Antonin de Selliers de Moranville
Belgian general (1852–1945)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Antonin Leonard Maurice Ghislain, Knight de Selliers de Moranville (Saint-Josse-ten-Noode 1852 – Ixelles 1945) was a Belgian military officer.
Early life
He was born into a Catholic noble family; his father was Léonard de Selliers de Moranville, knight of Selliers de Moranville (1803–1856). He married Octavie Hector, with whom he had 7 children. Until 1869 he studied at the École Royale Militaire.
Career
Second Lieutenant in 1871. Colonel in 1902. From 1904 until 1914 he served as Commander in Chief of the Gendarmerie, a military force with law-enforcement duties.[1] He was Chief Commander of the Belgian army from 25 May until 6 September 1914. During his assignment German troops invaded the Kingdom (4 August 1914) and Belgian mobilization started (31 July 1914).[2] On 6 September he was dismissed by the King, under the advice of Lieutenant General Baron Louis de Ryckel.[3][4] The same Decree abolished the function of Chief of Staff. In this way the King secured control of the force.[5]
He is buried in the cemetery of Neder-Over-Heembeek.
Honours
Belgium:
- Croix de Guerre.
- Grand Officer in the Order of Leopold.[6]
- Grand Officer in the Order of the Crown.[6]
Russian Empire: Grand Cordon in the Imperial Order of Saint Anna.[6]
Netherlands: Grand Officer in the Order of Orange-Nassau.[6]
United Kingdom: Honorary Knight Commander in the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George.[6]
Kingdom of Portugal: Knight Commander in the Royal Military Order of Our Lord Jesus Christ.[6]
France: Knight in the Legion of Honour.[6]
Kingdom of Greece: Knight of the Order of the Redeemer.[6]- Honorary Citizen of Rouen.[6]
