Walter Butler of Roscrea

He entered the armed forces of the Habsburg emperor Ferdinand II and served with distinction as a colonel in the Thirty Years' War.

Butler made King Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden certify his bravery and after his release appeared at the Imperial headquarters before Field Marshal Rudolf von Tiefenbach, where his opponents had to withdraw their accusations.

In 1632 he joined the armed forces under Wallenstein, who, in view of the Swedish progress, had been again appointed Imperial commander-in-chief by Emperor Ferdinand II.

While the Imperial army fought against the Swedish at Zirndorf and Lützen, Wallenstein's envoys were in secret discussions with the opponents, which led to accusations of making peace with the King of Sweden without the consent of the Emperor.

Emperor Ferdinand II created him a Count (Graf) of the Empire, bestowed on him the domain of Friedberg and presented him with the Imperial Gold Chain.