Corneliu Zelea Codreanu

Corneliu Zelea Codreanu (13 September 1899 - 30 November 1938) was the main figure of the Romanian fascist movement in the interwar period, known as The Legion of Saint Michael the Archangel or The Iron Guard.

Related Topics:
13 September - 1899 - 30 November - 1938 - Fascist - The Legion of Saint Michael the Archangel - The Iron Guard

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Born in Hu?i on September 13 1899, Codreanu studied Law in Ia?i, where he began his political career. His mentor, the university professor Alexandru C. Cuza, a fascist politician, founded an ostensibly Christian, ferociously nationalist organization called "The League of National and Christian Defense".

Related Topics:
Hu?i - September 13 - 1899 - Ia?i - Alexandru C. Cuza

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Anti-communism, mysticism and nationalistic bigotry, including anti-semitism, and his supposed inspiration from Mussolini's fascist movement, but not Nazism, formed the basis of his ideology and the organization, The Legion of Saint Michael the Archangel that he founded in the early 1920s.

Related Topics:
Anti-communism - Mysticism - Nationalistic - Anti-semitism - Mussolini - Nazism - The Legion of Saint Michael the Archangel - 1920s

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Codreanu's movement showed its peculiarity in its strong attachement to Orthodox Christianity as he interpreted it. It became a violent organization that drew the hostility of rival conservative-to-rightist organizations that shared much of his ideology.

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The Legionnaires (as they came to be called) drew their support mainly from wealthy peasants and conservative college students.

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The Legionnaires traditionally called Codreanu "The Captain", and he held absolute authority over the organization until his death on November 30, 1938 (assassinated at the order of King Carol II during an alleged escape attempt).

Related Topics:
November 30 - 1938 - King Carol II

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He was later considered a mentor of the Iron Guard and nowadays, Noua Dreapt?, a small group (not a political party) which claims to be successor of the pre-war Iron Guard, depicts him as an Orthodox Christian "saint". Also, Gigi Becali, the owner of FC Steaua Bucure?ti football club, said that he is an adept of Codreanu.

Related Topics:
Noua Dreapt? - Gigi Becali - FC Steaua Bucure?ti

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