Gustavo Mazè de la Roche

Count Gustavo Mazè de la Roche (27 July 1824 in Turin – 29 March 1886 in Turin) was an Italian general and politician. He was a senator of the Kingdom of Italy and Minister of War in the third Depretis government.

Early life and career to 1860 Gustavo was the son of count Luigi Mazè de la Roche and Albertina Carignani di Chianoc. His family was long established in Turin, despite erroneous accounts that claimed they had only moved from Savoie and opted for Italian citizenship after the Treaty of Turin.

Military career 1860–1878 In the 1860s Mazè de la Roche took part in the campaigns in the South against brigandage. In 1863 he was promoted to major general In 1866, now a major general, he commanded the Pinerolo Brigade during the Third Italian War of Independence.

In 1870 Mazè de la Roche played an important role in the capture of Rome. Now a lieutenant general he commanded the 12th division of the 4th Army Corps that surrounded and captured the town of Civita Castellana as they advanced through the Papal States On reaching Rome his division attacked the Porta Pia, forcing their way into the city and compelling the Papal troops to surrender.

Ministerial and later career In 1878, Mazè de la Roche was invited to serve as Minister of War in the third Depretis government and was appointed senator at the same time. The government fell only seven months later, whereupon he was made commander of the First Army Corps in Turin and dedicated himself to a study of how Italy's alpine borders could be defended.

He died on 29 March 1886 after he was thrown by a horse he was riding.

Honours