 He was born in Saberau, East Prussia and became a Prussian Field Marshal and tutor to two Prussian crown princes, Governor of Pillau, general of a regiment, knight of the Order of the Black Eagle, Knight of the Order of St John, Captain to Krossen, as well as Master of the Finckenstein estate.He went into Dutch, then French war service, but resigned from French service when Louis XIV mobilized against Germany and destroyed Heidelberg and the Heidelberg Castle in 1689.He acquired a position as a Prussian Major in 1689 through "prudence and moderation, as well as exceptional conduct".