[Editorial by Johann‐Matthias Graf von der Schulenburg President of the Schulenburg Family Association]

The Schulenburg family is extremely honoured to share, thanks to initiative taken by the Friends of the Foundation “Albert Cohen” in Corfu, in celebrating the Three Hundred Year Anniversary of the victory of European troops over the Turks on Corfu. The commander of the European troops was our ancestor Field Marshal Johann Matthias Graf von der Schulenburg (JMS). This victory on August 11, 1716 saved Europe from becoming Turkish and Islamic. Corfu and other Ionian Islands are the only parts of Modern Greece which never became Turkish.

Who was JMS? He was certainly one of the greatest European generals of the 17th and 18th Century. All his life he remained in close contact with his younger sister Melusine (1667‐1743), who became Duchess of Kendal and Munster under George I of Great Britain. She was always a support to her brother, especially in the Battle of Corfu when she arranged for British warships to be sent to assist him.

JMS’s (1661‐1747) life began in a manner similar to that of other aristocrats in Northern Germany at the time. He was first educated by a private tutor in his home castle of Emden. Afterwards he studied for some time in the Loire Valley and in Paris before he became a Junker (Young Nobleman) at the court of the Duke of Braunschweig. Intrigued by military strategy, he began his military career by joining the Imperial Army.

For much of his life JMS was involved in the Great Turkish Wars (1683 – 1718), which began with a massive Turkish invasion force of over 100,000 men marching on Vienna, supported by protestant Hungarian aristocrats rebelling against Habsburg rule. To stop both the rebellion and the invasion of Vienna, an alliance was formed between Austria, Poland, Venice and the Russian Empire. These allied forces fought the Turks in a series of wars during the following decades.

After serving as an officer in the Imperial Army, JMS became a Colonel in the service of Victor Amadeus II of Savoy. Two years later he was severely wounded in battle. In 1702 he joined the Saxon Army and fought in the Great Northern War against Charles XII of Sweden and suffered defeats at the Battles of Klissow and of Fraustadt. Five years later, in 1707, JMS returned to Western Europe and fought under Prince Eugen at the Battles of Oudenaarde and Malplaquet in the wars of the Spanish Succession. This marked the beginning of a long and close friendship between JMS and Prince Eugen.

In 1714 he met the famous mathematician and philosopher Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz in Hanover, with whom he remained in steady correspondence for many years. JMS exchanged correspondence with hundreds of people, including leading politicians, generals, scientists, artists and friends discussing strategies, technology, science, art and current events.

When the Venetian Republic was looking for a strong and experienced general to defend Venice and her territories against the Ottoman Turks, JMS was appointed to the position and the Emperor made him a “Reichsgraf” (Count of the Holy Roman Empire).

Realizing that the Turks were intending to attack the Venetian island of Corfu, JMS started to recruit troops to defend the island. From medieval times and throughout the 17th century, Corfu had been recognised as a bulwark for European states against the Ottoman Empire. Over time it became one of the most fortified places in Europe. In a spectacular battle lasting several days, JMS mounted a successful defence of Corfu despite the fact that the Turks had fought their way onto the island and conquered parts of the fortress with a force of 30,000 men and 3,000 mounted troups. In the course of the battle the Turks lost approximately 8,000 men and the Venetians about 1,500. Capitalizing on Turkish losses, JMS seized the opportunity to launch a powerful counter‐attack and drove them from the island. The Turks’ decision to flee was also probably influenced by news of the military successes of JMS´s ally, Prince Eugen of Savoy.

The following year, after the Austrians captured Belgrade, the Turks sued for peace and in 1718 the Treaty of Passarowitz was signed. Victory in the Battle of Corfu was particularly important for Europe as the loss of Corfu would have left a completely open flank threatening the continent of Europe and given a vital strategic victory to the Ottomans. After the war, JMS was honoured by the Kings of Western Europe and while he was still alive monuments celebrating his victory were erected in Venice and in Corfu. He had audiences with the Pope in Rome, received significant awards and remunerations and achieved European fame. In 1716 Antonio Vivaldi composed the oratorio “Juditha triumphans” to honour JMS and to celebrate his victory over the Turks in Corfu. JMS lived on for 31 years after his victory. He was a generous supporter of all of his Schulenburg relatives, and retained the rank of Field Marshal and General of Venice until his death in 1747. As a wealthy person with estates in Northern Germany and Italy and an honoured position in Venice, JMS became an important art collector. While residing in the Palazzo Loredan on the Grand Canal, he made his first major purchases by acquiring 88 paintings by Pierre Puget from a Venetian art‐dealer. Ultimately, his collection included works by Raphael, Correggio, Giorgione, Giulio Romano and Castiglione. Famous artists who painted portraits of Johann‐ Matthias, included Bartolomeo Nazari, Giuseppe Nogari, Giacomo Ceruti, Gian Antonio Guardi, Francesco Simonini and Piazzetta. JMS supported the painter Guardi with a monthly salary, and Canaletto painted for JMS a view of Corfu.

When JMS died, he was buried. with full military honours, in Verona; later on, a monument and cenotaph were built for him, still visible at the Arsenale, in Venice.

We of the Schulenburg family are grateful for the opportunity to come together with our Greek friends on the beautiful Island of Corfu in order to celebrate with them the decisive victory over the Turks three hundred years ago.

Professor Dr. Johann‐Matthias Graf von der Schulenburg President of the Schulenburg Family Association

Photos of Professor Dr. Johann‐Matthias Graf von der Schulenburg President of the Schulenburg Family Association

Photos of Johann Matthias Graf von der Schulenburg (1616‐1747)1

1 Painting privatly owned by Johann-Matthias Graf von der Schulenburg Johann‐Matthias´ Palazzo Loredan today2

Monument for Johann‐Matthias in the Arsenal in Venice3

2 Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Palazzo_Loredan_dell%27Ambasciatore_%28Venice%29.jpg. 3 Photo taken by in 2002.