Wilhelm von Rath (1585 – 27 April 1641) was a German scholar and a military officer.
Rath enjoyed a Protestant education and was registered at the University of Leipzig starting the summer of 1601.
In the service of Ludwig I throughout the Thirty Years' War until his death, he was appointed commander of the cavalry (January 10, 1627).
In recognition of his military professionalism, Ludwig called him “rough” and “tough” when admitting him to the Fruchtbringende Gesellschaft, a society dedicated to the standardization of German.
Rath distinguished himself with his cavalry at the Battle of Breitenfeld (1631) in the Swedish-Protestant victory against the Imperial Catholic troops.