Johann Joseph Philipp Graf Harrach was an Imperial Field Marshal and from 1739 to 1762, President of the Hofkriegsrat.
Occupation
politician, military personnel
Born
October 22, 1678
Died
August 8, 1764
Overview
Johann Joseph Philipp Graf Harrach (Vienna, 22 October 1678 - Vienna, 8 August 1764) was an Imperial Field Marshal and from 1739 to 1762, President of the Hofkriegsrat (Imperial War Council).
Biography
Johann Joseph Philipp Graf Harrach came from the old Bohemian noble family of Harrach. He was the youngest son of Ferdinand Bonaventura I von Harrach (1637 - 1706), an important Austrian diplomat during the reign of Emperor Leopold I and Imperial Ambassador in Spain. His elder brothers were Franz Anton, who became Bishop of Vienna and Archbishop of Salzburg, and Aloys Thomas, Viceroy of Naples.
Military career
Johann Philipp joined the Imperial Army and did his first military service in the War of the Spanish Succession. In the Battle of Cassano (16 August 1705) he took part as commander of an infantry regiment. As a Oberstlieutenant, he fought with distinction at the Battle of Calcinato (17 April 1706). During the retreat, he held the advancing French army with his Herberstein regiment and six grenadier companies at the bridge over the Chiese River, until his own defeated troops could be regrouped and brought back into action. When the enemy tried to bypass the position, he was able to thwart that plan.
After winning the Battle of Turin (7 September 1706), Prince Eugene sent him to Vienna with the news of his victory, because of his services during the campaign.
