Bazaine, Achille (-François)

Bazaine, Achille (-François)

▪ French marshal
born Feb. 13, 1811, Versailles, Fr.
died Sept. 28, 1888, Madrid
 marshal of France who, after distinguished service during the Second Empire, was sentenced to death for his surrender of Metz and 140,000 men to the Germans on Oct. 27, 1870, during the Franco-German War.

      Bazaine was commissioned second lieutenant in 1833. As a colonel he led a brigade in the Crimean War and in 1855 was promoted to major general and appointed governor of Sevastopol. In the Franco-Sardinian war against Austria, he captured Solferino (June 24, 1859). Sent to Mexico in 1863, he conquered Puebla in May of that year, became commander of the French expeditionary force, and was promoted to marshal on Sept. 5, 1864.

      On Aug. 10, 1870, just after the first major battle of the Franco-German War, Bazaine was appointed commander in chief and took field command of the the Army of the Rhine, which comprised the left wing of the French army. He began to move half-heartedly toward Verdun but made a stand at Borny (August 14), where he was wounded, and fought inconclusive battles at Mars-la-Tour and Gravelotte (August 16–18). After Gravelotte he abandoned any effort to break out westward toward Verdun and instead withdrew into the entrenched camp at Metz, where he was besieged by the Germans. After the disastrous French defeat at Sedan (September 1), he negotiated with Otto von Bismarck, the Prussian chancellor, and on October 27 surrendered with his army of 140,000 men still intact.

      For this action, Bazaine was sentenced, on Dec. 10, 1873, by a military court to degradation and death. Marshal Patrice de Mac-Mahon (Mac-Mahon, Marie-Edme-Patrice-Maurice, comte de (count of), Duc De (duke of) Magenta), then president of the French Republic, commuted the sentence to 20 years' imprisonment. Bazaine escaped on Aug. 9, 1874, and died in exile and poverty. See also Mars-la-Tour and Gravelotte, Battles of.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Achille François Bazaine — François Achille Bazaine François Achille Bazaine Surnom Le traître de Metz (surnom donné par ses habitants) Naissance 13 février 1811 Versailles Décès 23 septem …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Achille François Bazaine — François Achille Bazaine François Achille Bazaine während des Mexikofeldzuges in einem Gemälde von Jean Adolphe Beauce …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • François Achille Bazaine — on campaign in Mexico by Jean Adolphe Beauce. Nickname Achille …   Wikipedia

  • Francois Achille Bazaine — François Achille Bazaine François Achille Bazaine Surnom Le traître de Metz (surnom donné par ses habitants) Naissance 13 février 1811 Versailles Décès 23 septem …   Wikipédia en Français

  • François Achille Bazaine — en campagne au Mexique. Portrait par Jean Adolphe Beaucé Surnom Le traître de Metz (s …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Francois-Achille Bazaine — François Achille Bazaine François Achille Bazaine während des Mexikofeldzuges in einem Gemälde von Jean Adolphe Beauce …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • François Achille Bazaine — während des Mexikofeldzuges in einem Gemälde von Jean Adolphe Beauce …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Achille Bazaine — François Achille Bazaine François Achille Bazaine Surnom Le traître de Metz (surnom donné par ses habitants) Naissance 13 février 1811 Versailles Décès 23 septem …   Wikipédia en Français

  • François-Achille Bazaine — während des Mexikofeldzuges in einem Gemälde von Jean Adolphe Beauce …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Francois Certain de Canrobert — François Certain Canrobert Marschall von Frankreich François Marcellin Certain de Canrobert (* 27. Juni 1809 in Saint Céré, Lot (Département); † 28. Januar 1895 in Paris) war ein Marschall von Frankreich. Leben Canrobert wurde in der …   Deutsch Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”