Nothing But My Sword: The Life of Field Marshal James Francis Edward Keith

by Sam Coull

Frederick the Great's battlefield triumphs are seen as a tribute to Prussian skill at arms, but many of his victories were won with the aid of a Scottish general. Frederick ignored Keith's advice, but was saved from catastrophe when the Scottish general sacrificed himself. Today a statue of General Keith stands in the Scottish town of Peterhead, a gift of the Prussian monarchy.

Genres: History, Scotland, Russia, Military History, Germany, Biography

Paperback

First published May 1, 2000

Reviews

[Ian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some months ago I was reading Christopher Duffy’s history of the 1745 rebellion, where the author commented that the Jacobites lacked a really good military commander. He mentioned James Keith as the perfect candidate, a man who was both a committed Jacobite and an able general. Keith however had been driven into exile because of his participation in both the 1715 and 1719 rebellions, and by 1745 was a senior officer in the Russian Army. It was that reference that led me to want to read more about James Keith.

The author begins with a foreward in which he explains he grew up in the town of Peterhead in NE Scotland, wherein lies a statue to Field Marshal Keith, gifted to the town by Willem I of Prussia. I don’t know anything else about the author, and the book began confusingly for me, with a reference to James Keith’s father about to set out for London for the opening of a new Parliament in May 1703. This puzzled me as Scotland still had its own Parliament at the time, albeit the Treaty of Union was only four years away. Scottish Lords did not though sit in the Westminster Parliament until after the Union of 1707. This had the effect of making me sceptical of the book, but in fairness I only came across one other very minor factual issue, (at least that I could spot) so was gradually won over.

At 220 pages in total it isn’t a long text, and I’d have to say the first 80 or so pages went slowly for me. The author also indulges in a fair amount of speculation when discussing Keith’s early life. The book livens up when he arrives in Russia in 1728, describing his participation in campaigns in Poland and in what is now Southern Russia, then part of the Ottoman Empire.

I felt the book was rather unclear about the reasons behind Keith’s departure from Russia. The author suggests it was because the Empress Elizabeth had wanted to marry him. He quotes from letters written by the Empress to support his case. Keith apparently thought (probably correctly) that whilst the Russian nobility might reluctantly tolerate a foreign-born wife of a male monarch, they would never accept a foreigner as husband to a female monarch. He wrote to a friend that “The Empress is resolved to raise me to a height that would cause my ruin as well as her own”. It’s also suggested though, that Keith’s influence at court was waning, and that he experienced several rapid demotions as a result.

Upon leaving Russia, Keith joined the Prussian Army of Frederick the Great, who appointed him a Field Marshal. The author acknowledges that the speed with which this happened suggests it was pre-arranged. Keith served with distinction in the Seven Years’ War, during which Prussia was beset by a legion of enemies. The book contains a lively account of his role in the battles of Lobositz, Prague, Rossbach, Leuthen and Olmutz, before his death at the Battle of Hochkirch.

After 80 pages I would have said this book was heading for a 2-star rating, but the remainder of the book rescued it. Overall, a decent enough biography.

[William Shep · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good biography of a Scottish exile who achieved military fame in foreign service. James Keith, and his brother George, were part of one of Scotland's great families. They were also involved in multiple failed Jacobite rebellions against the British crown, and so were forced to spend their lives in foreign service in Spain, France, Russia, and Prussia. James served for many years as a general in the Russian army until the unwanted advances of the Russian Empress Elizabeth, among other problems, forced James to seek service with Frederick the Great of Prussia. He rose to the rank of Field Marshall commanding Prussia forces in several epic battles as part of the Seven Year's War until being killed by the Austrians in 1758 in the Battle of Hochkirch.

['Aussie Rick' · Rating 3 out of 5]

This biography of James Keith was a decent account of this man's interesting life and the only one currently in print. Overall the book was a decent attempt to tell this man's story from leaving his home in Scotland and following him through his service with the Spanish Army, the Russian Army and finally in the pay of Frederick the Great of Prussia where he was finally killed at the Battle of Hochkirch in 1758. At times the book dragged a bit for me but it had enough interesting sections to keep me going. I would recommend it to anyone keenly interested in this period of European history.

[Michael Sutherland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good local history.

[andy noble · Rating 4 out of 5]

A rip roaring account of James Keith. A Leading Jacobite in 1715 and 1719 rebellions. A brilliantly engaging book, which takes you from the North East of Scotland via Russia and to the 7 years war.

[John Keith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very niche, but I really enjoyed it. Left me with many questions, but then he wasn't a well documented character.

[Roger Hardesty]

Impressive amounts of 'derring do.' These Keiths were highly acculturated: deprived of their Scots birthright, two brothers nimbly darted around, making themselves useful to powerful men on the continent. Helped inform a blog post at Hard Honesty. Another Tongue o' Clishmaclaver.