Charles (KARL LUDWIG JOHANN), Archduke of Austria and Duke of Teschen, third son of the Emperor Leopold II., was born at Florence, 5th September 1771. Already, spite of his youth, a distinguished soldier, he was intrusted in 1796 with the chief command of the Austrian army on the Rhine. He fought with great success against Moreau at Rastadt, defeated Jourdan in several battles, drove the French over the Rhine, and concluded his victories by taking Kehl in the winter. In 1799 he was again at the head of the army on the Rhine, was several times victorious over
Jourdan, and even successfully opposed Massena. Next year bad health compelled him to retire from active service; but he accepted the governor-generalship of Bohemia, where he soon formed a new army. After the battle of Hohenlinden he was again called to the chief command, and succeeded in staying the rapid progress of Moreau until the armistice which preceded the peace of Lunéville. In 1805 he commanded the army opposed to Massena in Italy, and fought the hard battle of Caldiero; but upon bad tidings from Germany, made a masterly retreat from the left bank of the Adige to Croatia. In 1809 he won the great battle of Aspern, which first showed to Europe that Napoleon was not invincible; but Napoleon soon retrieved his fortunes at Wagram, and the archduke had to give way before the enemy, till he reached Znaim, where an armistice was concluded. In the campaigns of 1813-14 he had no part; and he died 30th April 1847. See his Ausgewählte Schriften (6 vols. 1893-94).