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Karl Theodor Maximilian
August Kgl. Prinz von Bayern K.H.
(07.07.1795 - 16.08.1875)
place of birth: Mannheim
Königreich
Bayern: Generalstabschef,
KG, Generalfeldmarschall (Kav)
Royal Bavarian Prince Karl served his kingdom as a field marshal,
corps commander, and member of Bavaria's Reichsrat (national assembly).
Karl was born into the household of Maximilian I. Joseph, Bavaria's first king,
and Auguste Wilhelmine of Hesse-Darmstadt. Karl's elder brother Ludwig would
later succeed Maximilian I. Joseph as King of Bavaria. Due to his morganatic
marriage to Marie-Anne-Sophie Petin in 1823, Prince Karl lost any subsequent
claim to the Bavarian throne. He later also turned down an offer to rule the
Kingdom of Greece, and so this was awarded to his nephew Prince Otto.
After being raised with a prominently military education,
Prince Karl was promoted to Generalmajor in 1813 (age 18) and was thus saw
action in the Napoleonic Wars at the Battle of Hanau. In 1814, fighting
as a division commander under General von Wrede, he participated in engagements
at Brienne, Arcis-sur-Aube, and Torcy-le-Grand.
In January 1841, Prince Karl was promoted to the rank of
Generalfeldmarschall and was later appointed Inspector-General of the Royal
Bavarian Army by his brother King Ludwig I. As the head of Bavarian troops
during the Austro-Prussian War of 1866, Prince Karl's contingent, the
Westdeutsche Bundesarmee, was defeated at Kissingen bei Garitz and
Hammelburg. The Bavarians suffered further defeats at Uettingen
and Roßbrunn as they retreated to Ingolstadt. When the was
came to an end, the Field Marshal retired from military service and retreated
further south to live a quiet life in the Tegernsee alpine region. In August
1875, the 75-year old prince was thrown from his horse and instantly died from
his injuries.
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