Johann Graf von Aldringen

Who was Johann Graf von Aldringen?

Johann Reichsgraf von Aldringen, Austrian soldier, was born at Thionville in Lorraine. After travelling as page to a nobleman in France, Italy and the Netherlands, he went to the University of Paris.

In 1606 he entered the service of Spain, in which he remained until 1618, when he joined the imperial army. Here he distinguished himself in the field and in the cabinet. Made a colonel in 1622, two years later he was employed on the council of war and on diplomatic missions. At the bridge of Dessau in 1626 he performed very distinguished service against Ernst von Mansfeld. He and his constant comrade Matthias Gallas were ennobled on the same day, and in the course of the Italian campaign of 1630 the two officers married the two daughters of Count d'Arco.

Aldringer served as Count Rambold Collalto's major-general in this campaign and was present at the taking of Mantua on July 18, 1630 during the War of Mantuan Succession. The plunder of the duke of Mantua's treasures made Gallas and Aldringer wealthy men. Back in Germany in 1631, he served after Breitenfeld as Tilly's artillery commander, and, elevated to the dignity of count of the Empire, he was present at the battle of the Lech, where he was wounded.