Bazaine, FRANÇOIS ACHILLE, a marshal of France, born at Versailles, 13th February 1811. Entering the army in 1831, he served with distinction in Algeria, in Spain, in the Crimea, and in the Italian campaign of 1859. He took part in the French expedition to Mexico in 1862, and from 1863 till the end of the war held supreme command of the French forces. Already, in 1836 in Africa, he had gained the cross of the Legion of Honour; in 1856 he had been promoted to be Commander of the Legion; in 1863 he received the Grand Cross; and in 1869 he was made commander-in-chief of the Imperial Guard. At the outbreak of the great war with Germany, Bazaine was placed at the head of the 3d army corps near Metz. After the battles of Wörth and Forbach he took command of the main French armies, and on August 14, 1870, began a retreat from Metz. Defeated at
Mars-la-Tour and Gravelotte, he retired within the fortifications of Metz, which was immediately invested by Prince Frederick Charles. Attempts to escape failing, Bazaine capitulated October 27; when 3 marshals, over 6000 officers, and 173,000 men laid down their arms and became prisoners of war. In 1873 Bazaine was tried by a court-martial, and sentenced to degradation and death for having failed to do his duty. The sentence was commuted to 20 years' imprisonment. But in 1874 Bazaine contrived to escape from the fortress on the Ile Ste Marguerite, near Cannes, where he was confined, and ultimately he made his way to Madrid. He published in 1883 a justification of himself in Épisodes de la Guerre de 1870 et le Blocus de Metz, which was immediately prohibited in France. He died 23d September 1888.