Peter Melander
Peter Melander , count de Holzappel (* May 17th 1585 with Nieder-Hadamar on the Lahn, † May 17th 1648 with Augsburg) was a senior officer, commander-in-chief of the joint armies of the Saint Empire and the Catholic Ligue of 1647 until its death on the battle field.
It was wire of peasants. Raised in a very strict Protestantism, it is in 1615 that it began its military career, first of all with the service of the United Provinces then of the République of Venice.
In 1620, he was commander-in-chief of a regiment Suisse with Basle. It accepted its first high command in 1633 when it was named general lieutenant and secret military adviser of the Landgrave Wilhelm V of Hesse-Cassel. The landgrave was combined with the Swedish, so that Melander fought with its hessois against the imperial troops. It inflicted several défaites to them;: catch of Hamm the May 26th 1634 ; the June 27th, victory over the forces of the Catholic League taken along by the general von Bönnighausen whom it forces to withdraw beyond the the Rhine.
After the death of the Wilhelm landgrave, to the autumn 1637, the widow of this one, the landgravine Amalie Elisabeth continued the policy of opposition to the house of Habsbourg which had been that of her late husband. But Melander did not want to proceed in this way. It gave up in the current of July 1640 its command supreme of the armies of Hesse and approximate and was then supported by the emperor who wished to stick his services. Thus the December 23rd 1641, Melander was high with the dignity of count d' Empire under the name of von Holzappel and that to finally him was conferred that of marshal of Empire the February 15th 1642.
In 1643, Melander claimed the area of the Esterau and obtained the small seigniory of Holzappel with permission of the emperor to enjoy there territorial independence with the title of count de Holzappel raising directly of the Empire.
It did not take again service with the armies that in 1645 at the time of the attack of Carl Gustaf Wrangel in Westphalia. It occupied the episcopal city of Paderborn the November 30th 1646. It ensured the supreme command of the imperial armies to replace Matthias Gallas and towards the Bohemia in July 1647 directed them. It made there its junction with an army of 10.000 Bavarois ordered by Gronsfeld, but of the dissensions between the two generals led them to separate. The allies of Melander turned over in direction of the the Danube (January 1648) and they were attacked by the united forces free - Swedish of Turenne and Wrangel not far from the village of Zusmarshausen. Melander had approached and launched out in the bataille ; it was mortally wounded of two rifle shots. He died of his wounds with Augsburg the May 17th 1648.
One does not remember Melander much any more today. It was however a valorous war leader whom more one of the belligerents would have wished to have with its service.
| Random links: | Neuville-in-Verdunois | Saint-Vincent-of-moors | Department of the mysteries | Dila | First combat of the Gravel | Je_me_rappelle_la_maman |