Joseph Maria Frederick Wilhelm of Saxe-Hildburghausen, Duke in Saxony (German: Joseph Maria Friedrich Wilhelm Hollandinus, Prinz und Regent von Sachsen-Hildburghausen; 5 October 1702 – Hildburghausen, 4 January 1787), was a German officer, Generalfeldmarschall of the Imperial Army and Reichsgeneralfeldmarschall (Reichsgeneralfeldzeugmeister) of the Army of the Holy Roman Empire. He is best known for commanding the Franco-Roman-German at the Battle of Rossbach, losing to the Prussian Army.

He was the third but second surviving son of Ernst, Duke of Saxe-Hildburghausen and Sophie of Waldeck-Pyrmont, daughter of German Field Marshal Prince Georg Friedrich of Waldeck. His mother died ten days after his birth, on 15 October 1702.

He received the typical education of a nobleman of his time, with some educational journeys to the different countries of Europe. When he was sixteen years old, the prince joined the Habsburg Army and became already in 1719 a Staff Captain in the Infantry Regiment N°18 "Seckendorff", and fought in it in Sicily during the War of the Quadruple Alliance (1717–1720).

After his conversion to Catholicism in 1728, began for Joseph a fast ascent in his military career.

In 1729 he was appointed lieutenant-colonel (Oberstleutnant) and the next year (18 July 1730) colonel (Oberst) of the Regiment "Palffy". In January 1732 he even got his own 8th Infantry Regiment. Briefly after the outbreak of War of the Polish Succession (1733-1735/1738; since 1734 Generalfeldwachtmeister) he served in the following campaigns in northern Italy. He distinguished himself, especially in the Battle of San Pietro, where he was wounded in the face, and was promoted to Lieutenant field marshal (Feldmarschall-Leutnant) before the end of the war (on 30 April 1735).

...
Wikipedia