Born in
Schwaigern, the residence of the Lordship, from 1766
County of Neipperg, he descended from an ancient
comital family,
Neipperg (noble family) from
Swabia. His father, Baron Eberhard Friedrich von Neipperg (1655–1725), was an
Imperial field marshal. He spent his boyhood in Vienna and in 1702 joined the Imperial service. He was a
Oberstleutnant in his father's regiment in 1709, and by 1715 was a colonel. He distinguished himself in the
Austro-Turkish War (1716–1718) at the siege of Temesvar (1716) and at Belgrade in 1717. After fighting against the Turks, he renounced his military career in order to attend to the education of
Prince Francis of Lorraine, the future
Holy Roman Emperor. He was elevated to the rank of count in 1726. During the
Austro-Turkish War (1737–1739), Neipperg returned to the army, and was with
Fieldmarshal Wallis at the
Battle of Grocka (21–22 July, 1739) against the Turks. Already on 31 July, imperial government in Vienna decided to relieve Wallis of his previously granted powers to negotiate with the Ottomans. Those powers were transferred to Neipperg. On 10 August, the government composed new instructions, that were sent by the Emperor to Neipperg on 11 August. Arriving in Belgrade with imperial instructions on 16 August, Neipperg proceeded to the camp of the
Grand Vizier on 18 August. There he found himself increasingly isolated, and dependent on the French mediator
Louis Sauveur, Marquis de Villeneuve. On 1 September, Neipperg agreed to signe a preliminary peace agreement with the Ottomans, and dispatched the news to the Emperor on the next day. Neipperg's report arrived to Vienna on 7 September, provoking outrage, since it became obvious that he signed the agreement not knowing that already on 31 August, the Emperor sent him new instructions, an action that was followed by the governments decision to revoke his negotiating powers (3 September). On 5 September, the Emperor sent another letter to Neipperg, informing him of the end of his diplomatic mission, while still not knowing that the preliminary treaty was already signed. Only upon return to Belgrade from the Grand Vizier's camp, Neipperg became aware of those new instructions and consequent decisions, realizing that he acted without valid negotiating powers, but it was to late for reversal. On 18 September, the final peace
Treaty of Belgrade was signed. Soon after that, both Neipperg and Wallis were arrested and accused for the unfavorable outcome of negotiations. Only after the Emperor's death in 1740 they were pardoned. Two years later, during the
War of Austrian Succession, he commanded the Austrian army which was defeated at the
Battle of Mollwitz by
Frederick II of Prussia. Nonetheless he became an Imperial field marshal later that year. His daughter,
Maria Wilhelmina von Neipperg, became mistress of
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor. His grandson
Adam Albert von Neipperg married
Napoleon's widow
Marie Louise. He died at
Vienna in 1774, just one day before his 90th birthday. ==References==