Michael von Fröhlich

Michael, Freiherr von Frohlich (9th January 1740 - 1814) was a German general officer serving in army of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, notably during the Wars of the French Revolution.

Service
Frohlich was born in Marburg in Hesse, Germany, and by 1778 was a Major commanding infantry in the Warasdin district of Croatia. During the War of the Bavarian Succession he headed a surprise attack on the fort at Dittersbach and captured 110 prisoners. In 1783 he became Lieutenant Colonel, and in 1788 Colonel (Oberst). On 27th May 1789 during the war against Turkey he defended Dobroselo with Oberst Weiler for over 10 hours with only 1,500 men against 10,000 enemy.

Promoted General Major in 1793, in 1794 he served in Werneck's Division under Coburg in the Austrian Netherlands, and in 1795 on the Rhine at the Siege of Mannheim. In 1796 Frohlich was promoted to Feldmarschalleutnant (FML) and commanded a mixed column of Austrian, Émigré & Kreis-Armee soldiers on the left wing of the Army of the Upper Rhine under Wurmser. From 18 June he served under Baillet de Latour. Following Moreau’s crossing of the Rhine he was cut off 24th June, but was able to reunite with the forces of the Archduke Charles at Nördlingen on 10 August. He was then made commander of the 11,000 man corps connected to Latour on the Lech in the Voralberg. He served at the combat of Kammlach 13th, then the following month faced Ferino on the Upper Iller & Tyrol, pursuing him during Moreau’s retreat to the Rhine. Frohlich joined with Charles & Latour to defeat Moreau at the Battle of Emmendingen 19th, and Battle of Schliengen 24th.

In 1799 he was made Colonel Proprietor (Inhaber) of Infantry Regiment.28 and commanded a 14,000 man Division in Italy. His command saw action at the Battle of Legnano 26th March, and acted as the Reserve at the Battle of the Trebbia 19th June. He occupied Plaisance 20th, and was at the Battle of Novi 15th August. He then took command of troops in Tuscany and the Papal States, besieging and eventually capturing Ancona. The same year Frohlich was made Colonel-Proprietor (Inhaber) of Infantry Regiment N°28.

From 1803 to 1810 he was Commandant of the Fortress of Olmütz, then went into retirement and died at the age of 74 in Troppau, Silesia.