Page "Archduke Charles, Duke of Teschen" Paragraph 3

Charles was born in Florence, Tuscany, where his father was then Grand Duke.

In a generous act by his father, he was adopted and raised in Vienna by his childless aunt Archduchess Marie Christine of Austria and her husband Albert of Saxe-Teschen.

His youth was spent in Tuscany, at Vienna and in the Austrian Netherlands, where he began his career of military service in the war of the French Revolution.

He commanded a brigade at the Battle of Jemappes, and in the campaign of 1793 distinguished himself at the Action of Aldenhoven and the Battle of Neerwinden.

In this year he became Statthalter in Belgium and received the army rank of lieutenant field marshal.

This promotion was soon followed by that to Feldzeugmeister.

In the remainder of the war in the Low Countries he held high commands, and was present at the Battle of Fleurus.