Heinrich XV, Prince Reuss of Greiz

Heinrich XV, Prince Reuss of Greiz
Heinrich XV, Prince Reuss of Greiz. Painting by Josef Ziegler.
Born	22 February 1751 (1751-02-22) Greiz Castle, Imperial County of Reuss, Holy Roman Empire
Died	30 August 1825 (1825-08-31) (aged 74) Greiz Castle, Principality of Reuss-Greiz, German Confederation
Allegiance	Austrian Empire
Years of service	1766–1824
Rank	Feldmarschall
Battles/wars	Austro-Turkish War (1787–91) French Revolutionary Wars Napoleonic Wars
Awards	Knight's Cross Military Order of Maria Theresa (1809) Military Order of Max Joseph (1813) Order of Leopold (1814) Order of St. Alexander Nevsky (1814)
Other work	Inhaber Infantry Regiment # 17 (1801–1825)

Heinrich XV, Prince Reuss of Greiz (22 February 1751 – 30 August 1825) was the fourth of six sons born into the reigning family of the Principality of Reuss. At the age of fifteen he joined the army of the Habsburg monarchy and later fought against Ottoman Turkey. During the French Revolutionary Wars he became a general officer and saw extensive service. He commanded a corps during the Napoleonic Wars. From 1801 until his death, he was Proprietor (Inhaber) of an Austrian infantry regiment.

Prince Heinrich came to the attention of the Habsburg king in his thirties. After distinguishing himself in battle against the Turks, the emperor promoted him to command an infantry regiment. He served against the French First Republic in the Flanders Campaign and was promoted to the rank of general. The year 1796 found him leading Austrian troops against the army of Napoleon Bonaparte. In the following year he commanded a division.

In 1799 Prince Heinrich fought against France in Germany and Switzerland. He led a division in northern Italy during the War of the Third Coalition. In the Danube campaign of 1809, he started out leading a division and ended the war in command of a corps. In 1813, he led a successful diplomatic effort to cause the Kingdom of Bavaria to change sides and join the Allies against Napoleon. Into his seventies he served Austria in various military and civil positions.