Heinrich von Brill is certainly a special figure in world war history. He was not a military man, but still carried the rank of general, as he convinced his ruler to bestow it on him so that he could control the military. He effectively ruled Saxony for 30 years, robbing the public treasury and weakening the army.
Von Brill was not famous for his political or military skills. Instead he was known for his 200 pairs of shoes, 802 nightgowns, 500 suits, 102 watches, 843 snuffboxes, 87 rings, perfume collection, 1,500 wigs, 29 carriages and his collection of Chinese porcelains.
To choose what to wear, every morning, he would study an album he had made with color illustrations of his clothes so he could see them and make a decision. Only after deciding what to wear would he get out of bed. Then he decided on the other accessories – rings, watch, snuff box, wig or wig, hat – that he would wear on that particular day.
Before going to bed at night, the process was repeated for the selection of the nightgown. He himself had won the trust of the incompetent ruler of Saxony Augustus III and so he alone decided to give himself the incredibly fat for the time salary of 67,000 thalers. He also withdrew from the public treasury over 5 million thalers for his personal expenses.
The only thing he didn't care about was the army and the administration. The army was left to "rot" and the administration simply did not exist. Brill committed one error after another in domestic and especially in foreign policy, essentially causing the explosion of theSeven Years War , in 1756, and the invasion of Saxony by the Prussian army of Frederick the Great.
The Saxon army had no hope against the most perfect military machine of the time and retreated defeated to the fortified camp of Pirna where it finally surrendered. Brill left the Saxon capital of Dresden taking paintings and porcelain with him, but not the state archives that fell into enemy hands. Frederick the Great said of him:"1,500 wigs, but no head". Brill died in 1763 having completely destroyed Saxony.