Antoine Chanzy
| Alfred Chanzy | |
|---|---|
Antoine Alfred Eugène Chanzy
|
|
| Born |
18 March 1823 Nouart, France |
| Died | 4 January 1883 (aged 59) Châlons-en-Champagne, France |
| Allegiance |
 Kingdom of France French Second Republic Second French Empire French Third Republic
|
| Service/branch | French Army |
| Years of service | 1843–1883 |
| Rank | Général de Division |
| Commands held | VII Corps XIX Corps |
| Battles/wars |
Franco-Austrian War Franco-Prussian War |
| Awards |
Grand Cross of the Légion d'honneur Médaille militaire |
Antoine Eugène Alfred Chanzy (18 March 1823 – 4 January 1883) was a French general, notable for his successes during the Franco-Prussian War and as a governor of Algeria.
Born in Nouart in the department of Ardennes, France, the son of a cavalry officer, Chanzy was educated at the naval school at Brest, but enlisted in the artillery. He subsequently attended the military academy Saint Cyr, and was commissioned in the Zouaves during 1843. He participated in a good deal of fighting in Algeria, and was promoted lieutenant in 1848, and to captain in 1851. He became chef de bataillon in 1856, and served in the Second Italian War of Independence, being present at the battles of Magenta and Solferino. He participated with the Syrian campaign of 1860–61 as a lieutenant-colonel, and as colonel commanded the 45th Regiment at Rome in 1864. He returned to Algeria as general of brigade, assisted to quell the Arab insurrection, and commanded the subdivisions of Bel Abbes and Tlemçen in 1868.
Although Chanzy had acquired a good professional reputation, he was in disfavor at the war office because of suspected contributions to the press, and when the war with Prussia began he was refused a brigade command. After the revolution, however, the government of national defence recalled him from Algeria, made him a general of division, and gave him command of the XVI Corps of the Army of the Loire.
The Loire army won the greatest success of the French during the entire war at Coulmiers, and followed this with another victorious action at Patay; in both engagements General Chanzy's corps performed the best. After the Second Battle of Orléans and the separation of the two wings of the French army, Chanzy was appointed to command that of the west, designated the second army of the Loire. His enemies, Grand Duke Friedrich Franz II of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Prince Frederick Charles of Prussia, and General von der Tann, all regarded Chanzy as their most formidable opponent.
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