Corneliu Zelea Codreanu was born September 13, 1899 in Huși, Romania to Elizabeth née Brunner and Ion Zelea Codreanu. His father was a teacher, nationalist, and later politician who became involved in his son’s movement.

At the ago of 18, Corneliu joined The Military School of Infantry at Botosani in hopes that upon graduation he would join the frontlines during WWI. However, the war ended before he could ever see battle. In 1919 he moved to Iasi to study law at the Iasi University, where he got a first-hand look at the Communist scourge that was plaguing his country.

In his first year of school he became involved with the Garda Conştiinţei Naţionale (GCN, “The National Awareness Guard”) under Constantin Pancu. During his time with the GCN took many actions against Communist-led workers strikes and became deeply involved with the issues of the proletariat. Over the next few years Corneliu became deeply involved with the student movement and led many different student actions, especially those against the de-Christianization of the Universities. Corneliu graduated from the University in 1922, but would forever have close ties to student activism and student-led organizations.

In 1923 Corneliu and his old professor A.C. Cuza formed The League of Christian National Defense. Well known and long-time activists started joining the League and many different organizations united under their banner. Corneliu led many demonstrations and student strikes against Jewish domination. However, he became very distraught over himself and other League members being subjected to numerous unjust arrests and decided the only option was physical action.

In the winter of 1923 Corneliu and a group of trusted associates began planning the assassination of numerous officials and politicians who had been working against them and the Romanian people. However, before the act could be carried out they were betrayed by a fellow conspirator and close friend and were all arrested for conspiracy. The conspirators were all sent to the Vacaresti Prison and numerous of League members and other student nationalists were imprisoned as well. The conditions in the prison were harsh and the only thing that kept them alive was the generous donations of food and money from their peasant supporters.

During his time in the Vacaresti Prison Corneliu and his comrades spent much time in the prison chapel. In the chapel there was an icon of the Archangel St. Michael to which they prayed for intercession on their behalf. The strength that God bestowed upon them through St. Michael would later lead them to form the organization The Legion of Michael the Archangel. After months of imprisonment they were acquitted of their crimes do to the fact they never made their plans of retribution official.

Upon their release, Corneliu spent much time organizing the student wing of the League called the Brotherhood of the Cross. They decided to construct themselves a headquarters and began the hard work of making bricks to build it. They also planted a large garden that would sustain them. After hearing of the work Corneliu was doing, the police, led by Prefect Constan-tin Manciu, arrested the students and Corneliu and took them to the police station where they were severely beaten. Only upon the intervention of League members and a doctor were they released. Prefect Manciu was called to court to answer for the beatings and when he spotted Corneliu there he and his officers tried to attack him. Corneliu drew his pistol and killed Manciu. The shooting was ruled as self-defense.

Corneliu continued his struggles with the League and they began winning seats in parliament. When it appeared all their hopes had come to fruition, Corneliu moved to France to further his education, with the beliefs that the movement and the League were in safe hands. Unfortunately, A.C. Cuza became corrupt and began unjustly kicking out some of the original members of the League. The League had split into two opposing parties by the time Corneliu returned from France to try and get things back on track. Upon meeting with Cuza and the opposing faction’s leaders it became apparent the League was incapable of being salvaged and Corneliu left the League.

In 1927 Corneliu formed The Legion of Michael the Archangel.

“We shall create an atmosphere, a moral medium in which the heroic man can be born and can grow. This medium must be isolated from the rest of the world by the highest possible spiritual fortifications. It must be defended from all the dangerous winds of cowardice, corruption, licentiousness, and of all the passions which entomb nations and murder individuals. Once the legionary will have developed in such a milieu, i.e. in the nest*, work camp, in the legionary organization and family, he shall be sent into the world: to live, in order to learn how to be correct; to fight, in order to learn to be brave and strong; to work, in order to be digest and love all those who work; to suffer, in order to steel himself., to sacrifice, in order to get accustomed to over-coming his selfish interests, serving his Fatherland.

No matter where he goes he will create a new milieu of an identical nature. He will be an example; will turn others into legionaries. And people, in search of better days, will follow him. The newly arrived will have to live by and respect the same norms of legionary life. All of them together, in the same army, will make a force which will fight and will win. This is what “The Legion of Michael the Archangel” is to be.”

Corneliu built the Legion into a strong and viable organization. The Legion, which was also called the Iron Guard, became the only viable third political party in what was becoming a two-party system. They began making gains in politics and won seats in parliament. These gains were not easily won. Corneliu and his Legionaries were imprisoned numerous and were constantly attacked by police, the army, and communists.

In 1938 the government, which was unable to beat the Legion, arrested Corneliu on trumped up charges. They held a “Bolshevik style” trial where he wasn’t allowed a proper defense and sentenced him to 10 years hard labor. The Legion had not dissolved however, and the government became worried that they would break Corneliu out of prison. On November 30th, 1938 Corneliu was strangled and shot by prison guards and became one of the most well-known Romanian martyrs of his time.

“Wars were won by those who knew how to summon the mysterious powers of the unseen world from above and to ensure their help. These mysterious powers are the souls of the dead, the souls of our ancestors who too were once attached to this land, to our furrows, and who died in the defense of this land, and who today also are attached to it by the memory of their life here, and through us – their children, grand-children and great-great-grandchildren. But above all the souls of the dead stands God.

When these powers are summoned, they come to our aid and encourage us, to give us strength of will and everything necessary to help us to achieve victory. They introduce panic and terror into the hearts of the enemy and paralyze their actions. In the last analysis, victory does not depend on material preparation, on the material strength of the belligerents, but on their capacity to ensure the support of the spiritual powers. This is the explanation-in our history-of miraculous victories even when our material weapons were decidedly inferior.” – Corneliu  Zelea Codreanu