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	27 January 1861 Butimanu, Dâmbovița
Died	27 August 1943 Bucharest
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 Butimanu, Dâmbovița County – August 27, 1943) was a Romanian general during World War I and a Marshal of Romania afterward.

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

• Who's Who: Constantine Prezan