page_title: Jean Théveney
section_title: Zaian War
hierarchical_section_title: Jean Théveney / Zaian War
caption_attribution_description: General Hubert Lyautey
context_page_description: General Jean Baptiste Philippe Théveney was a French army officer. His father was a cavalry officer and Théveney was educated at the Ecole Spéciale Militaire de Infanterie before being commissioned as an infantry officer. He served in a number of staff and regimental appointments in France before joining the 1st Foreign Regiment of the French Foreign Legion and seeing active service in Algeria. Théveney followed the regiment to Morocco where it was involved in the Zaian War against the Berbers.
  Théveney spent much of his military career in Morocco, fighting in many battles and being mentioned in dispatches several times. He served briefly against the German Army on the Western Front before returning to Morocco within a year. He led the operation that brought to an end the Zaian War in 1921 and remained in Morocco, participating in the Rif War in 1926. Théveney was a grand-officer of the Legion of Honour and holder of the Croix de Guerre and the Spanish Moroccan Peace Medal.
context_section_description: On 22 February 1915 Théveney was promoted to lieutenant-colonel and assumed command of the Foreign Legion's 1st Marching Regiment.  The regiment was transferred to Morocco on 15 May and took part in the Zaian War against Berber tribesmen opposed to the French protectorate.  Théveney was appointed commander of the Sultan of Morocco's Order of Ouissam Alaouite on 8 August 1915.  On 19 December 1915 he assumed command of the Fes groupe mobile (a mobile combined arms unit unique to Morocco).  He was mentioned in dispatches on 7 August 1916 for his bravery and endurance in this command, achieving "brilliant" results on campaign despite the poor terrain and heavy enemy fire.
  Théveney transferred to fight the Germans on the Western Front on 6 January 1917, taking command of the 408th Infantry Regiment on 20 January.  He was mentioned in dispatches again (on 25 August 1917) for his effective leadership of that unit during French offensives made within days of his assumption of command.  Théveney's work was recognised with his appointment as an officer of the Legion of Honour on 14 April 1917.  He returned to Morocco on 20 July 1917.
  Resident-General Hubert Lyautey soon promoted Théveney to colonel and placed him in command of the Tadla-Zaian territory.  He was soon commended again, mentioned in dispatches on 20 December 1917 for his defence of the Rhorm El Alem post, in which he repelled two fierce assaults with minimal losses and displayed calmness under fire.  Théveney took command of the Meknes military subdivision on 28 January 1918 before taking control of the Fes subdivision on 13 April 1919.  He returned to the Tadla-Zaian command on 6 August and was again mentioned in dispatches (on 30 November 1919) for operations from 5 to 7 October in which he commanded an ad hoc formation of troops attempting to resupply Khénifra and was opposed by numbers of the Ait Affi tribe which he defeated comprehensively.  Théveney was mentioned in dispatches again in March 1921 for establishing effective French control of the front extending from Zafan to El Bordj during a 7-month campaign in which he was said to exhibit superb military skill.  Lyautey ascribed a large portion of the success on the Zafan front in 1920 to Théveney.  He was promoted to général de brigade on 2 April 1921 and, returning to the Fes command on 15 July, subsequently led a French column which eliminated the last pocket of resistance in the Tadla-Zaian and brought about the end of the Zaian War.
caption: General Hubert Lyautey
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