Denied permission to serve his native France, Eugene of Savoy joined the Austrian army and quickly rose through the ranks to field marshal, earning the reputation as one of the premier soldiers of his era. The rapid mobility of his army, his strategic use of terrain to his advantage, and his ability to foster loyal and motivated subordinates consistency produced victories. During nearly a half century of field leadership, Eugene proved instrumental in establishing Austria’s dominance over the German states and its rise as an eighteenth-century European power.<\/p>