History: The fabrication, sales and repair books record that this watch was bought by Monsieur Rothschild de Naples on 20 December 1824, but the certificate issued on the same day was made in the name of Baron Koller. It therefore a )pears that Monsieur de Rothschild was in act an intermediary on behalf of the Baron. The watch was overhauled on 3 March 1873 at the request of a Madame Zierer, 12 rue Auber, Paris.
Literature: Illustrated and described in G. Daniels, The Art of Breguet, p. 262, fig. 307 a-b.
FRANZ, BARON von KOLLER
General in the Austrian Army, born in 1767 in Bohemia, he attended secondary school in Prague, before entering the army at the age of 18 as a cadet in the 18th Infantry Regiment. After 6 years, he was appointed standard-bearer and accompanied his regiment to Holland, where it took part in the suppression of the rebellion of Liège. In 1792, he joined the Army corps of Clairfayt, marching into Champagne with the Prussians. In the following year, he came under the command of the Prince of Coburg, who was pleased to reward his fine performance at the crossing of the Roer by sending him with the news of the victory to Vienna; the Emperor raised him to the rank of lieutenant. His distinguished service at the Battle of Neerwinden earned him the attention of Quarter-Master General Mack, who secured his promotion to Captain and took him as his aide de camp: Following the end of the war at the beginning of the 19th century, he accepted the peace-time appomtment of lieutenant Colonel at Modena, perfecting his military studies. The renewed outbreak of hostilities in 1805 prompted his nomination to Colonel of the 55th Infantry Regiment at the request of Prince Charles. The battle of Ulm saw him evading the capitulation of General Mack and rejoining, by forced marches, the armies being assembled in Bohemia under Archduke Ferdinand. In 1809 he'd Distinguished himself at the Battles of Abbach, Ratisbon and Aspern : on this latter occasion, outgunned and outnumbered by twelve regiments of French cavalry, he formed his men into a square and returned the French calls for surrender with such heavy fire that their attack was repulsed, with great loss of life. This performance earned him the decoration of Maria Theresa, which - with the promotion to Major General - was given to him on the battle-field itself. After a brief period between the peace of Vienna and the 1813 campaign, he was posted to Bohemia, before joining tine allied camp as Adjutant General in the service of the Prince of Furstemburg, who sent him to the Austrian frontier to receive Grand Duchess Catherine, sister of Emperor Alexander. This campaign once more earned him a variety of decorations. In April 1814, he was a member of the party which was sent to escort Napoleon to the Island of Elba. Here his initiative and tact played a large part in ensuring tine success of this delicate mission : on one occasion, to prevent the French Emperor from being recognized by the irate population in the South of France, Koller lent his uniform of an Austrian general to Napoleon, and long cherished the Emperor's grey riding coat which he wore in exchange. The ten days he spent on Elba drew him very close to the Emperor, who seemed loth to take any decisions without consulting him. On his return to Paris, he accompanied the allied monarchs to London, once again being decorated for his services. A visit to Tsar Alexander in Russia led to his receiving the Order of St. Vladimir. In 1815, he was appointed Intendant General of the Army at Naples, where he returned, after an interlude of two years in command of an infantry division in Prague, in 1821, at the head of another army sent to put down the Neapolitan uprising. He remained there until his death in 1825. Undoubtedly one of the most distinguished Austrian military figures of this period, he was also appreciated for his culture and scientific knowledge, his personal'collection of antiques and medallions being one of the most impressive of its day.