Historical figure

Albrecht von Roon

Count (1871) · Field Marshal (1873)

Albrecht von Roon (1803-1879), raised to the rank of Prussian count in 1871, is one of the great reformers of the Prussian army in the 19th century. Appointed Minister of War in December 1859, he carried out the reorganisation of the army desired by the future Guillaume Ier, and was also entrusted with the Navy in 1861. He was promoted to field marshal on 1 January 1873 and briefly served as President of the Prussian Council of Ministers the same year. On 6 September 1873, he bought the castle of Krobnitz, in Upper Lusatia, which he had transformed between 1873 and 1875 into a retirement residence in a Neoclassical style. He spent his last years there, died in Berlin on 23 February 1879 and was laid to rest in the family crypt in the park of Krobnitz, now a museum.

Portrait of Albrecht von Roon
Birth30 avril 1803, Pleushagen près de Kolberg (Poméranie)
Death23 février 1879, Berlin
RoleCount (1871) · Field Marshal (1873)
Era19th century
History & heritage

The reforming minister

Roon was called in 1859 to the commission for the reorganisation of the army, and then appointed Minister of War in December of the same year. Biographical accounts present him as one of the most important military reformers of his time, whose work contributed to Prussia's successes in the German wars of unification.

Schloss KrobnitzSchloss Krobnitz
Timeline

Key moments in their life

1803

Born in Pleushagen, near Kolberg, in Pomerania.

Décembre 1859

Appointed Minister of War to bring about the army reform desired by Guillaume.

1861

The Ministry of the Navy was also entrusted to him.

28 octobre 1870

Awarded the Pour le Mérite by Guillaume Ier during the Franco-Prussian War.

1871

Raised to the rank of Prussian count.

1er janvier 1873

Promoted to field marshal; he also became President of the Prussian Council of Ministers until 9 November 1873.

6 septembre 1873

Acquisition of Krobnitz Castle, converted from 1873 to 1875 into a retirement residence.

23 février 1879

Died in Berlin; buried in the family crypt at Krobnitz.

Associated heritage

Castles linked to this figure

1 place
Historical network

Linked personalities

Portrait of Guillaume Ier
Guillaume IerSovereign for whom he carried out the army reformPrince Regent, then King of Prussia, who appointed Roon Minister of War in 1859 and decorated him during the war of 1870.→
Portrait of Otto von Bismarck
Otto von BismarckColleague in the Prussian governmentRoon briefly succeeded him as President of the Prussian Council of Ministers in 1873.→
Portrait of Wilhelm Neumann
Wilhelm NeumannProbable author of the plans for the remodelling of KrobnitzBerlin building inspector cited for the plans of 1873–1875.→
Portrait of Carl Heinrich Wilhelm von Uechtritz
Carl Heinrich Wilhelm von UechtritzShared castle→
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Albrecht von Roon in history

Krobnitz, final resting place

In 1873, Roon acquired an 18th-century Baroque manor house in Upper Lusatia and had it remodelled into his retirement residence, drawing inspiration from the appearance of the Berlin Ministry of War. He lived there in his final years and was laid to rest in the family crypt in the park, which has been preserved to this day.

Documentation

Sources for this entry

This summary cross-references several sources to document the places, events and historical relationships.