RADETZKY, JOSEF, COUNT OF RADETZ Austrian soldier, was born at Trzebnitz in Bohemia in 1766, of an old noble family, originally Hungarian. He joined the army as a cadet in 1785. Next year he became an officer, and in 1787 a first lieutenant in a cuirassier regiment. He served as a galloper on Lacy's staff in the Turkish War, and in the Low Countries during the Revolutionary War. In 1795 he fought on the Rhine, and next year with Beaulieu against Napoleon in Italy. His personal courage was conspicuous; at Fleurus he had led a party of cavalry through the French lines to discover the fate of Charleroi, and at Valeggio, with a few hussars, rescued Beaulieu from the enemy. Promoted major, he took part in Wurmser's Mantua campaign. As lieutenant-colonel and colonel he displayed bravery and skill at Trebbia and Novi (1799), and at Marengo was hit by five bullets.
In 18oi Radetzky received the knighthood of the Maria Theresa order; in 18o5 he was promoted to major-general and given a command in Italy under the archduke Charles, and thus took part in the successful campaign of Caldiero. Peace again afforded him a short leisure, which he used in studying and teach ing the art of war. In 1809, now a lieutenant field marshal, he fought at Wagram, and in 18io received the commandership of the Maria Theresa order and the colonelcy of the 5th Radetzky hussars. From 1809 to 1812, as chief of the general staff, he was active in the reorganization of the army and its tactical system, but, unable to carry out the reforms he desired owing to the opposition of the Treasury, he resigned the post. In 1813 he was Schwarzenberg's chief of staff, and as such had considerable in fluence on the councils of the Allied sovereigns and generals. He
had a considerable share in planning the Leipzig campaign and as a tactician won great praise at Brienne and Arcis sur Aube. He entered Paris with the allied sovereigns in March 1814, and re turned with them to the Congress of Vienna.
He then resumed his functions as chief of the staff, but his ardent ideas for reforming the army came to nothing in the face of the general apathy. His zeal added to the number of his enemies, and in 1829, after he had been for twenty years a lieutenant field marshal, it was proposed to place him on the retired list. The emperor, unwilling to go so far as this, promoted him general of cavalry and shelved him by making him governor of a fortress. In 1834, however, his services were again required in Italy, first under Frimont, and then in chief command.
In 1836 Radetzky became a field marshal. Apathy and parsi mony caused the authorities again to neglect his many suggestions, and the outbreak of the wars of 1848 found the Austrian army in an unprepared condition through no fault of Radetzky's. Nevertheless, recalled to command, he conducted his famous operations in the Quadrilateral, leading up to the triumph of Novara on March 23, 1849. (See ITALIAN WARS.) To the soldiers of his army who idolized him, he was always simply "Vater Radetzky." He died, still in harness, though infirm, on Jan. 5, greatly mourned by all whom he had commanded.