Nicolas Luckner | |
|---|---|
 Marshal Luckner | |
| Birth name | Johann Nikolaus Luckner |
| Born | 12 January 1722 Cham,Electorate of Bavaria |
| Died | 4 January 1794(1794-01-04) (aged 71) Paris,French Republic |
| Allegiance | .svg) Electorate of Bavaria.svg) Electorate of Hanover Dutch Republic Kingdom of France.svg) Kingdom of France French Republic |
| Rank | Marshal of France |
| Commands | Armée du Rhin Armée du Nord |
| Battles / wars | |
| Awards | Names inscribed under the Arc de Triomphe,Order of the White Eagle |
Nicolas, Count Luckner (German:Johann Nikolaus Graf Luckner; 12 January 1722,Cham – 4 January 1794,Paris) was a German officer in French service who rose to become aMarshal of France.
Luckner grew up inKötzting, in easternBavaria and received his early education from the Jesuits inPassau. Before entering the French service, Luckner spent time in the Bavarian,Dutch andHanoverian armies. He fought as a commander ofhussars during theSeven Years' War (1756–1763) in theHanoverian Army against the French. Luckner joined the French army in 1763 with the rank of lieutenant general. In 1784 he became aDanish count.
He supported theFrench Revolution, and the year 1791 saw Luckner become a Marshal of France. In 1791–92 Luckner served as the first commander of theArmy of the Rhine. In April 1792,Rouget de Lisle dedicated to him theChant de Guerre pour l'Armée du Rhin (War Song of the Army of the Rhine), which was to become better known as theMarseillaise.
As commander of theArmy of the North in 1792 he captured theFlemish cities ofMenen andKortrijk, but then had to retreat towardsLille. After the flight ofLafayette (August 1792) he was made generalissimo with orders to build a Reserve Army nearChâlons-sur-Marne. However, theNational Convention was not satisfied with his progress andChoderlos de Laclos was ordered to support or replace him. Luckner, now over 70 years of age, then asked for dismissal (granted in January 1793) and went toParis.
He was arrested by theRevolutionary Tribunal and sentenced to death. He died by theguillotine in Paris in 1794.
Thecarillon of the town hall in theBavarian town ofCham rings the Marseillaise every day at 12.05 p.m. to commemorate the city's most famous son,Nikolaus Graf Luckner.
He was the great-grandfather of CountFelix von Luckner (1881–1966), aGerman naval officer who commanded the famed merchant raiderSMSSeeadler (1916–1917) duringWorld War I .
Luckner ownedKrummbek Manor inHolstein.
