Prince Josias of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld

Prince Frederick Josias of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld (German: Friedrich Josias von Sachsen-Coburg-Saalfeld; 26 December 1737 – 26 February 1815) was a military commander in the army of the Holy Roman Empire. He began his career at the age of 18 in a cavalry regiment with which he took part in the Seven Years' War. Coburg's bravery allowed him to quickly rise through the ranks. Promoted to colonel in 1759, he became a general officer in the following years and, in this capacity, took command of an army corps during the Austro-Turkish War. Coburg campaigned successfully in Moldavia where he won the battles of Focşani, Rymnik and Martinestje against the Ottomans, which earned him the rank of field marshal in 1789.

Thanks to his extensive experience, Coburg was appointed supreme commander of the Imperial Army in the Austrian Netherlands at the beginning of the French Revolutionary Wars. He triumphed at the Battle of Aldenhoven, then at the Battle of Neerwinden in March 1793, but these victories were overshadowed some time later by his defeat at the Battle of Wattignies. In 1794, Coburg was defeated by General Jean-Baptiste Jourdan at the Battle of Fleurus and had to abandon the Austrian Netherlands to the French. He was relieved of his command following this setback and retired to his lands in Coburg. Coburg was also Inhaber (owner) of a dragoon regiment from 1769 to 1802 and of an infantry regiment from 1802 to 1815.