Wittgenstein was born in 1769 in Pereiaslav. He was descended from a family of formerly independent counts in Westphalia. His parents were Count Christian Louis Casimir of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Ludwigsburg and his first wife Countess Amalie Ludowika Finck von Finckenstein. His father had settled in Russia, and he entered the army, distinguishing himself in the Polish War of 1794- 95, and then serving in the Caucasus.
In 1805, he fought at Austerlitz, in 1806 against the Turks and in 1807 against Napoleon at Friedland and against the Swedes in Finland.
In the war of 1812 he commanded the right wing army of the Russians.
But after the defeats of the Spring campaign he laid down this command and led an army corps during the Dresden and Leipzig campaigns, and at Bar-sui-Aube in the 1814 campaign he was severely wounded.
In 1823 he was promoted field-marshal, and in 1828 he was appointed to command the Russian army in the war against Turkey.
He died on the 11th of June 1843.
In the campaign of 1813 in January, he took over the command of the Russian army after Kutuzov's death, and commanded the Russian army at Lützen and Bautzen. But after the defeats of the Spring campaign, he laid down this command and led an army corps during the Battle of Dresden and Battle of Leipzig.
On 27 June 1798 he married Countess Antonia Cäcilie Snarska and had in this marriage 11 children. He died on 11 June 1843 in Lemberg (Lviv), where he looked after estates of his son Lev Petrovich.
