Duke William of Württemberg

Duke William of Württemberg (Herzog Wilhelm Nikolaus von Württemberg; 20 July 1828 – 5 November 1896) was an Austrian and Württemberg General.

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

War service
After studying in Geneva, Bonn, he joined in 1848 as a Lieutenant in the Austrian Army (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 as 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 Ramming and Field Marshal Lieutenant Eduard Clam-Gallas and his opponents. The French generals 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 fought at the Austro-Prussian War, William, now Major General, his brigade assigned to the Northern Army and fought in the Battles of Königgrätz, Swiepwalde, Blumenau and Bratislava.

After the campaign, he arrived with his brigade to Trieste, in 1869 commander 11th Infantry Division troops in Prague, on 24 October 1869 he was promoted to Lieutenant Field Marshal. At the Franco-Prussian War William fought on the German side against France, and in 1878 at the Russian-Turkish war.

Bosnia and Herzegovina
In 1878, during the Austro-Hungarian occupation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, he fought (again on the Austrian side) at Rogelj and Jaice. Due to the excellent performances, Emperor 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. In 1878 he was commissioned to organize 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 the 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 Lemberg. In 1889 he became commander of the 3rd Armeekorps in Graz. Army Corps in Graz. In 1891 he retired from the military because of the death of King Charles I of Württemberg and his successor William II had no son, William became the heir presumptive to the throne of Württemberg.

William was Württemberg 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. The consequences of war injuries and a car accident in Italy affected his health. He died during a vacation in Tyrol.

Honours

 * 1842 – Great Cross of the Order of the Crown, Württemberg
 * 1849 – Knights Cross of the Order of Leopold, Austria
 * 1859 – Order of the Iron Crown, Second Class, Austria
 * 1859 – Knights Cross of the Military Order of Maria Theresa, Austria
 * 1864 – Commander's Cross of the Order of Leopold, Austria
 * 1864 – Pour le Mérite, Prussia
 * 1878 – Order of the Iron Crown 1st Class with war decoration, Austria
 * 1881 – Grand Cross of the Order of Leopold, Austria

Notes and sources

 * Genealogics - Leo van de Pas - Herzog Wilhelm Nikolaus von Württemberg
 * thePeerage.com - Wilhelm Herzog von Württemberg
 * 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, Stuttgart 1997, ISBN 3-17-013605-4, S. 370–371.
 * Frank Raberg: Manual of the Württemberg State Parliament from 1815 to 1933. Biographical Kohlhammer, Stuttgart 2001, ISBN 3-17-016604-2, p. 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. 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. 253-258
 * 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. 253-258