Alfred I, Prince of Windisch-Grätz

General In 1833, he was named Field Marshal-Lieutenant (German: Feldmarschall-leutnant).

Bohemia

In 1840, Prince Windischgrätz was appointed as military commander of the city of Prague. Eight years later, during the initial uprisings of the Vienna revolution he was temporarily granted military control of the army surrounding the city, and favoured subduing the revolting citizenry by force. However, facing hostility from government ministers within the city who favoured compromise, he was compelled to retire and return to his position in Prague, the incident causing him to be viewed in an unpopular light by the Austrian population at large and garnering a lot of negative press amongst the population of Prague.

Nevertheless, the events of Vienna left a firm impression on the Prince, who witnessed first hand the consequences of being ill-prepared for a popular insurrection and made moves to take the necessary precautions within the city he was governing. Over the following month of April he proceeded to beef up the military presence within Prague, increasing the number of soldiers and fortifying strategic positions throughout the city. This only further angered the population of Prague who viewed his precautions with hostility and suspicion. The city, being in a state of increase excitement due to the revolutionary chaos across the European continent during 1848.

On the 7th of June, a large group amassed to petition for the Princes dismissal. 3 days later an even larger meeting consisting of many students and citizens gathered to demand the withdrawal of soldiers from their strategic positions and a request for 2000 muskets and 80,000 cartridges, and a single battery for personal use by the cities population. Once he was finished his speech several members of the crowd rushed up and seized him, hurrying him to the nearest lamppost where a cord was prepared to hang him. He was quickly saved by the intervention of his soldiers and he then declared martial law throughout Bohemia.

Hungary

Appointed to the chief command against the Hungarian revolutionaries under Lajos Kossuth, he gained some early successes and reoccupied Buda and Pest (January 1849), but by his slowness in pursuit he allowed the enemy to rally in superior numbers and to prevent an effective concentration of the Austrian forces. After his defeat he rarely appeared again in public life. She was daughter of Prince Josef Johann of Schwarzenberg and his wife, Duchess Pauline of Arenberg (1774–1810). They had seven children, five sons and two daughters.

Quotes (In reference to rebellious constitutionalists) "They do not want to hear about the Grace of God? They will hear the grace of the cannon."

Honours He received the following orders and decorations: