Antonin de Selliers de Moranville

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.

Second Lieutenant in 1871. Colonel in 1902. In 1904, he was Commander in Chief of the Gendarmerie, a military force with law enforcement duties, until 1914.[1] He was Chief Commander of the Belgian army from 25 May until 6 September 1914. During his assignment the Kingdom was invaded by German troops and the Belgian mobilization started.[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.

•  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]