Alfred Karl Nicolaus Alexander Graf Eckbrecht von Dürckheim-Montmartin
(21.07.1850 - 10.04.1912)
place of birth:  Steingaden, Oberbayern
Königreich Bayern:  KG, General der Infanterie

                            


Graf Eckbrecht von Dürckheim-Montmartin  was a Bavarian general who commanded the II. Army Corps during peace time. Alfred was born to the family of Karl Graf Eckbrecht von Dürckheim-Montmartin, the Royal Bavarian state treasurerer, and Duchess Alexandrine von Toll. Although Alfred initially studied philology at the Universität Würzburg, the onset of the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71 prompted him to join Bavaria's officer corps in order to fight against the French. He served as an Unter-Lieutenant in Bavaria's Infanterie-Leib-Regiment.

During the post-war years, Eckbrecht completed the course of study at Bavaria's War Academy and followed up with service at General Staff headquarters. He then functioned as military adjutant to Prince Otto and in 1878 served as Prince Arnulf's Hofmarschall (Lord Steward of the Household). Discovering that the Prince has written a love letter to his wife Elena Pawlowna (great granddaughter of Tsarina Katharine the Great), Eckbrecht decided to challenge Arnulf to a pistol duel. This was fortunately prevented by the interventions of King Ludwig II.

As a captain, Eckbrecht was selected in 1883 to be the king's Flügeladjutant (aide-de-campe). He remained at the king's side, even after Ludwig was declared mentally incompetent and ordered to a type of house arrest at Schloss Neuschwanstein. Although Prince-Regent ordered Eckbrecht to Munich, he remained with Ludwig II. until finally the king forced Eckbrecht to leave in order to avoid having his military career in shambles. As he arrived at the Munich train station, however, Bavarian War Minister von Heinleth had him placed under arrest under suspicion of high treason. Ludwig's death, under controversial circumstances, resulted in Eckbrecht's release and he was able to continue serving as a Royal Bavarian officer.

Graf Eckbrecht thereafter held commands with the Infanterie-Leib-Regiment from 1897 to 1901, the 12th Infantry Brigade from 1901 to 1903, and the 4th Infantry Division from 1903 to 1906. In November 1906, Graf Eckbrecht replaced General Reichlin von Meldegg as commander of Bavaria's II. Army Corps in Würzburg. During a trip to Locarno, Switzerland, Graf Eckbrecht succumbed to a heart attack and was returned to Munich by train along with all of the military honors.