Portrait of Leopold Erhard Rudolf von Puttkamer

In the early 19th century, France, under the rule of Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821), reinforced its dominance in Europe. There was growing dissatisfaction with the expansive French policy in many countries, including Prussia. By 1806, Napoleon controlled, among other things, a large part of Germany, amalgamating a number of western German states into the Union of the Rhine. After Prussia issued an ultimatum to France's actions, the Emperor marched his army into Prussian territory. It was not until 1813 that the time came for retaliation, and Prussia allied with Russia and Austria against Napoleon, defeating his army at Leipzig ( 16th-19th October 1813). A young second lieutenant, Leopold von Puttkamer (1797-1868), who came from the Pomeranian noble family of Puttkamer, took part in the battle, known as the Battle of the Nations. He began his military career early, having served as a canon in the Prussian artillery brigade in Königsberg from 1809 or 1810. Between 1813 and 1815 he took part in the Wars of Liberation, for which he was awarded the Iron Cross, 2nd Class. In 1824, he earned the rank of captain by becoming a company commander, and 12 years later he was appointed major. At the beginning of 1847, Puttkamer took command of the 1st Artillery Brigade as a lieutenant colonel. Two years later he was promoted to the rank of colonel, and in 1850 he became commander of the Guards Artillery Regiment. From 1852 to 1853, he simultaneously held the post of adjutant to the then King of Prussia, Frederick William IV (1795-1861). Subsequently, as a major general, he was given the post of inspector at the First Inspectorate of Artillery in Szczecin. He retired as an infantry general in 1863. Nevertheless, in 1866, after the outbreak of the Prussian-Austrian conflict, he helped as a cavalier of the Order of St. John in military hospitals. He died in 1868 after a serious illness. The tondo, or circular painting, with the depiction of Leopold von Puttkamer was produced in 1853 by, to be known only by name, the artist Julius Schmidt. Małgorzata Peszko