Christian of the Palatinate-Zweibrücken (1752–1817) facts for kids
Christian von Zweibrücken (born November 20, 1752 – died October 25, 1817) was a brave military officer. He served as a general in the French Army, then the Royal Prussian Army, and finally the Bavarian Army. He reached the high rank of General of the Infantry. It's important not to confuse him with his nephew, also named Christian von Zweibrücken (1782–1859), who was a Bavarian General of Cavalry.
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Christian's Early Life and Family
Christian von Zweibrücken was the first of six children born to Christian IV Herzog von Pfalz-Zweibrücken and Maria Johanna Camasse Gräfin von Forbach. He was born in Zweibrücken. His parents' marriage was considered "morganatic," which meant that at first, their children could not inherit their father's Duchy (a type of noble territory). However, in 1792, Christian and his siblings were allowed to use the name Freiherr von Zweibrücken.
Military Career
Christian's military journey began early. His father had an agreement with Louis XV of France to provide soldiers if needed. Because of this, the Infantry Regiment "Royal Deux-Ponts" was formed in 1757, with two battalions for the French crown. This happened after the Seven Years' War began, and the regiment first saw action in the Battle of Rossbach. Christian von Forbach (as he was known then) commanded this regiment, and his brother Philippe Guillaume was his second-in-command.
Fighting in the American Revolutionary War
Christian led the "Royal Deux-Ponts" regiment as part of De Rochambeau's French expedition force during the American Revolutionary War. His regiment showed great courage in the Battle of Yorktown, which was also called the "German Battle," on October 4, 1781. This battle was a major victory for the American and French forces.
Service in Other Armies
Because of the French Revolution, Christian left the French forces as a Colonel. He then joined the Prussian Army as a Major General. He fought in campaigns against France between 1794 and 1797.
Later, he asked to join the Bavarian Army. There, he became a Lieutenant General and was put in charge of the Palatinate region. In the spring of 1800, he became the commander of a division, which was made up of brigades led by Von Deroy and von Wrede. He fought alongside Austrian commanders like Kray and Archduke John of Austria against France, supporting the British crown.
In 1808, he became a Privy Councilor, which is a high-ranking advisor. In January 1811, he was promoted to the rank of General der Infanterie. Christian von Zweibrücken passed away in Munich in 1817. He and his brother Wilhelm are buried in the Old Southern Cemetery there.
A memorial in the European Rose Garden in Zweibrücken honors him and his brother.
Awards and Honors
Christian von Zweibrücken received several important awards for his military service:
- Cincinnati Order
- Order of the Red Eagle (awarded June 6, 1796)
- Kurpfalz-Bavarian Military Honour Award (Militär-Ehrenzeichen) (awarded March 24, 1801), which was a predecessor to the Military Order of Max Joseph.
- Grand Cross of the Military Order of Max Joseph (awarded March 1, 1806)
