Constantin Prezan

Marshal
Constantin Prezan
25th and 28th Chief of the Romanian General Staff
In office
5 December 1916 – 20 March 1920
Monarch Ferdinand I
Prime Minister Ion I. C. Brătianu
Alexandru Averescu
Alexandru Marghiloman
Preceded by Dumitru Iliescu
Succeeded by Constantin Christescu
In office
28 October 1918 – 20 March 1920
Prime Minister Constantin Coandă
Ion I. C. Brătianu
Artur Văitoianu
Alexandru Vaida-Voevod
Alexandru Averescu
Preceded by Constantin Christescu
Succeeded by Constantin Christescu
Personal details
Born (1861-01-27)27 January 1861
Butimanu, United Principalities
Died 27 August 1943(1943-08-27) (aged 82)
Bucharest, Romania
Awards Mihai Viteazul Order
Military service
Allegiance  Kingdom of Romania
Service/branch Romanian Army
Years of service 1883–1920
Rank Marshal
Commands Fourth Army
Battles/wars World War I
Hungarian–Romanian War

Constantin Prezan (January 27, 1861 – August 27, 1943) was a Romanian general during World War I and a Marshal of Romania afterward.

Born in Butimanu, Dâmbovița County, Prezan graduated from the officers' infantry and cavalry school in Bucharest and the École spéciale militaire de Saint-Cyr. Made a second lieutenant in 1880, he rose to captain in 1887. A military engineering specialist, he took part in the Second Balkan War.[1]

General Prezan commanded the 4th Army Corps in 1915-1916, and then became head of the Romanian Fourth Army during the Romanian Campaign later in 1916. Prezan led the Romanian Armed Forces as it retreated into the northeastern part of Romania (Moldavia), and also in the Battle of Bucharest (November 1916). In July and August 1917, Prezan, who was by then Chief of the General Staff (and assisted by the then-Lieutenant-Colonel Ion Antonescu) successfully stopped the German invasion led by Field Marshal August von Mackensen. He continued serving in this position until 1920.
Documents found in military archives have brought to light Prezan's role in creating the Romanian National State. During the campaign of 1916, Prezan was rewarded with the Mihai Viteazu Order, Third Class for deeds of merit, courage, and devotion. In the summer of 1917, when he commanded the General Army Quarters, Prezan was honoured with Mihai Viteazu Order, Second Class.

During the Hungarian–Romanian War (November 1918- March 1920), Prezan led the Romanian Armed Forces in the battles of Bessarabia, Bukovina, and Transylvania. King Ferdinand awarded his outstanding service with the Mihai Viteazu Order, First Class.
Prezan was promoted as Marshal of Romania in 1930.

A major boulevard in Bucharest is named after him.

References

  1. ↑ Maria Colea, "Mărturii documentare despre familia mareșal Constantin Prezan și ținutul Vasluiului", in Revista arhivelor, vol. 62/2000, p. 78
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.