Background
Alfred was born in Brussels, then capital of the Austrian Netherlands, the son of Count Joseph Nicholas of Windisch-Graetz (1744–1802) and his second wife, Duchess Maria Leopoldine Franziska of Arenberg.
Alfred was born in Brussels, then capital of the Austrian Netherlands, the son of Count Joseph Nicholas of Windisch-Graetz (1744–1802) and his second wife, Duchess Maria Leopoldine Franziska of Arenberg.
Originally from Styria, the Windisch-Graetz dynasty had received Inkolat rights of nobility by the n Crown in 1574. The family took its residence at Tachau (Tachov), the lordship had been purchased by Alfred"s father in 1781. He started service in the Habsburg imperial army in 1804.
As an Austrian army officer he distinguished himself throughout the wars fought by the Habsburg Monarchy in the 19th century.
Windisch-Grätz participated in all the wars against and fought with distinction at the Battle of Leipzig and in the campaign of 1814. In 1833, he was named Field Marshal (German: Feldmarschall).
In the years of peace that followed, Windisch-Grätz held commands in Prague, being appointed head of the army in in 1840. However, finding himself ill-supported by government ministers he resigned from his post.
He then showed firmness in quelling an armed outbreak of the Czechoslovakian separatists (June 1848), declaring martial law throughout Upon the recrudescence of revolt in Vienna he was summoned to head a large army that reduced the city through a formal siege by October 1848.
Appointed to the chief command against the Hungarian revolutionaries under Lajos Kossuth, he gained some early successes and reoccupied Buda and Pest (January 1849), but by his slowness in pursuit he allowed the enemy to rally in superior numbers and to prevent an effective concentration of the Austrian forces. In April 1849 he was relieved of his command and thenceforth rarely appeared again in public life. (In reference to rebellious constitutionalists) "They do not want to hear about the Grace of God? They will hear the grace of the cannon.".
Quotations: In reference to rebellious constitutionalists) "They do not want to hear about the Grace of God? They will hear the grace of the cannon.".