Constantin Prezan

Marshal Constantin Prezan
25th and 28th Chief of the Romanian General Staff
In office 5 December 1916 – 1 April 1918
Monarch	Ferdinand I
Prime Minister	Ion I. C. Brătianu Alexandru Averescu Alexandru Marghiloman
Preceded by	Dumitru Iliescu
Succeeded by	Constantin Cristescu
In office 28 October 1918 – 20 March 1920
Monarch	Ferdinand I
Prime Minister	Constantin Coandă Ion I. C. Brătianu Artur Văitoianu Alexandru Vaida-Voevod Alexandru Averescu
Preceded by	Constantin Cristescu
Succeeded by	Constantin Cristescu
Member of the Crown Council
In office 30 March 1938 – 6 September 1940
Monarch	Carol II
Personal details
Born	(1861-01-27)27 January 1861 Butimanu, United Principalities
Died	27 August 1943(1943-08-27) (aged 82) Bucharest, Kingdom of Romania
Resting place	Schinetea, Vaslui County
Alma mater	École spéciale militaire de Saint-Cyr
Awards	Legion of Honour, Grand Officer Order of Michael the Brave, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd class
Military service
Allegiance	Kingdom of Romania
Branch/service	Romanian Army
Years of service	1883–1920
Rank	Marshal
Commands	Fourth Army
Battles/wars	Second Balkan War World War I Battle of Transylvania Northern front Battle of the Eastern Carpathians Second Battle of Oituz Battle of Slatina Battle of Bucharest Battle of Prunaru Pitești–Târgoviște Retreat Battle of the Argeș Battle of Galați Hungarian–Romanian War

Constantin Prezan (January 27, 1861 – August 27, 1943) was a Romanian general during World War I. In 1930 he was given the honorary title of Marshal of Romania, as a recognition of his merits during his command of the Northern Army and of the General Staff.

Besides his participation in World War I, he also took part in the Second Balkan War and the 1918–1920 military operations for safeguarding the Great Union. He avoided getting actively involved in politics, although he had a series of political titles, which were rather honorary in nature. For instance, he held the title of senator by right, based on his high rank in the army, and that of member of the Crown Council of Romania.

Biography

He was born in the village of Sterianul de Mijloc, plasa Snagov, Ilfov County, currently in Butimanu commune, Dâmbovița County. He 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.

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 to Marshal of Romania in 1930.

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

In 1920 he was moved to the military reserve force, and spent most of his time at his villa in Schinetea, Vaslui County. He died în 1943 in Bucharest, and was buried at his residence in Schinetea. A major boulevard in Bucharest (running from Arcul de Triumf to Charles de Gaulle Square) is named after him.

References

• Who's Who: Constantine Prezan