Starhemberg, Ernst Rüdiger, Graf von

Starhemberg, Ernst Rüdiger, Graf von (ĕrnst rü`dĭgər gräf fən shtä`rəmbĕrk'), 1638–1701, Austrian field marshal. He served against the Ottomans in Hungary under Montecucculi and was made (1680) military commander of Vienna. From July to Sept., 1683, he held Vienna with a small garrison against a large Ottoman army under the grand vizier Kara Mustafa. Vienna was about to succumb to the siege, which had reduced it to starvation, when it was relieved by an army under John III of Poland and Charles V of Lorraine. As a reward for his heroic role Starhemberg was made a field marshal and minister of state. In 1691 he became president of the war council. His cousin

Guidobald, Graf von Starhemberg (gwē`dōbält'), 1657–1737, also took part in the defense of Vienna. He was made field marshal and served with distinction in the War of the Spanish Succession.