William, Count of Schaumburg-Lippe

Wilhelm, Count of Schaumburg-Lippe-Bückeburg (9 January 1724 – 10 September 1777), born Friedrich Wilhelm Ernst Graf zu Schaumburg-Lippe-Bückeburg, was a German ruler of the County of Schaumburg-Lippe-Bückeburg, an important military commander in the Seven Years' War, Generalfeldzeugmeister of the Electorate of Brunswick-Lüneburg, a British field marshal (Generalfeldmarschall) and the grandson of George I of Great Britain.

Friedrich Wilhelm Ernst Graf zu Schaumburg-Lippe-Bückeburg
Portrait by Johann Georg Ziesenis, c. 1770
Born	(1724-01-09)9 January 1724
Died	10 September 1777(1777-09-10) (aged 53)
Allegiance	Portugal
Branch	Portuguese Army
Rank	Marechal-general (Portugal)
Commands	Portuguese Army
Battles / wars	War of the Austrian Succession Seven Years' War
Spouse(s)	Marie Barbara Eleonore
Children	4

Biography

He was born in London the son of Albrecht Wolfgang, Count of Schaumburg-Lippe and of his first wife Countess Margarete Gertrud of Oeynhausen (1701–1726), an alleged bastard daughter of George I of Great Britain and his mistress Ehrengard Melusine von der Schulenburg.

He accompanied his father in his campaign in Dutch service during the 1740-1748 War of Austrian Succession, and was present at the Battle of Dettingen (1743). He then fought in Austrian service in their Italian campaign. He succeeded his father as Count on 25 October 1748.

Seven Years' War

Further information: Great Britain in the Seven Years War

As Count and General of the Artillery (Generalfeldzeugmeister) he sided with Prussia during the Seven Years' War. He distinguished himself at the head of the allied artillery during the Battle of Minden and was rewarded with the overall command of the allied artillery.

Portugal

In 1762, at the request of the Marquis of Pombal (the Portuguese Secretary of State) he led, as Generalissimus, the allied troops in Portugal against the Spanish invasion. William conducted a brilliant defensive campaign of marches and counter-marches, so that the enemy, although it had a three-to-one superiority in numbers, always encountered defenders in a good position and never dared to risk an all-out attack. At the request of Pombal, Lippe stayed on for a year after the peace agreement of 1763.

William's wife Marie Barbara Eleonore

He was also an influential military theorist and an advocate of defensive warfare. One of his best-known slogans is: "Kein anderer als der Defensivkrieg ist rechtmäßig!" ("Only defensive warfare is justified!")

He died at Wölpinghausen and was succeeded by his cousin the count of Lippe-Alverdissen, Philipp II. Ernst. As one of the greatest figures in German history, he is commemorated by a bust in the Walhalla temple.

Family

By 1764 Wilhelm had two children, Joseph and Olimpia Petronellia.^[1] They were born in Elvas, Portugal. Olimpia was baptized in the Church "Matriz" in the city of Campo Maior on 24 June 1764. Years after, before her marriage, Olimpia was recognized by her father's cousin, Philip II Ernst, and her name was changed to Olímpia Patronellia Ernestina de Schaumburg-Lippe. Olimpia died on 25 November 1822.

He was married on 12 November 1765 at Stadthagen to Countess Marie Barbara Eleonore of Lippe-Biesterfeld (1744–1776), daughter of Frederick Charles Augustus, Count of Lippe. They had two children; Countess Emilie (1771–1774) and an unnamed son (1772).

Theorist of Defensive War

Wilhelm was the first to develop a polemological theory of purely defensive warfare, which he considered the only justifiable one for ethical reasons: "No war other than defensive warfare is legitimate!" The core of the strategy he developed for this purpose was the concept of "fortified landscapes" in areas particularly problematic for invading armies: a combination of strongholds, an armed rural population, and soldiers, some of whom working in agriculture during peacetime.

Significance for the Prussian Reform Era

Wilhelm's ideas and practical experiences provide a bridge to Scharnhorst's and Gneisenau's plans for a "people's war" against Napoleon and to Scharnhorst's military reform. His advocacy for universal conscription and opposition to corporal punishment for soldiers can also be seen in this context.

See also

• Conde de Lippe Fort, a fortress to protect Portugal during the Seven Years' War
• Wilhelmstein, an artificial fortified island in the lake Steinhuder Meer, constructed to the orders of the Count.
• Steinhuder Hecht, an experimental submarine, constructed at Wilhelmstein.