Mathias Ehrenfried (1777-1829) was an Austrian soldier who served in Austria's 3rd Infantry Regiment during the Napoleonic Wars in the 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 6th Coalitions.
Biography[]
Mathias Ehrenfried was born on May 4th, 1777 in the market town of Scheibbs in Lower Austria. His father, Josef, was a skilled cooper who passed on the trade to Mathias from an early age. Known for his craftsmanship and strong work ethic, Mathias achieved the status of master cooper in his early twenties.
In 1798, with Austria drawn into the War of the Second Coalition, Mathias left his workshop to enlist in the 3rd Infantry Regiment, known as "Erzherzog Karl," one of the most active units of the Imperial-Royal Army. His early campaigns included skirmishes in northern Italy and engagements along the Rhine.
He was promoted to Feldwebel following the fierce fighting at Caldiero in 1805, during the War of the Third Coalition. Mathias went on to serve at Aspern-Essling in 1809, where his regiment played a decisive role in resisting Napoleon's attempted crossing of the Danube. He was later wounded at the Battle of Dresden in 1813 during the War of the Sixth Coalition.
Though he returned to civilian life after the wars, lingering injuries from musket fire and exposure plagued his health. He settled in Linz, where he resumed his trade and trained apprentices. A respected artisan and veteran, Mathias Ehrenfried died on January 16th, 1829, at the age of 51, his health finally overcome by pneumonia and old war wounds.