  franÃ§ois achille bazaine (13 february 1811 â 23 september 1888) was a french general and from 1864, a marshal of france, who surrendered the last organized french army to the prussians during the franco-prussian war. he was the first marshal who had started as a legionnaire and like the great marshals of the first empire, had risen from the ranks. during four decades of distinguished service (including 35 years on campaign) under louis-philippe and then napoleon iii, he held every rank in the army from fusilier to marshal of france. he became renowned for his determination to lead from the front, for his impassive bearing under fire and for personal bravery verging on the foolhardy (resulting in him being wounded on numerous occasions and having his horse shot from under him twice). he was sentenced to death
1811_births 1888_deaths French_intervention_in_Mexico French_military_personnel_of_the_Crimean_War French_military_personnel_of_the_Franco-Prussian_War Grand_Cordons_of_the_Order_of_Leopold_(Belgium) Grand_Croix_of_the_LA(c)gion_d\'honneur Grand_Crosses_of_the_Order_of_Guadalupe_(Mexican_Empire) Honorary_Companions_of_the_Order_of_the_Bath Knights_of_the_Order_of_Charles_III Marshals_of_France Officers_of_the_French_Foreign_Legion People_from_Versailles Recipients_of_the_Order_of_Isabella_the_Catholic Recipients_of_the_Order_of_the_Lion_and_the_Sun