Charles, Count Alten
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Field Marshal Sir Charles (Carl) August von Alten GCB, GCH (21 October 1764 – 20 April 1840) was a Hanoverian and British soldier who led the famous Light Division during the last two years of the Peninsular War. At the Battle of Waterloo, he commanded a division in the front line, where he was wounded. He later rose to the rank of Field Marshal in the Hanoverian Army.
Quick Facts Sir Charles Alten, Birth name ...
Sir Charles Alten | |
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Birth name | Carl August von Alten |
Born | (1764-10-21)21 October 1764 Burgwedel, Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg |
Died | 20 April 1840(1840-04-20) (aged 75) Bozen, County of Tyrol (now Bolzano in Italy) |
Allegiance | Kingdom of Hanover |
Years of service | 1781–1840 |
Rank | Generalfeldmarschall |
Commands held | Light Division King's German Legion |
Battles/wars | Napoleonic Wars |
Awards | Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Guelphic Order |
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Alten was the son of August Eberhard von Alten (1722–1789), a member of an old Hanoverian family, and Baroness Henriette Philippine Marie Hedwig von Vincke-Ostenwalde.[1]
Alten's older brother, Victor Alten (1755–1820) commanded a cavalry brigade in Wellington's army.[2] Unlike his brother Charles, Victor is described as "unsatisfactory".[3]