Peter von Vécsey Peter , Freiherr von Vécsey or Peter Vécsey de Hernádvécse et Hajnácskeő ( ; 13 July 1768 – 21 July 1809 ) was an Imperial Austrian military commander of Hungarian descent who took part in the French Revolutionary Wars and Napoleonic Wars . As a " Freiherr " ( Baron ) , he was a member of the Austrian landless nobility . He make his mark while leading cavalry units and advanced in rank to become a general officer in 1808 . He led an independent brigade during part of the 1809 campaign , and was mortally wounded while leading his troops in battle . Early career . Peter Vécsey de Hernádvécse et Hajnácskeő was born into a military family on 13 July 1768 at Bodolló , Abaúj County in the Kingdom of Hungary . Having joined the army at age 17 , Vécsey served in the Austrian cavalry . As a " Rittmeister " , he served in the " Kaiser " Chevauleger Regiment Nr . 1 during the War of the First Coalition , leading 15 troopers in a notable action on 25 August 1796 , in which he captured a large number of French prisoners . He was also involved in a brilliant action at the Battle of Riegel on 20 October that year , when he led a charge that captured an enemy outpost , with its defending infantry and two guns . After being wounded in this action , he received the Military Order of Maria Theresa as well as the noble title of Freiherr . A relative , Feldmarschallleutnant Siegbert Vécsey de Hernádvécse et Hajnácskeő ( 1739 – 1802 ) was the Proprietor of " Vécsey " Hussar Regiment Nr . 34 ( later Nr . 4 ) from 1791 until his death . Napoleonic Wars . Vécsey became renowned for leading from the front . He became " Oberst " ( Colonel ) of the " Archduke Ferdinand " Hussar Regiment Nr . 3 , which he led at the Battle of Caldiero on 29 – 31 October 1805 during the War of the Third Coalition . On 14 August 1808 he was promoted to " General - major " . In 1809 during the War of the Fifth Coalition , he was given command of a brigade in the Austrian II Armeekorps which was led by Feldzeugmeister Johann Kollowrat . His brigade included the 7th and 8th Jäger Battalions , the 2nd Battalion of the " Archduke Charles " Legion , the " Klenau " Chevauleger Regiment Nr . 5 , and a brigade battery with eight 3 - pound cannons . The division commander was Feldmarschallleutnant Johann von Klenau . At the beginning of the campaign , his brigade was detached from its army corps and served as an independent link between the I and II Armeekorps north of the Danube and the III , IV , V , VI , I Reserve , and II Reserve Armeekorps south of the river . The brigade operated on the south bank . At the Battle of Aspern - Essling on 21 and 22 May 1809 , Vécsey led a cavalry brigade consisting of the " Vincent " Chevauleger Regiment Nr . 4 and the " Klenau " Chevaulegers . His division commander was Feldmarschallleutnant Michael von Kienmayer . At the Battle of Wagram on 5 and 6 July , he commanded a brigade in Feldmarschallleutnant Armand von Nordmann ' s Advance Guard . His unit was made up of the " Wallach - Illyrian " Grenz Infantry Regiment Nr . 13 , the " Hessen - Homburg " Hussars Nr . 4 , and six 6 - pound guns of a cavalry battery . He was fatally wounded leading his men during the second day of the battle . He died at Mikulov ( Nikolsburg ) in Bohemia on 21 July 1809 , having never married . Vécsey was one of four Austrian generals slain or mortally wounded at Wagram , the others being Feldmarschallleutnants Josef Philipp Vukassovich , Konstantin Ghilian Karl d ' Aspré , and Nordmann . He was the nephew of General - Major Stephan Vécsey de Vécse et Hajnácskeö ( 1719 – 1802 ) , a veteran of the Seven Years War . Another relative , " General - Major " August Vécsey de Hernádvécse et Hajnácskeő also led a brigade at Wagram .