Marshal Johann Matthias Reichsgraf von der Schulenburg (8 August 1661 – 14 March 1747) was a German aristocrat and general of Brandenburg-Prussian background who served in the Saxon and Venetian armies in the early 18th century and found a second career in retirement in Venice, as a grand collector and patron.
Schulenburg was born in Emden near Magdeburg. His father was Gustavus Adolphus, Baron von der Schulenburg. His sister was Melusine von der Schulenburg, Duchess of Kendal.
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Military career
Between 1687 and 1688, Schulenburg fought with the Imperial troops against the Turks in Hungary. On his return he rose in the ranks of the army of the Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg. In 1699 he became a Colonel in the German regiment in the service of Victor Amadeus II of Savoy, and was severely wounded in 1701. In 1702 he joined the Saxon Army and fought in the Great Northern War against Charles XII of Sweden and suffered defeats in the Battle of Klissow, Battle of Fraustadt and the resulting Swedish invasion of Saxony in 1706. He returned to Western Europe in 1707 and fought under Prince Eugene of Savoy at the Battle of Oudenaarde, the Siege of Tournai and the Battle of Malplaquet in the wars of Spanish Succession.
The latter service brought him to the attention of Venice. He was recruited by Venice into the successful defence of Ulcinj in 1711 and five years later Corfu during the 1716 siege against the same invading Ottoman Turks; he was decorated by the Serenissima for his outstanding success with a statue and a pension of 5000 ducats a year. A Vivaldi oratorio, Juditha triumphans, was commissioned in celebration of the victory.