Constantin Prezan

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

Marshal

Constantin Prezan
25th and 28th Chief of the Romanian General Staff
In office
5 December 1916 – 1 April 1918
MonarchFerdinand I
Prime MinisterIon I. C. Brătianu
Alexandru Averescu
Alexandru Marghiloman
Preceded byDumitru Iliescu
Succeeded byConstantin Cristescu
In office
28 October 1918 – 20 March 1920
MonarchFerdinand I
Prime MinisterConstantin Coandă
Ion I. C. Brătianu
Artur Văitoianu
Alexandru Vaida-Voevod
Alexandru Averescu
Preceded byConstantin Cristescu
Succeeded byConstantin Cristescu
Member of the Crown Council
In office
30 March 1938 – 6 September 1940
MonarchCarol II
Personal details
Born(1861-01-27)27 January 1861
Butimanu, United Principalities
Died27 August 1943(1943-08-27) (aged 82)
Bucharest, Romania
AwardsLegion of Honour, Grand Officer
Order of Michael the Brave, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd class
Military service
Allegiance Kingdom of Romania
Branch/serviceRomanian Army
Years of service1883–1920
RankMarshal
CommandsFourth Army
Battles/warsSecond Balkan War
World War I
Hungarian–Romanian War

Biography

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, against the forces of the Central Powers. Prezan led the Romanian Armed Forces in the Battle of Bucharest (November–December 1916), and as those forces retreated into the northeastern part of Romania (Moldavia). 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. In October 1916, Prezan was rewarded with the Order of Michael the Brave, Third Class for deeds of merit, courage, and devotion. In July 1917, when he commanded the General Army Quarters, Prezan was honoured with the Order of Michael the Brave, 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. For his outstanding service, King Ferdinand I awarded him in February 1920 the Order of Michael the Brave, First Class. Prezan was promoted as Marshal of Romania in 1930.

In 1917 Prezan was awarded the Legion of Honour, Grand Officer.[2] He was also awarded the Order of the Cross of Takovo and a number of other decorations.[3]

A major boulevard in Bucharest (running from Arcul de Triumf to Charles de Gaulle Square) 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
  2. Otu, Petre (2011), "150 de ani de la nașterea mareșalului Constantin Prezan" (PDF), Revista Document-Buletinul Arhivelor Militare Române (in Romanian), 51 (1): 10–17
  3. Acović, Dragomir (2012). Slava i čast: Odlikovanja među Srbima, Srbi među odlikovanjima. Belgrade: Službeni Glasnik. p. 614.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
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