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Parachute Intervention Squadron of the National Gendarmerie

2025-10-14T21:05:49Z

2A02:8012:227B:0:F82D:94EB:95F1:D0C3:

{{short description|French parachute-trained intervention squadron}}
{{Infobox law enforcement unit
| unit_name = Parachute Intervention Squadron of the National Gendarmerie
| native_name = {{native name|fr|Escadron Parachutiste d'Intervention de la Gendarmerie Nationale}}
| native_namea = 
| native_namer = 
| image = Epign-inconnu.jpg
| image_size =
| alt = EPIGN patch
| caption = EPIGN patch
| dates = 1984–2007
| country = {{flag|France}}
| agency = [[National Gendarmerie]]
| type = [[Police tactical unit]]
| role = [[Law enforcement]] [[Internal security]] [[Close protection]] Observation & Research
| ops_juris =
| command_structure =
| headquarters_label = Garrison
| headquarters = [[Satory]], [[France]]
| coordinates =
| motto =
| motto_translated =
| common_name =
| abbreviation = EPIGN

| sworn_type_label = Operators
| sworn = 139
| unsworn_type_label =
| unsworn =
| subunit_type_label =
| subunits =
| station_type_label =
| stations =

| current_commander =
| notable_commanders =

| programs = 
| significant_operations = {{Plainlist}}
* [[Ouvéa cave hostage taking|Ouvéa cave crisis]]
* [[Air France Flight 8969]] assault
* Numerous embassy protection missions
{{Endplainlist}}
| anniversaries =
| awards =

| vehicles =
| boats =
| aircraft =
| animals =

| website = 
}}

The '''Parachute Intervention Squadron of the National Gendarmerie''' ({{langx|fr|Escadron Parachutiste d'Intervention de la Gendarmerie Nationale}}, EPIGN) was a parachute-trained tactical unit of the [[National Gendarmerie|French Gendarmerie]]. The squadron was formed in 1984 with personnel from EPGM, a one-of-a-kind parachute squadron that had been created within the [[Mobile Gendarmerie|mobile gendarmerie]] in 1971 and was disestablished at that date. EPIGN, was based in Versailles-[[Satory]] with its sister unit [[National Gendarmerie Intervention Group|GIGN]]. Besides its primary mission of providing heavy support and reinforcement to GIGN, EPIGN soon developed its own set of missions in the fields of protection and observation. It was finally absorbed, together with the "old" GIGN, into the newly reorganized GIGN in September 2007.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.carrieres-publiques.com/PAR_TPL_IDENTIFIANT/44/TPL_CODE/TPL_FIC_METIER_FICHE/PAG_TITLE/Gendarme+dans+une+unit%E9+d'intervention+sp%E9cialis%E9e+(GIGN,+EPIGN,+GSPR)/2241-fiche-concours.htm |title=Gendarme dans une unité d'intervention spécialisée (GIGN, EPIGN, GSPR) |accessdate=8 July 2012}}</ref>
[[File:EPIGN2E Domenjod 020123.jpg|thumb|EPIGN beret, French [[parachutist badge#France|parachutist badge]], shoulder patch and lapel pin]]

==History==
===EPGM: The Mobile Gendarmerie Parachute squadron (1971–1983)===
In 1971, the French Gendarmerie established a new [[Mobile Gendarmerie|mobile gendarmerie]] squadron in [[Mont-de-Marsan]] in southwest France: ''Escadron 9/11 parachutiste de la Gendarmerie mobile'' (EPGM).<ref>Escadron 9/11 became a parachute squadron in 1971 but it was in fact created in 1968 as part of the reinforcement of the mobile gendarmerie decided after the events of May 1968. Source : Thierry Forest ''La Gendarmerie mobile à l'Épreuve de Mai 1968'' Service Historique de la Défense, 2007 p 169 ISBN 978-2-1109-6335-2 </ref> The squadron had a dual mission as a law and order unit specialized in "hard" situations and a parachute unit. One of the new unit's additional missions was to provide parachute-qualified [[Provost (military police)|provosts]] to the army's 11th airborne division. <ref name=EGNT3>''Encyclopédie de la Gendarmerie nationale'' – Tome 3</ref>

In 1973, in the wake of the [[Munich massacre]], the Gendarmerie created two tactical teams or "intervention units": one named ECRI (''Équipe Commando Régionale d'intervention'' or Regional Commando Tactical Team) was based in [[Maisons-Alfort]] near Paris and a second, named [[GIGN]] ({{lang|fr| Groupe d'intervention de la Gendarmerie nationale}}) was created within the parachute squadron in [[Mont-de-Marsan]]. In 1974, the two units were renamed respectively GIGN 1 and GIGN 4.<ref>The units were numbered after the military regions existing at that time</ref> Then in 1976, both units merged into a single one, named GIGN and based in Maisons-Alfort while the parachute squadron remained in Mont-de-Marsan.<ref name=HGMIdFT2>''Histoire de la gendarmerie mobile d'Ile-de-France'', 3 volumes, Éditions SPE-Barthelemy, Paris, 2007, {{ISBN|2-912838-31-2}} - tome II</ref> GIGN relocated to [[Satory]] near [[Versailles]] (west of Paris) in 1982.

EPGM was involved in maintaining order during some of the most violent demonstrations of the 1980s which included protests against the building of new-generation nuclear plants. It was also deployed overseas to such places as Chad, the Central African Republic and Lebanon. The unit was also deployed to the [[French Territory of the Afars and the Issas]] to provide security for the 1977 referendum that led to the independence of [[Djibouti]].<ref name=Betry>Alain Betry – ''L'Escadron parachutiste d'intervention de la gendarmerie nationale''</ref>

Besides being a qualified gendarme and paratrooper, every member of the unit had to have an additional specialty: high altitude jumper, sharpshooter, explosive neutralization specialist, close combat specialist, combat medic, loadmaster, driver, etc., the unit's structure remaining however that of a regular mobile gendarmerie squadron (i.e. one headquarters platoon and three line platoons)<ref>The standard mobile gendarmerie squadron organization evolved from a four-platoon to a five-platoon structure in 2001, i.e. one headquarters platoon and four line platoons including an "intervention" platoon.</ref> under the command of a captain. Being based near the Atlantic coast, the unit trained combat divers and this specialty was then acquired by GIGN4. This know-how was transferred to GIGN and further developed when the two units merged.<ref name=Betry/>

===EPIGN: The National Gendarmerie Parachute Intervention Squadron (1984–2007)===
In 1984, it was decided that EPGM (the gendarmerie mobile parachute squadron) would be disestablished and that its personnel would be transferred to Satory to create a new kind of parachute squadron there. The new unit, named ''escadron parachutiste d'intervention de la gendarmerie nationale'' or EPIGN would provide tactical support and reinforcements for GIGN whenever additional personnel or heavy weapons were needed.<ref name=Betry/>

That same year, GIGN and EPIGN became part of a larger organization called GSIGN ({{langx|fr|Groupement<ref>In the French Mobile Gendarmerie, a grouping is more or less equivalent to a battalion or a regiment but while these units have a fixed structure (ie always the same of companies or squadrons), the number of squadrons composing a Mobile Gendarmerie grouping can vary from a grouping to another.</ref> de sécurité et d'intervention de la Gendarmerie nationale}}).<ref name=EGNT3/>

==Missions and structure==
As time passed, EPIGN, without ever giving up its primary mission of providing tactical support and reinforcements for GIGN, developed its own set of missions: surveillance and observation of criminals and terrorists, personal protection of VIPs and officials and protection of critical sites such as embassies in war-torn countries.<ref name=Tanguy>Jean-Marc Tanguy. ''Missions Extrêmes''.</ref>

The unit structure also evolved as the mission scope evolved and very soon, had nothing left in common with that of a regular mobile gendarmerie squadron. In the end the unit, still under the command of a captain, was composed of:
* headquarters platoon – including a high altitude jump cell;
* two Security and Protection Platoons (SPP) {{langx|fr|sections<ref>In the French armed forces, a platoon is called a ''section'' in infantry or combat engineers units and a ''peloton'' in motororized infantry, transport and tank units. The Gendarmerie uses both designations.</ref> de Sécurité Protection (SSP)}} specialized in close protection of VIPs or dangerous sites (for example embassies in war-torn countries);
* one Observation and Research Group (GOR)<ref>In the French armed forces, a section (or a squad) is called a ''groupe de combat'' or a ''groupe''.</ref> {{langx|fr|Groupe d'observations et de recherches (GOR)}} specialized in monitoring suspected criminals or terrorists.

Despite the squadron's name, the "intervention" mission was entirely transferred to GIGN, members of the parachute squadron being assigned the task to support the intervention group by sanitizing and cordoning off their operating area and by providing heavy weapon support with machine guns and mortars if and when necessary.

An additional mission was to reinforce GSPR ({{langx|fr|Groupe de Sécurité de la Présidence de la République}}), the presidential security group (then composed exclusively of gendarmes), mainly during official or state visits abroad.

Squadron personnel frequently conducted security audits of embassies, ports and airports and various French or foreign sites.

Finally the squadron was also involved during special events such as the Pope's visit, the World Football or Rugby World Cups, the D-Day commemoration, etc.

=== Uniform ===
EPIGN members often operated in plainclothes with a simple lapel pin (for example for VIP protection). When in uniform, they wore a dark blue beret, like their predecessors of EPGM.

==Skills==
EPIGN personnel (and now GIGN personnel) was trained in:
* [[Alpinism]] (taught by the high-mountain gendarmerie group of [[Chamonix]])
* [[Parachuting]]
* [[Underwater diving|Diving]]
* [[First aid]]
* [[Marksmanship]]
* [[Explosive]] neutralization
* Close security
* [[Close combat]]

==Known operations==
The unit was never deployed in a large scale parachute jump and a large part of the unit's missions were kept secret but known missions include:<ref name=Betry/><ref name=Tanguy/>
* Embassy protection in war-torn countries or during crises (Afghanistan, Algeria, Colombia, Congo, Ethiopia, Iraq, Romania, Rwanda, El Salvador, Togo, Yemen, Democratic Republic of the Congo)
* Technical assistance and training missions in Burundi, Colombia, Union of the Comoros, Djibouti, Jordan, Republic of the Congo, Mali, Chad, Togo, etc.
* Reinforcement of the Presidential security group (GSPR) during visits to Jordan, Egypt, the Republic of Ireland, etc.
* GIGN support during the assault on the [[Ouvéa cave hostage taking|Ouvéa cave]]. An EPIGN section led the assault group through the jungle and cordoned off the area. An EPIGN member was wounded by gunshot when the hostage takers shot at their helicopter at the beginning of the assault.
* GIGN support (and hostage rescue) during the assault on [[Air France Flight 8969]] at [[Marseille]] [[Marseille Provence Airport|Marignane airport]] in December 1994. A section of eighteen EPIGN members was stationed directly underneath the plane during the assault and recovered the hostages as they went down the escape chutes. As only four armored jackets were available due to the urgency of the deployment, they decided that none would be used.
* Attempted arrest, and shooting, of terrorist [[Khaled Kelkal]] in 1995. As GIGN was deployed in the Comoros, EPIGN undertook the operation. Kelkal refused to surrender and was shot in the ensuing exchange.
* Search for and monitoring of suspected criminals after the end of the [[Yugoslav Wars]].
* Search for and monitoring of violent independentist activists (Corsica, Basque Country) or terrorists ([[Action directe (armed group)|Action Directe]]).

=== EPGM and EPIGN unit commanders ===
'''EPGM (1971–1983)'''
* Capitaine Poupinot
* Capitaine Michel
* Capitaine Rémy
* Capitaine Denis
* Capitaine Vanderperre

'''EPIGN (1984–2007)'''
* Capitaine Chancerelle
* Capitaine Pattin
* Capitaine Cormier
* Capitaine Strub
* Capitaine Bonneau
* Capitaine Veneau
* Capitaine Lavergne
* Capitaine L.

==Dissolution==
In 2007, the Gendarmerie, in light of mass terrorists events such as the [[Moscow theater hostage crisis]] and the [[Beslan school siege]] and in order to better integrate its tactical teams under reinforced headquarters, decided to disestablish GSIGN in favor of a "new" GIGN composed of the former GIGN, the former EPIGN and other former components of GSIGN (the Presidential close protection group and the training group). So EPIGN was disestablished and its former members became part of "forces" in the new GIGN (mainly the Security Protection Force and the Observation and Research Force).<ref>Société nationale de L'Histoire et du Patrimoine de la Gendarmerie / Société des amis du musée de la gendarmerie https://www.force-publique.net/2007/09/01/1er-septembre-2007-creation-du-gign-2-0/ {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230610104100/https://www.force-publique.net/2007/09/01/1er-septembre-2007-creation-du-gign-2-0/ |date=2023-06-10 }}</ref>

== Notes and references ==
<references />

==Bibliography==
{{Refbegin}}
* {{Cite book | language=fr | title=L'Escadron parachutiste d'intervention de la gendarmerie nationale | last=Betry| first=Alain| year=2001|publisher=Atlante Editions |isbn=2-912671-14-0}}
* {{Cite book | language=fr | title=Missions Extrêmes – Le GIGN et l'EPIGN en opération 1976–2017 | last=Tanguy| first=Jean-Marc| year=2017|publisher=Histoire et Collections |isbn=978-2-35250-488-7}}
* {{Cite book | language=fr | title=Encyclopédie de la Gendarmerie Nationale, tome III | last=Collective| year=2006|publisher=éditions SPE Barthelemy, Paris |isbn=2-912838-21-5}}
* {{Cite book | language=fr | title=''Histoire de la gendarmerie mobile d'Ile-de-France'', 3 volumes, tome II | last=Collective| year=2006|publisher=éditions SPE Barthelemy, Paris |isbn=2-912838-31-2}}
{{refend}}

==See also==
* [[National Gendarmerie Intervention Group|Groupe d'Intervention de la Gendarmerie Nationale]]
* [[11e régiment parachutiste de choc|11th Shock Parachutist Regiment]]
* [[Carabinieri Regiment "Tuscania"]] a similar unit of [[Carabinieri]]

==Related links==
*{{in lang|es}} [http://www.specwarnet.com/europe/epign.htm Specwarnet.com report]

{{Law enforcement agencies of France}}

[[Category:Units and formations of the French Gendarmerie]]
[[Category:GIGN]]
[[Category:1984 establishments in France]]
[[Category:2007 disestablishments in France]]
[[Category:Airborne units and formations of France]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1984]]
[[Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 2007]]

Emmanuel d'Astier de La Vigerie

2025-10-14T18:18:23Z

2A02:8012:227B:0:F82D:94EB:95F1:D0C3:

{{short description|French journalist, politician and member of the French Resistance}}{{Infobox person
| name = Emmanuel d'Astier de La Vigerie
| image = Emmanuel d'Astier de La Vigerie.jpg
| birth_date = 6 January 1900
| birth_place = [[Paris]], France
| death_date = June 12 1969
| death_place = Paris, France
| party = [[Progressive Union (France)]]
}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{more citations needed|date=April 2014}}
'''Emmanuel d'Astier de La Vigerie''' ({{IPA|fr|emanɥɛl dastje də la viʒʁi}}; 6 January 1900{{snd}}12 June 1969) was a French [[journalist]], [[politician]] and member of the [[French Resistance]].<ref name=OrdredelaLiberation>{{cite web |title=Emmanuel d'Astier de la Vigerie |url=http://www.ordredelaliberation.fr/fr_compagnon/36.html |website=Ordre de la Libération |access-date=6 March 2015 |date=3 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150106090908/http://www.ordredelaliberation.fr/fr_compagnon/36.html |archive-date=6 January 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=FondationdelaResistance>{{cite web |title=Emmanuel D'ASTIER DE LA VIGERIE (mouvement "Libération-Sud") 1900–1969 |url=http://www.fondationresistance.org/pages/rech_doc/emmanuel-astier-vigerie_portrait9.htm |website=Fondation de la Résistance |access-date=6 March 2015}}</ref>

==Biography==
Born in Paris, he attended the Naval Academy but resigned from the [[French Navy]] in 1923. He became a journalist and a poet and was involved with the [[Integralism|integralist]] and monarchist journal ''[[Action Française]]'', but turned towards the [[History of the Left in France|Left]] after the [[Spanish Civil War]] (1936–39).

When the Second World War broke out, d'Astier re-enlisted into the French Navy and became the head of [[naval intelligence]]. However, after the [[Battle of France|fall of France]] and the proclamation of [[Vichy France]], he was dismissed for his political dossier.

In [[Clermont-Ferrand]], d'Astier formed the [[French Resistance|Resistant group]] ''La Dernière Colonne'', later known as [[Libération-sud]], with [[Raymond Aubrac]], [[Lucie Aubrac]] and [[Jean Cavaillès]]. During 1941, the group carried out two sabotage attacks at train stations in [[Perpignan]] and [[Cannes]]. In February, they organised the distribution of 10,000 propaganda flyers, but one of the distributors was caught by the police, leading to the arrest of d'Astier's niece and uncle. The group decided to cease activities. After a few months' hiatus, they began to work on an underground newspaper, ''Libération''. The first edition was put together with the help of the typographers from a local newspaper and printed on paper supplied by local trade-unionists. 10,000 copies were produced in July 1941.<ref>{{cite book |last=Wieviorka |first=Olivier |title=Histoire de la Résistance 1940–1945 |year=2013 |publisher=Perrin |location=Paris |page=loc 1262–1278 |edition=Kindle}}</ref>

In 1942 d'Astier met with [[Jean Moulin]] to discuss the unification of the Resistance and eventually joined forces into the ''[[Conseil National de la Résistance]]'' (CNR, National Council of Resistance). In 1943 he met [[Charles de Gaulle]] in [[Algiers]] and joined his [[Free French Forces]] [[government-in-exile]] as a Commissioner to the Interior.

While in London in 1943, he wrote the lyrics for the song "[[La Complainte du partisan]]" with [[Anna Marly]], who wrote the music. In English, it is known as "[[The Partisan]]" and was recorded by [[Leonard Cohen]], [[Joan Baez]], [[Buffy Saint Marie]] and many others.

After the Liberation, d'Astier became [[Minister of Interior (France)|Minister of Interior]] in the [[Provisional Government of the French Republic]] (GPRF). He continued to publish ''Libération'' and wrote books based on his experiences. He ran as an ally of the [[French Communist Party]] on the ''Union républicaine et résistante'' list in the [[November 1946 French legislative elections]], and won a seat in the [[French National Assembly|National Assembly]] for [[Ille-et-Vilaine]]. He was later among the founders of the [[Union progressiste]]. In 1958 he received the [[Lenin Peace Prize]]. D'Astier was one of the founders of the Stockholm Committee; he denounced the [[Soviet Union]] leadership under [[Nikita Khrushchev]] after the crushing of the [[1956 Hungarian Revolution|Hungarian uprising]], and broke ties with communists.

His brother, [[Henri d'Astier de la Vigerie]], was from the far right, and, initially a member of the ''[[Action Française]]'', may even have been involved with the ''[[La Cagoule|Cagoule]]'' terrorist group. Ultimately, Henri d'Astier also took part in the [[Résistance]].

Emmanuel d'Astier died in Paris in 1969. His wife Liubov was the second spouse of French politician [[Gaston Bergery]] (divorced in 1928) and the daughter of Bolshevik [[Leonid Krasin]].<ref name=NYT11051967>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1967/05/11/archives/mrs-alliluyeva-rejected-france-as-new-home-paris-friend-says.html |title=Mrs. Alliluyeva Rejected France As New Home, Paris Friend Says |work=[[New York Times]] |date=11 May 1967 |access-date=8 July 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250708185313/https://www.nytimes.com/1967/05/11/archives/mrs-alliluyeva-rejected-france-as-new-home-paris-friend-says.html |archive-date=8 July 2025}}</ref> They had three sons Jean-François, Christophe and Jérôme. His niece Mrs. Bertrande Blancpain and her husband hosted [[Svetlana Alliluyeva]] in their home at [[Matran]] near [[Fribourg, Switzerland]], while Alliluyeva [[Soviet dissidents|defected]] from the Soviet Union to the United States in 1967.<ref name=NYT11051967/><ref>{{cite book |last=Гругман |first=Рафаэль (Grugman, Rafael) |author-link=Rafael Grugman |language=ru |url=https://coollib.in/b/560473-rafael-grugman-svetlana-allilueva-pyat-zhizney/read |title=Светлана Аллилуева Пять жизней |trans-title=Svetlana Alliluyeva Five Lives |publisher=ООО «Феникс» |location=[[Rostov-on-Don|Ростов н/Д]] |date=2012 |isbn=978-5-222-19440-9 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250708175358/https://coollib.in/b/560473-rafael-grugman-svetlana-allilueva-pyat-zhizney/read |archive-date=8 July 2025 }}</ref>

Family friend [[Joan Baez]] wrote and recorded a song, "Luba the Baroness", about learning of the death of the oldest son, Jean-François.

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Authority control}}

{{French Resistance}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Astier de la Vigerie, Emmanuel d}}
[[Category:1900 births]]
[[Category:1969 deaths]]
[[Category:Lycée Condorcet alumni]]
[[Category:Politicians from Paris]]
[[Category:Writers from Paris]]
[[Category:French barons]]
[[Category:Union progressiste politicians]]
[[Category:French interior ministers]]
[[Category:Members of the Provisional Consultative Assembly]]
[[Category:Members of the Constituent Assembly of France (1945)]]
[[Category:Members of the Constituent Assembly of France (1946)]]
[[Category:Deputies of the 1st National Assembly of the French Fourth Republic]]
[[Category:Deputies of the 2nd National Assembly of the French Fourth Republic]]
[[Category:Deputies of the 3rd National Assembly of the French Fourth Republic]]
[[Category:Members of Parliament for Ille-et-Vilaine]]
[[Category:French male poets]]
[[Category:20th-century French poets]]
[[Category:20th-century French journalists]]
[[Category:École Navale alumni]]
[[Category:French Navy personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:Members of Liberation-Sud]]
[[Category:Companions of the Liberation]]
[[Category:Knights of the Legion of Honour]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Croix de Guerre 1939–1945 (France)]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Resistance Medal]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Lenin Peace Prize]]

Gilles Andriamahazo

2025-10-14T18:12:40Z

2A02:8012:227B:0:F82D:94EB:95F1:D0C3:

{{Short description|Malagasy politician, brief head of state of Madagascar in 1975}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific_prefix = [[General]]
| name = Gilles Andriamahazo
| image = File:Gilles Andriamahazo.jpeg
| office = [[List of presidents of Madagascar#List of officeholders|Chairman of the National Military Leadership Committee]]
| term_start = {{Start date|1975|02|12|df=yes}}
| term_end = {{End date|1975|06|15|df=yes}}
| predecessor = [[Richard Ratsimandrava]] (as [[List of presidents of Madagascar#List of officeholders|Head of State]])
| successor = [[Didier Ratsiraka]] (as [[List of presidents of Madagascar|President of Madagascar]])
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1919|05|05|df=yes}}
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1989|09|13|1919|05|05|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Fort-Dauphin (Madagascar)|Fort Dauphin]], [[Anosy]], [[French Madagascar]]
| death_place = [[Antananarivo]], [[Democratic Republic of Madagascar]]
| death_cause = [[Myocardial infarction|Heart attack]]
}}

[[General]] '''Gilles Andriamahazo''' (5 May 1919 – 13 September 1989) was a Malagasy general and political figure. He served as the head of state of Madagascar (''[[List of presidents of Madagascar#List of officeholders|Chairman of the National Military Leadership Committee]]'') and [[Ministry of National Defense (Madagascar)|minister of defense]] between 12 February and 15 June 1975.<ref name="bidwell">{{cite book |last1=Bidwell |first1=Robin Leonard |title=Guide to African ministers |date=1978 |publisher=R. Collings |location=London |isbn=0860360644}}</ref>

== Early life and military career ==
Born in [[Fort Dauphin (Madagascar)|Fort Dauphin]], [[Anosy]] Region on 13 May<ref>[http://www.s9.com/Biography/Andriamahazo-Gilles Biography] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924093105/http://www.s9.com/Biography/Andriamahazo-Gilles |date=2015-09-24 }} at s9.com, accessed 10 March 2009.</ref> 1919, he followed a military career. During [[World War II]] Andriamahazo served in the [[French Army]] and participated in the French military campaign against [[Algeria]]n nationalists in the 1950s. He retired as an army officer in 1976.<ref name="Obit"/>

== Government ==
He was the successor of [[Richard Ratsimandrava]] after the latter's assassination. He served as head of state from 12 February to 15 June 1975, when he resigned in favour of [[Didier Ratsiraka]]. He is widely credited with having prevented an outbreak of civil war during the tension that followed Colonel Ratsimandrava's assassination.<ref name="Obit"/> He died of a [[heart attack]] at the age of 70, on 14 September 1989.<ref name="Obit">[https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950DE2D8143FF936A2575AC0A96F948260 Obituary at New York Times], 15 September 1989, retrieved 10 March 2009.</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Madagascar Presidents}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Andriamahazo, Gilles}}
[[Category:1919 births]]
[[Category:1989 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Anosy]]
[[Category:Merina people]]
[[Category:Presidents of Madagascar]]
[[Category:Defense ministers of Madagascar]]
[[Category:Malagasy military personnel]]
[[Category:French Army personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:French military personnel of the Algerian War]]

François-Xavier Ortoli

2025-10-14T17:26:25Z

2A02:8012:227B:0:F82D:94EB:95F1:D0C3:

{{Short description|French politician (1925–2007)}}
{{Expand French|topic=bio|date=September 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix = [[His Excellency]]
| name = François-Xavier Ortoli
| image = FGO Portrait 1973.jpg
| order = 
| office = [[President of the European Commission]]
| vicepresident = [[Patrick Hillery]]
| term_start = 5 January 1973
| term_end = 5 January 1977
| predecessor = [[Sicco Mansholt]]
| successor = [[Roy Jenkins]]
| office1 = [[Minister of the Economy, Finances and Industry (France)|Minister of the Economy]]
| primeminister1 = [[Maurice Couve de Murville]]
| term_start1 = 4 April 1968
| term_end1 = 21 February 1969
| predecessor1 = Maurice Couve de Murville
| successor1 = [[Valéry Giscard d'Estaing]]
| birth_name = François-Xavier Ortoli
| birth_date = {{birth date|1925|2|16|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Ajaccio]], [[Corsica]], France
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2007|11|30|1925|02|16}}
| death_place = [[Paris]], France
| resting_place = [[Père Lachaise Cemetery]], [[Paris]], France
| party = [[European People's Party]]
| otherparty = [[Union of Democrats for the Republic]] (1968–1976) [[Rally for the Republic]] (1976–2002) [[Union for a Popular Movement]] (2002–2007)
| alma_mater = [[École nationale d'administration]]
| signature =
| caption = Official portrait, 1973
}}

'''François-Xavier Ortoli''' ({{IPA|fr|fʁɑ̃swa ɡzavje ɔʁtɔli|lang}}; 16 February 1925 – 30 November 2007) was a French politician who served as the fifth [[president of the European Commission]] from 1973 to 1977. He served as [[Minister of the Economy, Finances and Industry (France)|Minister of the Economy]] of France from 1968 to 1969.

Ortoli served with the [[Free French Forces]] during World War II and was decorated with the [[Croix de Guerre 1939–1945|Croix de Guerre]], [[Médaille militaire]] and [[Médaille de la Résistance]]. He served in various ministerial capacities in the 1968–1969 administration of [[Prime Minister of France]] [[Maurice Couve de Murville]] including Finance Minister. Ortoli was one of the two [[French European Commissioner]]s from 1973 to 1985 holding various portfolios, serving as the [[President of the European Commission#List of presidents|fifth President of the European Commission]] between 1973 and 1977 leading the [[Ortoli Commission]]. He was later director of Marceau Investissements and President of [[Total S.A.|Total]]. Ortoli was also the grandfather of Antoine-Xavier Troesch, a formerly eminent investment banker. Together with [[Étienne Davignon]] he attended the founding meeting of the [[European Round Table of Industrialists]] in Paris in 1983.

==See also==

*[[List of Corsican people]]

==References==
{{reflist}}
* The [https://archives.eui.eu/en/fonds/151236?item=FXO private papers of François-Xavier Ortoli] are deposited at the [https://www.eui.eu/en/academic-units/historical-archives-of-the-european-union Historical Archives of the EU in Florence.]

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20121012151855/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-12/01/content_7177955.htm Xnhuanet – News of death]

{{s-start}}
{{s-off}}
{{Succession box
| title = [[Minister of National Education (France)|Minister of National Education of France]]
| before = [[Alain Peyrefitte]]
| after = [[Edgar Faure]]
| years = 1968
}}
{{Succession box
| before = [[Sicco Mansholt]]
| title = [[President of the European Commission]]
| years = 1973–1977
| after = [[Roy Jenkins]]}}
{{s-bus}}
{{succession box
| title = CEO of [[Total S.A.]]
| before = [[René Granier de Lilliac]]
| years = 1984–1990
| after = [[Serge Tchuruk]]
}}
{{s-end}}

{{Finance Ministers of France}}
{{European Commission}}
{{European Commissioners from France}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ortoli, Francois-Xavier}}
[[Category:1925 births]]
[[Category:2007 deaths]]
[[Category:École nationale d'administration alumni]]
[[Category:Politicians from Ajaccio]]
[[Category:Union of Democrats for the Republic politicians]]
[[Category:Rally for the Republic politicians]]
[[Category:Union for a Popular Movement politicians]]
[[Category:Ministers of national education of France]]
[[Category:Finance ministers of France]]
[[Category:Deputies of the 4th National Assembly of the French Fifth Republic]]
[[Category:Presidents of the European Commission]]
[[Category:French European commissioners]]
[[Category:TotalEnergies people]]
[[Category:Free French military personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Croix de Guerre 1939–1945 (France)]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Resistance Medal]]
[[Category:European commissioners (1973–1977)]]
[[Category:European commissioners (1977–1981)]]
[[Category:European commissioners (1981–1985)]]

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