One of the most important Austrian military commanders of the 18th century. He was born on February 13, 1717, on a farm in Tootzen, in present-day Latvia. In 1744, he entered the service of the Austrian Empress Maria Theresa. He distinguished himself in many battles, participating in ranks ranging from captain to field marshal. In 1789, he achieved his greatest victory – the liberation of Belgrade from Ottoman rule. When the possibility of a new war with Prussia loomed in 1790, the then 73-year-old Laudon was appointed commander-in-chief of all Austrian armies and generalissimo. He moved to Nový Jičín in Moravia, where the Austrian army had its headquarters, to direct preparations for war from there. However, he fell seriously ill and died of pneumonia on July 14, 1790.