Count Karl Ludwig von Grünne-Pinchard (25 August 1808, Vienna - 15 June 1884, Baden bei Wien) was an Austro-Hungarian general.
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Biography
Karl Ludwig von Grünne was born as the only son and second child of Count Philipp Ferdinand von Grünne-Pinchart (1762-1854) and his wife, Baroness Rosalie van der Feltz (1779-1811). He had two sisters, Princess Rosalie von und zu Liechtenstein (1805-1841) and Countess Zoe von Wallmoden-Gimborn (1810-1894).
Career
Grünne joined his father's uhlan regiment in 1828. He rose to major in 1838 and colonel and head of Archduke Stephen's court in 1843. He was a favourite of Archduchess Sophie and was thus a strong influence on the young Archduke Franz Joseph. He was appointed to the Austrian Empire's privy council in 1847 and in August the following year became Obersthofmeister to Franz Joseph. On 19 October 1848 he was made a major general and when Franz Joseph became emperor on 2 December the same year, he made Grünne his chief adjutant and head of his military chancellery.
On 12 July 1850, Grünne was promoted to Lieutenant Field Marshal. After Austria was defeated in the 1859 Sardinian War, the people and the army mainly placed the blame on Grünne. The emperor wrote him a handwritten letter on 20 October 1859 dismissing him from his post as chief adjutant but making him a colonel and a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Stephen. Grünne also successfully petitioned the emperor to retain his role as captain of the gendarmerie guards.