Marius Cazeneuve

Marius Cazeneuve, also known as Commander Cazeneuve (Toulouse October 12, 1839 – Toulouse, April 12, 1913) was a French stage magician, who became a close friend of the queen of Madagascar, Ranavalona III, and played a role in the French conquest of Madagascar.

Biography Early career Marius Cazeneuve was born in Toulouse in 1839, in a poor family that could not afford for him a regular education.

In 1870, during the Franco-Prussian War, he formed at his expenses a company of volunteers, later becoming a captain in the regular French army.

It seems that the queen maintained her affection for Cazeneuve after she went into exile, and visited him in France in 1901.

Late career

After the French conquest of Madagascar, Cazeneuve returned to Europe, where he performed again as a well-paid magician, and collected important works of arts. He died in his home city in 1913. His residence, the "House of the Commander" (Maison du Commandeur), was protected as a historical monument in 1981. In 1960, novelist Pierre Benoit told Cazeneuve's story in his novel Le Commandeur.

Book by Marius Cazeneuve À la cour de Madagascar, magie et diplomatie, Paris: Ch. Delagrave, 1896.