Charles William Ferdinand of Brunswick (9 October 1735-10 November 1806) was the Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbuttel from 1780 to 1806 and a Field Marshal of the Kingdom of Prussia. An enlightened despot similar to Frederick the Great, Ferdinand was a master of mid-18th century warfare.
Biography[]
Ferdinand was the son of Karl I of Brunswick and Philippine Charlotte, the daughter of Friedrich Wilhelm I of Prussia. Traveling to the United Provinces, France, and other parts of Germany in his youth, he fought in the Seven Years War under the Duke of Cumberland and the British Army from 1757 onwards. He led a gallant charge at the Battle of Hastenbeck that year, and proved to be a master of warfare at the time. At the Battle of Minden and the following battle of Warburg, he also proved an excellent subordinate.
At the close of the war, he traveled to France again (1766) and met Enlightenment philosophe Voltaire, also meeting historian Jean-Francois Marmontel in Switzerland. In 1780, Ferdinand succeeded his father as the Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbuttel and also became a Field Marshal under the country of uncle Frederick the Great - Prussia - in 1787. Frederick's policies he copied into that of the society of Brunswick-Wolfenbuttel, and he became an enlightened despot.
General-Field Marshal Ferdinand of Brunswick first held major field command during the French Revolutionary Wars, capturing Verdun in late 1792. Despite a defeat in a mere skirmish at the Battle of Valmy on 12 September, he recaptured Mainz in 1793. However, he resigned a year later due to interference by Friedrich Wilhelm II of Prussia.
Death[]
Brunswick, wounded, retreats to camp in the Battle of Auerstadt.
In 1806 Ferdinand of Brunswick returned to field command during the Fourth Coalition of the Napoleonic Wars, and was in command of the Prussian army defending Berlin during the Battle of Auerstadt. During the battle, he was hit in the head by a musket ball and lost both of his eyes. On 10 November, after retreating to Ottensen, he died of his mortal wounds. His body was buried in the Brunswick Cathedral on 6 November 1819 after being buried in Christianskirche.