Alexandru Averescu

Marshal Alexandru Averescu
General Alexandru Averescu, photographed ca. 1916
24th Prime Minister of Romania
In office 29 January 1918 – 4 March 1918
Monarch	Ferdinand I
Preceded by	Ion I. C. Brătianu
Succeeded by	Alexandru Marghiloman
In office 13 March 1920 – 16 December 1921
Monarch	Ferdinand I
Preceded by	Alexandru Vaida-Voevod
Succeeded by	Take Ionescu
In office 30 March 1926 – 4 June 1927
Monarch	Ferdinand I
Preceded by	Ion I. C. Brătianu
Succeeded by	Barbu Știrbey
Foreign Affairs Minister of Romania
In office 29 January 1918 – 4 March 1918
Prime Minister	Himself
Preceded by	Ion I. C. Brătianu
Succeeded by	Constantin C. Arion
Chief of the Romanian General Staff
In office 18 November 1911 – 2 December 1913
Monarch	Carol I
Preceded by	Vasile Zottu
Succeeded by	Constantin Cristescu
Member of the Crown Council
In office 30 March 1938 – 2 October 1938
Monarch	Carol II
President of the People's Party
In office 3 April 1918 – March 1938
Succeeded by	Petre P. Negulescu
Personal details
Born	(1859-03-09)March 9, 1859 Babele, United Principalities (today Ozerne [ro; uk], Ukraine)
Died	October 2, 1938(1938-10-02) (aged 79) Bucharest, Kingdom of Romania
Political party	People's Party
Spouse	Clotilda Averescu
Profession	Officer
Military service
Allegiance	Romania
Branch/service	Romanian Land Forces
Rank	Marshal of Romania
Commands	First Infantry Division Second Army Corps Second Army Third Army
Battles/wars	Romanian War of Independence 1907 Peasants Revolt Second Balkan War World War I Flămânda Offensive Battle of Bazargic First Battle of Cobadin Battle of the Southern Carpathians Battle of Mărăști Battle of Mărășești Third Battle of Oituz

Alexandru Averescu (Romanian pronunciation: [alekˈsandru aveˈresku] ^ⓘ; 9 March 1859 – 2 October 1938) was a Romanian marshal, diplomat and populist politician. A Romanian Armed Forces Commander during World War I, he served as Prime Minister of three separate cabinets (as well as being interim Foreign Minister in January–March 1918 and Minister without portfolio in 1938). He first rose to prominence during the peasants' revolt of 1907, which he helped repress with violence. Credited with engineering the defense of Moldavia in the 1916–1917 Campaign, he built on his popularity to found and lead the successful People's Party, which he brought to power in 1920–1921, with backing from King Ferdinand I and the National Liberal Party (PNL), and with the notable participation of Constantin Argetoianu and Take Ionescu.

His controversial first mandate, marked by a political crisis and oscillating support from the PNL's leader Ion I. C. Brătianu, played a part in legislating land reform and repressed communist activities, before being brought down by the rally of opposition forces. His second term of 1926–1927 brought a much-debated treaty with Fascist Italy, and fell after Averescu gave clandestine backing to the ousted Prince Carol. Faced with the People Party's decline, Averescu closed deals with various right-wing forces and was instrumental in bringing Carol back to the throne in 1930. Relations between the two soured over the following years, and Averescu clashed with his fellow party member Octavian Goga over the king's attitudes. Shortly before his death, he and Carol reconciled, and Averescu joined the Crown Council.

Averescu, who authored over 12 works on various military topics (including his memoirs from the frontline),^[1] was also an honorary member of the Romanian Academy and an Order of Michael the Brave recipient. He became a Marshal of Romania in 1930.