Andreas Hofer
1767–1810
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Hofer was born in the county of Tyrol and followed his father’s footsteps in becoming innkeeper of the Sandhof hotel. He was elected into the Landtag—the county’s parliament—in 1791, and he served during the War of the Third Coalition as a sharpshooter and later a militia captain. After Tyrol was removed from Austrian dominion and transferred to Bavaria, an ally of France, Hofer led an anti-Bavarian movement and appealed to the Austrian Emperor for support in a potential uprising. With the king’s assurances, Hofer began traveling the country and organizing secret meetings to plan an insurrection.
The rebellion began in 1809, when rebels, alerted by sawdust floating in the river, surprised a troop of French infantrymen that were passing through. They continued the revolt during the next few nights, capturing several important cities. Napoleon won a victory against the Austrians and the Tyrolean forces retreated to the mountains, but they returned days later and soundly defeated the Bavarians, driving them out of the country. Tyrol was again ceded to Bavaria, but Hofer’s men and the Austrian army allied to retake the main city. Hofer named himself Imperial Commandant of the Tyrol under the Austrian Emperor, and in return the Emperor sent him a medal and promises of further assistance. When a treaty ceded Tyrol to Bavaria a third time, Hofer retreated to his hometown. He attempted one last uprising but was defeated by the French. Escaping to the mountains, he hid in a small hut but was found out when his neighbor, greedy for the price on Hofer’s head, betrayed him to French authorities. Hofer was captured and court-martialed. According to Napoleon’s orders, he was executed by a firing squad.
Key events during the life of Andreas Hofer:
| Born | |
| Elected into the Tyrolean Landtag | |
| Tyrol was transferred to Bavarian control, Hofer became leader of anti-Bavarian movement | |
| Went to Emperor Francis II for support in a future uprising | |
| Tyrol Rebellion | |
| Executed by firing squad |
Other Resources
| Under the Heel of Napoleon in | The History of Germany by Henrietta Elizabeth Marshall |
| Patriots of the Tyrol in | Historical Tales: German by Charles Morris |
| Peasant Hero of Tyrol in | Brave Men and Brave Deeds by M. B. Synge |
| Peasant Hero of Tyrol in | The Struggle for Sea Power by M. B. Synge |
Image Links | ||
|---|---|---|
Uprising of the Tyrolese in 1809 in Greatest Nations - Germany |
 The last day of Andreas Hofer in Historical Tales: German |
 The Sawdust is floating down the river in Brave Men and Brave Deeds |
| Victorious general who rose to power during the French Revolution. Crowned himself Emperor and restored France to greatness. | |
| Francis II | Emperor of Austria during the Napoleonic Wars. Dissolved the Holy Roman Empire but became the first Emperor of Austria. |