CLERFAYT or CLAIRFAYT, FRANC OIS SEBAS TIEN CHARLES JOSEPH DE CROIX, COUNT OF (1733 1798), Austrian field marshal, entered the Austrian army in In the Seven Years' War he greatly distinguished himself, and in 1787 took part in the Turkish war. In 1792 he received the com mand of the Austrian contingent in the duke of Brunswick's army, and at Croix-sous-Bois his corps inflicted a reverse on the French. In the Netherlands he opened the campaign of 1793 with the vic tory of Aldenhoven and the relief of Maestricht, and on March 18 brought about the complete defeat of Dumouriez at Neerwinden. His victorious career was checked by the reverse at Wattignies, and in 1794 he was unsuccessful in West Flanders against Piche gru. Clerfayt succeeded the duke of Saxe-Coburg in the supreme command, but was quite unable to make head against the French, and had to recross the Rhine. In 1795, now field marshal, he commanded on the middle Rhine against Jourdan, whom he de feated at Hochst and Mainz. His action in concluding an armis tice with the French not being approved by Thugut, he resigned the command, and became a member of the Aulic Council in Vienna. He died in 1798.
See von Vivenot, Thugut, Clerfayt, and W i rmser (Vienna, 1869) .