Hans Ernst Karl, Graf von Zieten

Hans Friedrich Ernst Wieprecht Karl von Zieten, as of 1817 Graf von Zieten (in earlier sources referred to as Hans Ernst Karl Graf von Zieten, sometimes also Ziethen; 5 March 1770 – 3 May 1848), was a Prussian Field Marshal who was prominent during the Napoleonic Wars, particularly in the Hundred Days where he took part in several battles in the Waterloo Campaign such as the Battle of Ligny and the Battle of Issy.

Early life He was born in Dechtow in the Margraviate of Brandenburg; he was not related to the Frederician general Hans Joachim von Zieten.

In the following winter campaign on French soil, Zieten, now part of Kleist Corps of Blücher's army and since December 8, 1813, a lieutenant general, repeatedly found himself in action at crucial moments with his newly formed troops (mainly Silesians), particularly on February 14, 1814, in the Battle of Vauchamps, where, after driving Marmont back to Fromentieres the day before, he was encircled by Napoleon himself at Vauchamps and had to retreat to the main body after exceedingly brave and prudent resistance under heavy losses that nearly exhausted his brigade.

On 1 July, Zieten's I Corps participated in the Battle of Issy just outside the walls of Paris. At the end of the campaign on 7 July, his corps was granted the honour of being the first major Coalition force to enter Paris.

Later life King Frederick William III of Prussia granted Zieten the title of Graf, or count, on 3 September 1817. At the age of 69, he was promoted to Generalfeldmarschall on 9 September 1839. Zieten died in Warmbrunn.

Military record Key to opponent flags French Empire (1804–1814; 1815) Key to outcome Indicates a favorable outcome Indicates an unfavorable outcome Indicates an uncertain outcome DateConflictActionOpponentTypeCountryRankOutcomeWar of the First CoalitionBattleHoly Roman EmpireLieutenant VictoryWar of the Fourth CoalitionBattleKingdom of PrussiaCaptain DefeatWar of the Fourth CoalitionBattleKingdom of PrussiaLieutenant Colonel DefeatWar of the Sixth CoalitionBattleKingdom of PrussiaMajor General DefeatWar of the Sixth CoalitionBattleKingdom of PrussiaMajor General VictoryWar of the Sixth CoalitionBattleKingdom of SaxonyMajor General DefeatWar of the Sixth CoalitionBattleKingdom of BohemiaMajor General VictoryWar of the Sixth CoalitionBattleKingdom of SaxonyMajor General Decisive VictoryWar of the Sixth CoalitionBattleFrench EmpireLieutenant General DefeatWar of the Sixth CoalitionBattleFrench EmpireLieutenant General VictoryWar of the Seventh CoalitionBattleKingdom of the NetherlandsLieutenant General DefeatWar of the Seventh CoalitionBattleKingdom of the NetherlandsLieutenant General Decisive VictoryWar of the Seventh CoalitionBattleFrench EmpireLieutenant General Victory

References and notes