Prince Eugene, the noble knight.

Prince Eugene (Prinz Eugenius)

His Statue in front of the Hapsburg Royal Winter Palace

Prince Eugene of Savoy

was a French Nobleman, whose military services were rejected

 by the reigning French King Louis XIV, because, it is surmised,

Eugene was not sufficiently tall, 

nor did he show sufficient respect for the King.

Eugene, no slow poke, 

recognized his limitations in the French Court 

and hired himself out to the Austrian Hapsburg Dynasty, 

where he proved himself as an outstanding military commander, 

defeating the Turkish Invaders, 

as well as an accomplished diplomat and, 

as if the above were not enough, 

as a generous patron of the Arts.

I think we may take it for granted, that Louis often said:

"What a mistake I made with this guy from the house of Savoy !

Each time I hear of another of his victories or other noble deeds, 

I could bite my ass! "

He may have used slightly different terminology, 

but the sense was surely the same.

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The statue shows the Prince's horse with both front legs off the ground, indicating, so the fable goes, that the rider died in battle.

WRONG ! The Prince died in his sleep, in bed, peacefully, having just reached 72 years, on the 21st April 1736.

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Bertstravels

knows a song about the Prince 

which cannot be sung in polite company.