Feliks Trociński (Vive L'Empire)

Feliks Trocinski (11th September 1806 - 7th May 1873) was a Rhinish Nationalist and a Military officer along with being the First President of the Free State of Westphalia. Born in 1806 Feliks father was a Rhinish Nationalist and a collaborator with Napoleonic France. In 1813 Feliks and his family fled Westphalia for France where Feliks was educated. Interested in his Rhinish heritage, Feliks returned to Germany after the death of his father in 1827 to join the Prussian Royal Army in 1834. By the time of the Revolutions of 1848, Trocinski was a Lieutenant Colonel in the Prussian Royal Army and defected during the Revolutions to join the Rhinish Revolutionaries who wanted Rhinish Independence but their efforts where quickly quelled by the Prussian Army. .

As a result of the 1848 Revolutions, Feliks Trocinski fled to France then America participating in the American Civil War for the Union before heading to Austria to fight for the Austrian Army during the Austro-Prussian War but never arrived in time. When the Franco - Prussian War turned in favor of France, Trocinski returned to Germany and formed an Rhinish Volunteer Corps with the help of other Rhinish Nationalists. This Rhinish Volunteer Corps participated in the final Campaign against Prussia and in the Battle of Hannover and with French support where able to establish a Provisional Government in Bonn and during the Treaty of Prague they gained parts of Northwest Germany in what would become known as the Free State of Westphalia. Despite being a Rhinish Nationalist and for his efforts for leading Rhinish and Westphalian Volunteers against Prussia, Trocinski was made the first Head of State of the new State.

After the Franco - Prussian War, Trocinski lead the Westphalian Troops against the Danish Invasion and was praised as a Westphalian Hero for his efforts. However shortly after the Second Danish Invasion of Germany on the 7th of May 1873, Trocinski died at the age of 66 and was buried at Hannover where Troncinski’s German Volunteer Corps first gained prominence when fighting against Prussia.