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Wirich Philipp von und zu Daun
Prince of Teano and Count of Daun
Portrait of the Count
Prince of Teano
Reign 1710 – 30 July 1741
Predecessor Title created
Successor Leopold Joseph von Daun
Count of Daun
Reign 7 June 1706 – 30 July 1741
Predecessor Wilhelm Johann Anton von Daun
Successor Leopold Joseph von Daun
Born Wirich Philipp von Daun
(1669-08-19)August 19, 1669
Vienna, Archduchy of Austria, Holy Roman Empire
Died 30 July 1741(1741-07-30) (aged 71)
Vienna, Archduchy of Austria, Holy Roman Empire
Issue Ferdinand Heinrich von Daun
Leopold Joseph von Daun
House Daun
Father Wilhelm Johann Anton von Daun
Mother Anna Maria Magdalena von Althann
Religion Roman Catholic
Occupation Politician, Soldier, Imperial Privy Councillor, and Chamberlain

Count Wirich Philipp von Daun (19 October 1669 – 30 July 1741) was an Austrian Field Marshal of the Imperial Army in the War of Spanish Succession, and father of the better known Leopold Josef Graf Daun.

Biography[]

Daun was born in Vienna, the son of Count Wilhelm Johann Anton von und zu Daun (1621-1706), who served as Field Marshal, and his second wife, Countess Anna Maria Magdalene von Althann (1635-1712). He served in the War of Spanish Succession under Eugene of Savoy, and gained his fame in the successful defence of Turin in 1706. He also laid siege to and conquered Gaeta on 30 September 1707.

After the war, in 1713 Daun became the first Austrian Viceroy of Naples. In 1718 he lost the Battle of Milazzo during the War of the Quadruple Alliance, when Spain invaded neighbouring Sicily.

From February until October 1725 Daun was interim Governor of the Habsburg Netherlands. He was to prepare for the arrival of the new governor, Archduchess Maria Elisabeth of Austria, sister of the Emperor Charles VI. The situation in the Austrian Netherlands was very difficult after the mismanagement by the previous plenipotentiary minister Hercule-Louis Turinetti, marquis of Prié. Daun profited from the positive atmosphere resulting from the departure of Prié. He enforced a reform of the military organisation and administration in the Southern Netherlands, in which he incorporated the existing 'Belgian' army into the imperial forces.[1]

From 1725 until 1736 he was Governor of Milan.

Daun died at Vienna and was buried in the Georgskapelle of the Augustinerkirche, together with his son.

Notes[]

  1. Zedinger, R. (2000). Die Verwaltung der Österreichischen Niederlande in Wien (1714 - 1795), Böhlau Verlag, p. 141-142.
Preceded by
Prince Eugene of Savoy
Hercule-Louis Turinetti, marquis of Prié
Governor of the Austrian Netherlands
1725
Succeeded by
Archduchess Maria Elisabeth of Austria (1680–1741)

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