austria)|Imperial Order of Leopold]]{{Clear}}[[Order of the Iron Crown (Austria)|Order of the Iron Crown]]{{Clear}}[[Pour le Mérite]]
}}

'''Duke William of Württemberg''' ({{langx|de|Wilhelm Nikolaus Herzog von Württemberg}}; 20 July 1828 &ndash; 5 November 1896) was an [[Austria-Hungary|Austrian]] and [[Kingdom of Württemberg|Württemberg]] General.

==Early life and family==
Duke William was born at [[Pokój, Opole Voivodeship|Carlsruhe]], [[Kingdom of Prussia]] (now Pokój, [[Poland]]) was the first child of [[Duke Eugen of Württemberg (1788–1857)|Duke Eugen of Württemberg]] (1788–1857, son of [[Duke Eugen of Württemberg (1758–1822)|Duke Eugen of Württemberg]] and [[Princess Louise of Stolberg-Gedern (1764–1834)|Princess Louise of Stolberg-Gedern]]) by his second marriage to [[Princess Helene of Hohenlohe-Langenburg]] (1807–1880, daughter of [[Karl Ludwig, Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg|Charles Louis, Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg]] and [[Countess Amalie Henriette of Solms-Baruth]]). William had three half-siblings from his father's previous marriage with [[Princess Mathilde of Waldeck and Pyrmont]]. He was the first member of the [[House of Württemberg]] to attend a public high school in [[Wrocław|Breslau]].

==Military career==

===War service===
After studying in [[Geneva]] and [[Bonn]], he joined the [[Austro-Hungarian Army|Austrian Army]] in 1848 as a lieutenant for Infantry Regiment Kaiser Franz Joseph No. 1 in [[Vienna]]. During the [[First Italian War of Independence]] (1848–1849) he was wounded several times. In recognition of his bravery, Field Marshal [[Joseph Radetzky von Radetz]] promoted him to captain in the infantry regiment No. 45.

In 1853 he became major, between 1857 and 1859 colonel lieutenant, and colonel and commander of the infantry regiment No. 27 King of the Belgians. He fought also at the [[Second Italian War of Independence]] (1859). At the [[Battle of Magenta]], he impressed both his superiors, Major General [[Wilhelm von Ramming|Wilhelm Ramming]] and Field Marshal Lieutenant [[Eduard Clam-Gallas]] and his opponents. The French generals [[Gustave Olivier Lannes de Montebello|Gustave Lannes de Montebello]] and [[Pierre Louis Charles de Failly]] mentioned this a few weeks later in a meeting against the Field Marshal Lieutenant Prince of Hesse.

In 1866 he took part in the [[Austro-Prussian War]] as a major general, his brigade was assigned to the Northern Army and fought in the Battles of [[Battle of Königgrätz|Königgrätz]], Swiepwalde, [[Battle of Blumenau|Blumenau]] and Bratislava.

After the campaign, he arrived with his brigade in [[Trieste]], in 1869 he was made commander of 11th Infantry Division troops in [[Prague]] and on 24 October 1869 he was promoted to lieutenant field marshal. During the [[Franco-Prussian War]] William fought on the German side against [[Second French Empire|France]]. He also fought in the [[Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878)|Russian-Turkish war]] in 1878.

===Bosnia and Herzegovina===
In 1878, during the [[Austro-Hungarian campaign in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1878|Austro-Hungarian occupation of Bosnia and Herzegovina]], he fought (again on the Austrian side) at Rogelj{{Clarify|date=December 2022}} and [[Jajce]]. Due to his excellent performances, Emperor [[Franz Joseph I of Austria|Franz Joseph I]] appointed him [[Feldzeugmeister]] and commanding general of the 18th Army Corps. His task was to submit to the west and bring peace to Bosnia{{Clarify|date=December 2022}}. In 1878 he was commissioned to organize the newly established [[Austro-Hungarian rule in Bosnia and Herzegovina|Condominium of Bosnia and Herzegovina]] militarily and politically. He served as [[Governor of Bosnia and Herzegovina]] from 1878 to 1881.

He developed the military and economic interests to be taken into account plan, a large number of communication routes. The school system, especially the militarily organized Knabenpensionat in [[Sarajevo]], developed in a short time, as well as all other branches of administration and justice.

===Later years===
In 1883 William was the commanding general of the XI. Corps in [[Lviv|Lemberg]]. In 1889 he became commander of the 3rd Armeekorps in [[Graz]]. In 1891 he retired from the military because of the death of [[Charles I of Württemberg|King Charles I of Württemberg]]. As the late king's successor [[William II of Württemberg|William II]] had no son, William became the [[heir presumptive]] to the throne of Württemberg.

William was Württemberg [[General of the Infantry (Germany)|General of the Infantry]] [[à la suite]] of the ''Grenadier Regiment "King Karl" (5 Wurttemberg) No. 123'' and the [[Royal Colonel]] of the Prussian ''Infantry Regiment of Herwarth Bittenfeld (1st Westphalian) No. 13''.

As a member of the House of Württemberg, he was a member of the [[Estates of Württemberg]].

==Death==
William died unmarried and without issue. The consequences of war injuries and a car accident in [[Kingdom of Italy (1861–1946)|Italy]] affected his health. He died during a vacation in [[County of Tyrol|Tyrol]].

==Honours and awards==
{{columns-list|colwidth=25em|
* {{flag|Württemberg}}:<ref name="handbuch01">''Hof- und Staats-Handbuch des Königreich Württemberg'' (1896), "Departement des Kriegswesen" p. [https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_Pc5CAAAAYAAJ/page/n349/mode/2up 313]</ref>
** [[Order of the Crown (Württemberg)|Grand Cross of the Württemberg Crown]], ''1842''<ref name="handbuch02">''Hof- und Staats-Handbuch des Königreich Württemberg'' (1886/7), "Königliche Orden" pp. [https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_cc1CAAAAYAAJ/page/n65/mode/2up 21], [https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_cc1CAAAAYAAJ/page/n95/mode/2up 51], [https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_cc1CAAAAYAAJ/page/n99/mode/2up 55]</ref>
** Grand Cross of the [[Friedrich Order]]<ref name="handbuch02"/>
** Knight of the [[Military Merit Order (Württemberg)|Military Merit Order]], ''17 April 1849'';<ref name="Württemberg1854">{{cite book|author=Württemberg|title=Königlich-Württembergisches Hof- und Staats-Handbuch: 1854|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3VsAAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA63|year=1854|publisher=Guttenberg|page=63}}</ref> Commander, ''3 August 1859''; Grand Cross, ''18 December 1878''<ref>''Hof- und Staats-Handbuch des Königreich Württemberg'' (1896), "Königliche Orden" p. [https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_Pc5CAAAAYAAJ/page/n99/mode/2up 64]</ref>
** Golden Jubilee Medal
* {{flag|Brunswick}}: Grand Cross of the [[Order of Henry the Lion]], ''1860''<ref>''Hof- und Staatshandbuch des Herzogtums Braunschweig für das Jahr 1897''. Braunschweig 1897. Meyer. p. 10</ref>
* {{flagicon image|Flag of the Kingdom of Prussia (1803-1892).svg}} [[Kingdom of Prussia]]:
** [[Pour le Mérite]] (military), ''22 March 1864''<ref name="prus1">{{citation|title=Königlich Preussische Ordensliste|work=Preussische Ordens-liste|volume=1|url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015049878831&view=1up&seq=5&skin=2021|pages=[https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015049878831&view=1up&seq=19&skin=2021 11], [https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015049878831&view=1up&seq=32&skin=2021 24], [https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015049878831&view=1up&seq=1122&skin=2021 1050]|lang=German|location=Berlin|year=1886|via=hathitrust.org}}</ref>
** [[Order of the Red Eagle|Grand Cross of the Red Eagle]], ''28 September 1876''<ref name="prus1"/>
** Knight of Honour of the [[Johanniter Order]], ''27 July 1884'';<ref name="prus1"/> Knight of Justice, ''1890''<ref name="prus2">{{citation|title=Königlich Preussische Ordensliste (supp.)|volume=1|url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015049878823&view=1up&seq=7&skin=2021|page=[https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015049878823&view=1up&seq=123&skin=2021 117]|chapter=Johanniter-orden|lang=German|location=Berlin|year=1886|via=hathitrust.org}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Saxe-Coburg and Gotha}} {{flagicon|Saxe-Altenburg}} {{flagicon|Saxe-Meiningen}} [[Ernestine duchies]]: Grand Cross of the [[Saxe-Ernestine House Order]], ''1860''<ref>''Staatshandbücher für das Herzogtums Sachsen-Coburg und Gotha'' (1865), "Herzogliche Sachsen-Ernestinischer Hausorden" [https://zs.thulb.uni-jena.de/rsc/viewer/jportal_derivate_00244505/Sachsen_Coburg_Gotha_170545237_1865_0033.tif?logicalDiv=jportal_jparticle_00483246 p. 20]</ref>
* {{flag|Kingdom of Bavaria}}: [[Order of Saint Hubert|Knight of St. Hubert]], ''1892''<ref>''[https://www.digitale-sammlungen.de/en/view/bsb11734526?page=32,33  Hof- und Staats-Handbuch des Königreich Bayern]'' (1896), "Königliche Orden" p. 9</ref>
* {{flag|Belgium}}: Commander of the [[Order of Leopold (Belgium)|Order of Leopold]] (military), ''14 December 1859'';<ref>{{citation|chapter-url=https://archives.bruxelles.be/almanach/watch/AR/ALMANACH%20ROYAL%20OFFICIEL_1860_R%20208/ALMANACH%20ROYAL%20OFFICIEL_1860_R%20208#page/24|title=Almanach Royal Officiel|year=1860|chapter=Liste des Membres de l'Ordre de Léopold|lang=french|via=Archives de Bruxelles|page=49}}</ref> Grand Cordon, ''1881''<ref name="handbuch01"/>
* {{flag|Baden}}:<ref>''Hof- und Staats-Handbuch des Großherzogtum Baden'' (1896), "Großherzogliche Orden" [https://digital.blb-karlsruhe.de/blbihd/periodical/pageview/1878737 pp. 63], [https://digital.blb-karlsruhe.de/blbihd/periodical/pageview/1878751 77]</ref>
** Knight of the [[House Order of Fidelity]], ''1893''
** Knight of the [[Order of Berthold the First]], ''1893'' 
* {{flagicon image|Flagge Fürstentum Lippe.svg}} {{flagicon|Schaumburg-Lippe}} [[House of Lippe|Lippe]]:<ref name="handbuch01"/>
** Cross of Honour of the House Order of Lippe, 1st Class with Swords
** Military Merit Medal
* {{flag|Mecklenburg-Schwerin}}: [[Military Merit Cross (Mecklenburg-Schwerin)|Military Merit Cross]], 1st Class<ref name="handbuch01"/>
* {{flag|Principality of Montenegro}}: Grand Cross of the [[Order of Prince Danilo I]]<ref name="handbuch01"/>
* {{flag|Ottoman Empire}}: [[Order of Osmanieh]], 1st Class<ref name="handbuch01"/>
* {{flag|Russian Empire|1858}}: [[Order of St. Alexander Nevsky|Knight of St. Alexander Nevsky]]<ref name="handbuch01"/>
* {{flagicon|Two Sicilies}} [[House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies|Two Sicilian Royal Family]]: Grand Cross of the [[Royal Order of Francis I|Order of Francis I]]<ref name="handbuch01"/>
* {{flag|Austrian Empire}}:
** Knight of the [[Order of Leopold (Austria)|Imperial Order of Leopold]], ''1849''; Commander, ''1864''; Grand Cross with War Decoration, ''1881''<ref name="oster1">{{citation|chapter-url=http://alex.onb.ac.at/cgi-content/alex?aid=shb&datum=1918&page=424&size=45|chapter=Ritter-Orden|title=Hof- und Staatshandbuch der Österreichisch-Ungarischen Monarchie|date=1895|access-date=10 July 2020|pages= [http://alex.onb.ac.at/cgi-content/alex?aid=shb&datum=1895&size=45&page=301 64]-[http://alex.onb.ac.at/cgi-content/alex?aid=shb&datum=1895&page=302&size=45 65], [http://alex.onb.ac.at/cgi-content/alex?aid=shb&datum=1895&page=305&size=45 68], [http://alex.onb.ac.at/cgi-content/alex?aid=shb&datum=1895&size=45&page=317 80]}}</ref>
** [[Order of the Iron Crown (Austria)|Knight of the Iron Crown]], 2nd Class, ''1859''; 1st Class with War Decoration, ''1878''<ref name="oster1"/>
** Knight of the [[Military Order of Maria Theresa]], ''1859''<ref name="oster1"/>
** Grand Cross of the [[Order of Saint Stephen of Hungary|Royal Hungarian Order of St. Stephen]], ''1891''<ref name="oster1"/>
** [[Military Merit Cross (Austria-Hungary)|Military Merit Cross]]
** Long Service Cross for Officers, 2nd Class (50 years)
}}

==Ancestry==
{{ahnentafel
|collapsed=yes |align=center
|boxstyle_1=background-color: #fcc;
|boxstyle_2=background-color: #fb9;
|boxstyle_3=background-color: #ffc;
|boxstyle_4=background-color: #bfc;
|1= 1. '''Duke William of Württemberg'''
|2= 2. [[Duke Eugen of Württemberg (1788–1857)|Duke Eugen of Württemberg]]
|3= 3. [[Princess Helene of Hohenlohe-Langenburg]]
|4= 4. [[Duke Eugen of Württemberg (1758–1822)|Duke Eugen of Württemberg]]
|5= 5. [[Princess Louise of Stolberg-Gedern (1764–1834)|Princess Louise of Stolberg-Gedern]]
|6= 6. [[Karl Ludwig, Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg]] 
|7= 7. [[Countess Amalie Henriette of Solms-Baruth]] 
|8= 8. [[Frederick II Eugene, Duke of Württemberg]]
|9= 9. [[Princess Friederike of Brandenburg-Schwedt]]
|10= 10. Christian Carl, Prince of Stolberg-Gedern
|11= 11. Countess Eleonore Reuss of Lobenstein
|12= 12. [[Christian Albrecht, Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg]] 
|13= 13. [[Caroline of Stolberg-Gedern (1732–1796)|Princess Caroline of Stolberg-Gedern]] 
|14= 14. Johann Christian II, Count of Solms-Baruth 
|15= 15. Countess Friederike Reuss of Köstritz 
}}

==Literature==
{{commonscat}}
*The Royal House of Stuart, London, 1969, 1971, 1976, Addington, A. C., Reference: 223
*L'Allemagne dynastique, Huberty, Giraud, Magdelaine, Reference: II 525
*R. Zerelik in: Sönke Lorenz, Dieter Mertens, Volker Press (Eds.): The House of Wuerttemberg. A biographical dictionary. [[Kohlhammer Verlag]], Stuttgart 1997, {{ISBN|3-17-013605-4}}, S. 370–371.
*Frank Raberg: Manual of the Württemberg State Parliament from 1815 to 1933. Biographical Kohlhammer Verlag, Stuttgart 2001, {{ISBN|3-17-016604-2}}, p.&nbsp;1051st
*Franz Ilwof: Nicolaus Wilhelm, Duke of Württemberg. In General German Biography (ADB). Band 43, Duncker & Humblot, Leipzig 1898, S. 213–218. Volume 43, Duncker & Humblot, Leipzig 1898, p.&nbsp;213-218.
*Constantin von Wurzbach: Württemberg, Wilhelm Nicolaus Duke of, In: Biographical Encyclopedia of the Empire Austria, Volume 58 (1889), published by LC Zamarski, Vienna, 1856–1891, p.&nbsp;253-258

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Refbegin}}
{{Refend}}

{{S-start}}
{{S-hou|[[House of Württemberg]]|20 July|1828|5 November|1896|}}
{{s-off}}
{{succession box |
title=[[Bosnia and Herzegovina (Austro-Hungarian condominium)|Governor of Bosnia and Herzegovina]] |
before=[[Josip Filipović]] |
after=[[Hermann, Freiherr Dahlen von Orlaburg|Hermann Dahlen]] |
years=18 November 1878 – 5 April 1881
}}
{{s-end}}

{{Bosnian governor}}
{{Dukes of Württemberg}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:William of Wurttemberg, Duke}}
[[Category:Governors of Bosnia and Herzegovina]]
[[Category:Dukes of Württemberg (titular)]]
[[Category:Generals of Infantry of Württemberg]]
[[Category:Austro-Hungarian Army officers]]
[[Category:1828 births]]
[[Category:1896 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Namysłów County]]
[[Category:People from the Province of Silesia]]
[[Category:Knights Cross of the Military Order of Maria Theresa]]
[[Category:Grand Crosses of the Order of Saint Stephen of Hungary]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Pour le Mérite (military class)]]
[[Category:Austrian military personnel of the Second Schleswig War]]
[[Category:Heirs presumptive]]