Alessandro, Marquis de Maffei

Who was Alessandro, Marquis de Maffei?

Alessandro Scipione, Marquis de Maffei, was an Italian Lieutenant General of Infantry in Bavarian service. He was the brother of the Italian writer and archaeologist Francesco Scipione.

De Maffei was born at Verona. After entering the army of Bavaria in 1683 he was wounded at the Siege of Mongatz in 1687; he was later promoted to Colonel in 1696.

During the War of the Spanish Succession he served as the second in command at the Battle of Schellenberg in 1704. In 1706 he led a brigade at Ramillies against the Allied forces under the command of the Duke of Marlborough. After being taken prisoner, he became involved in abortive negotiations for peace.

In 1717 he contributed to victory over the Turks at the Siege of Belgrade in the Austro-Turkish War and was subsequently made Field Marshal of the Empire. He died in Munich in 1730.