Johann von Thielmann (27 April 1765-10 October 1824) was a general of Saxony, France, the Russian Empire, and Prussia during the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars. He was known to be a good cavalry commander, fighting for both the Empire and Coalition during the latter wars.
Biography[]
Thielmann was born in Dresden and enlisted in the cavalry of Saxony in 1782, fighting in the French Revolutionary Wars against France on the Rhine frontier. Thielmann later encouraged the Saxon government to make an alliance with the French Empire in 1806, aiding them in the Battle of Friedland in 1807. He gained distinction in the 1812 Battle of Borodino, after which Emperor Napoleon of France let him stay in his suite.
However, Thielmann fought for Saxony after their defection to the Allied side in 1813, and he reorganized the Saxon army after the October Battle of Leipzig. In 1814 he led the Saxon corps in the Low Countries during the Defense of France campaign, and fought alongside Prussia during the Hundred Days campaign of 1815. He was defeated by Emmanuel de Grouchy at the Battle of Wavre on 18 June 1815, but the French failed to exploit their victory. He was promoted to General of Cavalry in the Prussian Army before his death in 1824.
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