Joseph Radetzky von Radetz

Austria state institutions Counter-revolutionary forces 1766–1858 ○ Natural causes

Austrian field marshal who withdrew from Milan in 1848, then won at Custoza and Novara and recovered Lombardy–Venetia

Born into a noble Bohemian military family of Czech origin, he joined the Austrian army in 1785. As chief of the general staff in the Napoleonic Wars he reorganised the army and helped plan the Leipzig campaign. He took command of the Austrian army in Italy in 1834 and became field marshal in 1836. In March 1848, at 81, he was driven by the Five Days of Milan back to the Quadrilateral, but waiting for reinforcements he beat the Sardinians at Custoza in July, ended the war at Novara in March 1849 and recovered Venice in August. As governor of Lombardy–Venetia from 1848 to 1857 he ruled with harsh repression, introducing public caning and the death penalty. Johann Strauss I's Radetzky March celebrated his victory at Custoza. He died in Milan in 1858.

Also known as: Josef Radetzky