Austrian commander Leopold Joseph von Daun, who…
June 1757 CE
Daun is highly valued by Maria Theresa, who had made him commandant of Vienna and a Knight of the Golden Fleece, and in 1754 had elevated him to the rank of Feldmarschall (Field-Marshal).
Following the battle at Prague, Frederick takes five thousand troops from the siege at Prague and sends them to reinforce the nineteen thousand-man army under the Duke of Brunswick-Bevern at Kolin in Bohemia.
Daun arrives too late to participate in the battle of Prague, but picks up sixteen thousand men who had escaped from the battle and, with this army, slowly moves to relieve Prague.
The Prussian army is too weak to simultaneously besiege Prague and keep Daun away, and Frederick is forced to attack prepared positions.
The resulting Battle of Kolin, a desperately fought engagement on June 18, 1757, is a sharp defeat for Frederick, his first.
His losses further force him to lift the siege and withdraw from Bohemia altogether.
In commemoration of this brilliant exploit, the queen immediately institutes a military order bearing her name, and Daun is awarded the first Grand Cross of this order.
The union of the relieving army with the forces of Prince Charles at Prague reduces Daun to the position of second in command, and in this capacity he takes part in the pursuit of the Prussians and the subsequent victory of Breslau.
People
Augustus William, Duke of Brunswick-Bevern
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Charles Alexander of Lorraine
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Count Leopold Joseph von Daun
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Frederick the Great
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James Francis Edward Keith
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Kurt Christoph, Graf von Schwerin
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Maria Theresa
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Maximilian Ulysses Browne
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Wenzel Anton, Prince of Kaunitz-Rietberg
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Groups
Austria, Archduchy of
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Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, Duchy of
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Saxony, Electorate of
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Holy Roman Empire
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Hesse-Kassel, Landgraviate of
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France, (Bourbon) Kingdom of
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Bohemia, Kingdom of
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Bavaria, Electorate of
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Brunswick-Lüneburg, Electorate of (Electorate of Hanover)
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Spain, Bourbon Kingdom of
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Prussia, Kingdom of
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Britain, Kingdom of Great
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