Joseph Radetzky von Radetz.

About Joseph Radetzky von Radetz

Johann Josef Wenzel Anton Franz Karl, Graf Radetzky von Radetz was a Czech nobleman and Austrian field marshal. He served as chief of the general staff in the Habsburg monarchy during the later period of the Napoleonic Wars and contributed to the Trachenberg Plan and the Leipzig Campaign, which led to the Battle of Leipzig. Afterwards, he embarked on military reforms of the Austrian army. He was known among his troops by the sobriquet 'Vater Radetzky'. He commanded the Austrian forces at the Battle of Custoza in 1848 and the Battle of Novara in 1849 during the First Italian War of Independence. Johann Strauss I's Radetzky March was commissioned to commemorate Radetzky's victory at the Battle of Custoza.