To see this working, head to your live site.

The Stutterheim scandal

Daniel Gottfried Wilhelm (named "Karl") Freiherr von Stutterheim 1770-1811

This general, considered by many to be one of the most competent in Austrian service committed suicide in 1811 over a scandal. Does anyone have details of this scandal?

4 comments

4 Comments

David Hollins

Jun 01

Where has this come from? I cannot find anything in Wurzbach, Hirtenfeld that even mentions a scandal. he does seem to have been involved in the diplomacy of the period, being in Paris with Metternich and appears to have been at Tilsit, while also corresponding with various Prussians, notably Stein. The day he committed suicide was the day he received his promotion to Feldmarschalleutnant.

Keith Alexander

Jun 03

Replying to

Many thanks David. I have indeed exercised your patience and knowledge. It does seem a very muddled affair. Mistranslation seems to be culprit with someone somewhere confabulating the Stutterheims as well. Hit by a canonball is pretty major injury, I assume he did lose some function of his body, but he was still active enough to work as an army officer and write one book at least, but a serious injury would be expected to shorten his lifespan. Your argument about the translation of ending his life rather than ending meaning taking his own life looks sound.