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Born in Dresden, Thielemann joined the Saxon army in 1780 and fought as a hussar during the Revolutionary Wars. After Jena in 1806, Saxony became a forced ally of Napoleon and Thielemann's first major battles were against the Russians in the campaign of 1812. At Borodino he led a cavalry charge which almost broke the resolution of the Russians to hold their positions and which provided a conclusion to the bloody stalemate. When Napoleon summoned him in 1813 he defected to the Russians, fighting at Lützen and Leipzig. He joined the Prussian army in 1815 with the rank of lieutenant-general and commanded III Corps which was badly mauled at Ligny. He then retreated to Wavre where he successfully held off the attacks of Grouchy, which enabled the rest of the Prussian army to join Wellington at Waterloo.