Manteuffel, Edwin Hans Karl, Baron von (1809–1885)

German general and diplomat. He served in the Danish war as a lieutenant-general (1864), defeated the Hanoverians (1866), was an envoy to St Petersburg and distinguished himself in the Franco-Prussian War 1870–71.

He was born in Dresden. He was appointed chief of the military Cabinet (1857), and adjutant-general of the king of Prussia (1861). After the defeat of Denmark he was made civil and military governor of Schleswig. His invasion of Holstein in 1866 was on the grounds that the Austrians, who then held it, had broken the convention of Gastein by appealing to the Germanic Confederation. After his victory he was placed in sole command against the united forces of Southern Germany. Against the French, he forced Bazaine to capitulate at Metz, defeated Farre at Amiens, and forced Clenchant to retreat into Switzerland.