Leo von Heidenstam
Leo von Heidenstam | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Portrait of von Heidenstam in 1867 | |
| 1st Premier of Geatland | |
| In office 10 August 1867 – 12 December 1878 | |
| Monarch | Gunnar III |
| Preceded by | office created |
| Succeeded by | Baron Ingemar Ulf |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 29 September 1798 Kungslandning, Ibsäm, Geatland |
| Died | 21 November 1882 (aged 84) Esholm, Geatland |
| Spouse | Greta Mulborg |
| Awards | |
| Signature | .PNG){kind=small} |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Geatland |
| Branch/service | Royal Geatish Army |
| Years of service | 1816–1867 |
| Rank | Field Marshal |
| Battles/wars | King Rudolf's War
|
Field Marshal Leo von Heidenstam, 1st Duke of Dromund (29 September 1798 - 21 November 1882) was a Geatish military commander and statesman who is most renowned for crushing the Engström Revolt and serving as Geatland's first premier. He is considered among the most predominant figures in contemporary Geatish history.
Leo von Heidenstam was born into a moderately wealthy and landed noble family in Kungslandning. As the second son of a army captain, von Heidenstam was made to enlist in the Royal Geatish Army at age 18. After distinguishing himself in the army academy, von Heidenstam rose rapidly through the ranks and became a captain at the age of 23 in 1821. When King Rudolf's War broke out between Geatland and Azmara, von Heidenstam served with valor distinction, his most famous achievement being the siege of Fort Aalmsted in 1844. After King Rudolf's War, von Heidenstam was promoted to field marhall and largely retired from his military duties, conducting mostly ceremonial matters. This changed when Gunnar III called on him to personally quell the Engström Revolt, a republican insurrection against the Geatish Crown. Von Heidenstam's brute force and decisive understanding of logistics proved vital in destroying the rebel forces.
After his distinguished service in the Engström Revolt, von Heidenstam expected to resign from public life completely. However, in 1867 the Constitution of Geatland was ratified, and Gunnar III asked von Heidenstam to serve as the nation's first premier, an offer von Heidenstam reluctantly accepted. He would go on to be extremely popular in that position and enacted various policies aimed at democratizing the newly-minted constitutional monarchy and liberalizing its economy. His most famous achievement is extending voting rights to property-less men. Despite strong popular approval, von Heidenstam declined to stand as premier for a third term in 1875, continuing an unbroken political precent in Geatland. He died in 1882 and was accorded a state funeral.
Von Heidenstam is among the mostly highly rated and celebrated premiers of Geatland. His military prowess as well as his close personal relationship with and understanding of his soldiers made him an extremely popular figure. In 2006, von Heidenstam was declared the second greatest Geat to have ever lived, behind only Eric the Great. He and his descendants are among the only non-royal families to hold the title of duke in Geatland.