General Zieten

The life of Frederick the Great's Hussar General-two volumes in one special edition



Hans Joachim von Zieten was, together with Seydlitz, one of the most notable commanders of cavalry in the Prussian Army of the 18th century. Whilst Seydlitz is consistently portrayed in the uniform of a heavy dragoon, Zieten is always presented as a light cavalry officer, the epitome of the hussar. Born in the final year of the 17th century in the Margrave of Brandenburg, he grew to be a diminutive though quarrelsome young man, prone to being involved in scrapes which delayed his military promotions, resulted in terms of imprisonment and caused him to be cashiered from the army. In fact, during his career he was involved in no less than 74 duels. His fortunes changed in 1730 when he was given command of a company of hussars. The man had found his place in the world and his hussars became renowned throughout Europe. Zieten served in four of Prussia's wars: The War of Polish Succession, The First Silesian War (War of Austrian Succession), The Second War of Silesian Succession and most notably during the Seven Years War. By 1757, Zieten had reached the rank of general and was involved in the battles of Reichenberg, Prague, Kolin and Leuthen. Now his star was almost continually in the ascendant, and he distinguished himself at Hochkirch, Liegnitz and Torgau. By the end of the war he was entrusted with the command of the Prussian Army in the absence of Frederick the Great. The king forbade Zieten from engaging in the War of Bavarian Succession and it was during this period of enforced leisure that Zieten worked with his niece, the author of this book, on his biography.



Leonaur editions are newly typeset and are not facsimiles; each title is available in softcover and hardback with dustjacket.