Ernest Louis Octave Courtot de Cissey (; 1810–1882) was a French general and Prime Minister.

Biography

Ernest Courtot de Cissey was born in Paris, educated at the Prytanée National Militaire and, after passing through St Cyr, entered the army in 1832, becoming captain in 1839. He saw active service in

Algeria Algeria, officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It is bordered to Algeria–Tunisia border, the northeast by Tunisia; to Algeria–Libya border, the east by Libya; to Alger ...

, and became ''chef d'escadron'' in 1849 and lieutenant-colonel in 1850. He took part as a colonel in the

Crimean War The Crimean War was fought between the Russian Empire and an alliance of the Ottoman Empire, the Second French Empire, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and the Kingdom of Sardinia (1720–1861), Kingdom of Sardinia-Piedmont fro ...

, and after the battle of Inkerman received the rank of general of brigade. In 1863 he was promoted general of division. When the

Franco-German War The Franco-Prussian War or Franco-German War, often referred to in France as the War of 1870, was a conflict between the Second French Empire and the North German Confederation led by the Kingdom of Prussia. Lasting from 19 July 1870 to 28 Jan ...

broke out in 1870, de Cissey was given a divisional command in the Army of the Rhine, and he was included in the surrender of Bazaine's army at

Metz Metz ( , , , then ) is a city in northeast France located at the confluence of the Moselle (river), Moselle and the Seille (Moselle), Seille rivers. Metz is the Prefectures in France, prefecture of the Moselle (department), Moselle Departments ...

. He was released from captivity only at the end of the war, and on his return was at once appointed by the

Versailles The Palace of Versailles ( ; ) is a former royal residence commissioned by King Louis XIV located in Versailles, Yvelines, Versailles, about west of Paris, in the Yvelines, Yvelines Department of Île-de-France, Île-de-France region in Franc ...

government to a command in the army engaged in the suppression of the Commune. From July 1871 de Cissey sat as a deputy, and he had already become minister of war. He occupied this post several times during the critical period of the reorganization of the French army, and served briefly as

Prime Minister of France The prime minister of France (), officially the prime minister of the French Republic (''Premier ministre de la République française''), is the head of government of the French Republic and the leader of its Council of Ministers. The prime ...

from 1874 to 1875. In 1875, he was elected senator for life. In 1880, whilst holding the command of the XI corps at Nantes, he was accused of having relations with a certain Baroness Lucie von Kaulla (1840–1891?), a descendant of Karoline Kaulla, who was said to be a spy in the pay of Germany, and he was in consequence relieved from duty. An inquiry subsequently held resulted in de Cissey's favour (1881).

Cissey's Ministry, 22 May 187410 March 1875

*Ernest Courtot de Cissey – President of the Council and

Minister of War A ministry of defence or defense (see American and British English spelling differences#-ce.2C -se, spelling differences), also known as a department of defence or defense, is the part of a government responsible for matters of defence and Mi ...

* Louis Decazes –

Minister of Foreign Affairs In many countries, the ministry of foreign affairs (abbreviated as MFA or MOFA) is the highest government department exclusively or primarily responsible for the state's foreign policy and foreign relations, relations, diplomacy, bilateralism, ...

* Oscar Bardi de Fourtou –

Minister of the Interior An interior minister (sometimes called a minister of internal affairs or minister of home affairs) is a cabinet official position that is responsible for internal affairs, such as public security, civil registration and identification, emergency ...

* Pierre Magne –

Minister of Finance A ministry of finance is a ministry or other government agency in charge of government finance, fiscal policy, and financial regulation. It is headed by a finance minister, an executive or cabinet position . A ministry of finance's portfolio ...

* Adrien Tailhand –

Minister of Justice A justice ministry, ministry of justice, or department of justice, is a ministry or other government agency in charge of the administration of justice. The ministry or department is often headed by a minister of justice (minister for justice in a ...

* Louis Raymond de Montaignac de Chauvance – Minister of Marine and Colonies * Arthur de Cumont – Minister of Public Instruction, Fine Arts, and Worship * Eugène Caillaux – Minister of Public Works * Louis Grivart – Minister of Agriculture and Commerce

Changes

*20 July 1874 – The Baron de Chabaud-Latour succeeds Fourtou as Minister of the Interior. Pierre Mathieu-Bodet succeeds Magne as Minister of Finance.

References

External links

*
Les députés français depuis 1789: Ernest de Cissey
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cissey, Ernest Courtot de 1810 births 1882 deaths Politicians from Paris French nobility Orléanists Prime ministers of France Ministers of war of France Members of the National Assembly (1871) French life senators French generals French military personnel of the Crimean War French military personnel of the Franco-Prussian War Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour Burials at Père Lachaise Cemetery