Joseph Alvinczy, baron, an Austrian field marshal, born in Transylvania, Feb. 1, 1735, died in Buda, Sept. 25, 1810. He distinguished himself during the seven years' war at Torgau, at the capture of Schweidnitz, and in the engagement at Toplitz. During the peace he introduced many reforms in the tactics of the Austrian troops. In 1789 he took part, under Field Marshal Loudon, in the campaign against the Turks, and, although he did not succeed in reducing Belgrade, the emperor Joseph II. conferred upon him the dignity of lieutenant field marshal. Subsequently he was sent to Liege to quell an insurrection. He was not successful, but the confidence in his ability as a tactician remained the same, and in 1790, after the defeats of Beaulieu and Wurmser, he was put at the head of the Austrian army against Bonaparte. He obtained some small advantages over the French at the Scalda, at Bassano, and at Vicenza, but he lost the two great battles of A rcole (Nov. 17, 1796) and Rivoli (Jan. 14, 1797), and was recalled, and even accused of treachery.

The emperor Francis, who had been one of his military pupils, did not notice these imputations, and appointed him in 1798 superior commander of Hungary, where he reorganized the army, and 10 years later made him field marshal.