#translation of Leibbursche

[microcosme11]

“ Das Reitergefecht bei Liebertwolkwitz am 14. Oktober 1813. Im Vordergrund Marschall Murat” by Richard Knötel

The cavalry battle at Liebertwolkwitz on October 14, 1813, in the foreground Marshal Murat

Crude google translation from the website linked below: 

Duel with the King (Murat)

In the run-up to the Battle of Leipzig, on October 14, 1813, there was a cavalry battle between the cavalry corps of the Russian General Count von der Pahlen and the cavalry of the French Marshal and King of Naples, Murat. Since the battle, which lasted from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., involved up to 15,000 horsemen from both sides in the melee, the battle is often called the "biggest cavalry battle of modern times".The Pahlen Cavalry Corps also included the Prussian Mounted Grenadier Regiment "Freiherr von Derfflinger" (Neumarkisches) No. 3, founded in 1807 in Bromberg. In association with two Russian hussar regiments, it encountered the French positions south of Leipzig in the course of a violent reconnaissance. In the wide plain between Dölitz, Markkleeberg, Wachau, Liebertwolkwitz and Holzhausen, Marshal Murat had his French, Poles and Rheinbündische entrenched in accordance with a plan by Marshal Victor.

Pahlen, who was only a moderately talented general, did not recognize this locking position and ordered the attack from the movement. The Allies quickly came under heavy French artillery fire from the Galgenberg, the dominant height in this flat country. The order "Collect backwards" had to be given while the French cavalry counterattacked. As always, Marshal Murat himself rode at the head in his theatrical costume.

Lieutenant Guido von der Lippe commanded the flanking platoon in the 2nd Squadron of Mounted Grenadiers. The young Upper Silesian made the decision to capture this "vain peacock". He used the moment, when the King of Naples was only accompanied by his body boy ( Leibbursche ), to make an unauthorized advance, accompanied by a few comrades from his cavalcade.

With the call "Halt, König, halt!", spoken in German, the lieutenant tried to grasp the reins of Murat's white palfrey. He dodged it skillfully and stared blankly at the young officer, drawn saber in hand. The body boy, on the other hand, reacted with lightning speed and knocked the attacker out of the saddle with his edged weapon. However, the approaching body squadron of the king put an end to the bold attempt at capture by the Neumärker.

Lieutenant Guido von der Lippe was found by his lad on the battlefield on October 16, 1813, hidden under corpses, and buried with honor by the 2nd squadron. The history painter Richard Knötel later created a lasting monument to him.

Murat's body boy was appointed "Royal Equerry", an "honorary pension from the city of Naples" for life and the horse of the lieutenant von der Lippe. Emperor Napoleon awarded the equerry the "Cross of the Legion of Honour".

Source:   "The book of facts of the German cavalry." Dedicated to the German cavalry by Emil Buxbaum, Major on the staff of the kb 2nd Heavy Cavalry Regiment "Archduke Franz Ferdinand von Austria-Este", Berlin and Leipzig, Verlag Friedrich Luckhardt, 1900.

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#translation of Leibbursche #aide-de-camp? #Murat in battle #German campaign 1813