Konstantin Ghilian Karl d'Aspré

Konstantin Ghilian Karl d'Aspré von Hoobreuk
Konstantin Ghilian Karl d'Aspré von Hoobreuk
Born	27 December 1754 (1754-12-27) Ghent, Austrian Netherlands, now Belgium
Died	8 July 1809 (1809-07-09) (aged 54) Mikulov (Nikolsburg), Habsburg Austria, now the Czech Republic
Allegiance	Habsburg Austria Austrian Empire
Service/branch	Infantry
Rank	Feldmarschall-Leutnant
Battles/wars	Brabant Revolution French Revolutionary Wars Napoleonic Wars
Awards	Military Order of Maria Theresa, KC 1790
Other work	Inhaber Infantry Regiment Nr. 18

Konstantin Ghilian Karl d'Aspré von Hoobreuk (27 December 1754 – 8 July 1809), served in the army of Habsburg Austria during the French Revolutionary Wars. In the Napoleonic Wars, he made a mark in two major campaigns. In 1809, he was briefly Proprietor (Inhaber) of an infantry regiment and rose to command a division. His son Konstantin d'Aspré (1789–1850) also became an Austrian general.

D'Aspré helped put down the Brabant Revolution of 1789 and 1790 in his native land, and won a coveted award. During the War of the First Coalition he was promoted to command a regiment. He played an important role in one clash during the 1805 campaign. In 1809, he led a brigade of grenadiers in the early battles and later was appointed to command a grenadier division. He was mortally wounded while leading his soldiers at the Battle of Wagram.

Born at Ghent in the Austrian Netherlands on 27 December 1754, d'Aspré made his career in the army. A son, also named Konstantin, was born on 18 December 1789 in Brussels. While a captain, the elder Konstantin performed with notable bravery in the Brabant Revolution and won the Knight's Cross of the Military Order of Maria Theresa on 19 December 1790. He fought during the War of the First Coalition, becoming Oberst in 1794.

At the Battle of Verona on 26 April 1799, the d'Aspré Jäger Corps of 10 companies was assigned to the brigade of Anton von Elsnitz in Konrad Valentin von Kaim's division. The Jäger Corps also fought at the Battle of Magnano on 6 April. D'Aspré was promoted General-major on 6 February 1800. He served under Peter Karl Ott von Bátorkéz in the operations leading up to the Siege of Genoa. Like other émigré officers, D'Aspré had an aggressive outlook. In one action, his fellow general Friedrich Heinrich von Gottesheim chided him for being so impatient. Gottesheim asked what good could be done by cavalry across the rough ground between them and the French and d'Aspré replied, "Beat them". On 7 April 1800, Nicolas Soult and 5,000 French soldiers launched a surprise attack on Monte Fascio. The French assault mauled Ott's division, forcing the 2nd Battalion of the Archduke Joseph Infantry Regiment Nr. 63 to surrender. For a loss of only 200 killed and wounded, Soult's men inflicted losses of 54 killed, 178 wounded, and 1,400 captured on the Austrians. D'Aspré was made a prisoner during the encounter.