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Auction: 25001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 487

Germany, a late 19th century Officer's aiguillette, sword knot, and epaulettes belonging to Lieutenant General O. W. von Clausen, aiguillette with double twisted cords and attachment cording with attached shoulder epaulette and two ornate aiglets, of superior quality, aiguillette and two epaulettes each bearing one rank insignia, together with Order of the Crown of Wurttemberg helmet plate, very fine (Lot)

Otto Wilhelm von Clausen was born in Stuttgart, Germany on 9 September 1831 as the youngest of six children born to Johann Gottlieb Ivan Clausen and his wife Carolina Margareta Christine Rammenstein. His father Johann was the Chief Valet to the High Chamber of His Majesty King Wilhelm of Wurttemberg.

Young Otto's military career began at a young age, and he attended the Higher 'Karl' School in Stuttgart and then Officer Cadet School in Ludwigsburg. From age 16, Clausen was an Officer Cadet attached to the 8th Company, 4th Infantry Brigade. His first commission came in 1851, when he was appointed 2nd Lieutenant in the 3rd Infantry Brigade. He was promoted 1st Lieutenant a few years later in 1855. Clausen acted as aide-de-camp of the 2nd Battalion and was sometime advanced Aide-de-Camp of the Brigade.

Clausen was appointed company commander and then in 1867 Captain of the 5th Company. It was around this time that he sought permission to marry the young Marie Elisabethe Gougel, known as Elisa, who was born in Sornetan in 1844. The couple was married in Stuttgart on 15 August 1868. Some examples of their correspondance are included in the archive of this Lot. Together Elisa and Otto had issue of three sons, all of whom enjoyed military careers with two becoming Captains and one reaching the rank of Major.

Clausen was wounded in battle on 3 November 1870 whilst serving as the Chief of Staff of the 1st King's Royal Wurttemberg Regiment. The circumstances surrounding this wound and the extent of his injury are unfortunately not known. The wound was not likely to be severe, however, as Clausen was on the field of battle in 1871 where he was awarded the Military Order of Merit. This distinction allowed him to thereafter use the prefix 'von' in front of his name. This was a life peerage and thus did not extend to any of his heirs.

The following year in 1872, von Clausen was promoted Major and assumed command of the 2nd Battalion. At some stage he also took part in a course for Staff Officers at the Military Rifle and Artillery School in Berlin. He was advanced Lieutenant Colonel in 1879 and then to Colonel in 1883. His next promotion came in 1887 when he was made Colonel in Chief, but he retained the honourary rank of Colonel of the Grenadier Regiment. That same year, he assumed command of the 54th Infantry Brigade was assumed with his appointment as Major General.

In 1888, von Clausen reached the rank of Lieutenant General and was detached to Prussia to command the 60th Infantry Brigade. At some stage, the old soldier retired to the reserve force and later died in Stuttgart on 20 October 1911 of pneumonia. His wife Elisa survived him by only two years.

von Clausen's distinguished career in the German Army spanned decades. He was decorated with a number of Medals and Orders, and was a Companion of the Military Order of Merit, Companion of the Order of the Crown of Wurttemberg, Knight Commander of the Friedrich Order, 2nd Class Iron Cross, Knight of the Order of Albrecht the Brave, Knight of the Prussian Order of the Red Eagle, Companion of the Austrian Order of the Iron Crown, Knight of the Greek Order of Our Redeemer, Knight of the Royal Crown of Prussia, and a Knight Commander of the Military Order of Wurttemberg.

Sold together with a comprehensive archive of original material including:

(i)
18 original German warrants for commissions and for the award of various orders and decorations. These documents date from 1866 through 1911.

(ii)
Original and copied photographs of von Clausen in uniform.

(iii) A collection of handwritten letters to his wife Elisa, all in German but seemingly spanning a significant period of time both during their courtship and after their marriage.

(iv)
Invitations to court dinners in Lubien, Poland in September 1886.

(v)
Copied family registers and copied family tree.

For the Medals belonging to one of his sons, see Lot 486.

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Estimate
£300 to £500

Starting price
£240