Quick Facts
Born:
Feb. 6, 1842, Saint-Louis, Senegal
Died:
July 18, 1922, Paris, Fr. (aged 80)

Alfred-Amédée Dodds (born Feb. 6, 1842, Saint-Louis, Senegal—died July 18, 1922, Paris, Fr.) was a French military figure who played a leading role in French colonial expansion in West Africa in the late 19th century.

After training at the prestigious military academy of Saint-Cyr, Dodds joined the French marine force. A company commander in the Franco-German War, he was captured at the Battle of Sedan in 1870, only to escape and return to combat in the Loire campaign. After the war Dodds returned to West Africa, where, except for brief visits to Indochina (1878 and 1883), he spent the next 20 years. In 1892–93, he led the campaign against the native forces of King Behanzin of Dahomey. His victory at Abomey (1892) was vital to the eventual linkage of French possessions in upper Senegal and the upper Niger region.

In 1899 Dodds was appointed inspector general of the marine infantry and soon after was given command of the 20th (colonial) army corps. In 1904 he returned to Paris and served on the conseil supérieur de guerre (high command of war, an autonomous command group) until 1914.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Encyclopaedia Britannica.
Britannica Chatbot logo

Britannica Chatbot

Chatbot answers are created from Britannica articles using AI. This is a beta feature. AI answers may contain errors. Please verify important information using Britannica articles. About Britannica AI.

Second Empire, (1852–70) period in France under the rule of Emperor Napoleon III (the original empire having been that of Napoleon I). In its early years (1852–59), the empire was authoritarian but enjoyed economic growth and pursued a favourable foreign policy. Liberal reforms were gradually introduced after 1859, but measures such as a low-tariff treaty with Britain alienated French businessmen, and political liberalization led to increased opposition to the government. In 1870 a new constitution establishing a quasi-parliamentary regime was widely approved, but France’s defeat at the Battle of Sedan in the Franco-Prussian War was followed by an uprising in Paris on Sept. 4, 1870. This resulted in the overthrow of the government, the abdication of Napoleon III, and the end of the Second Empire.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Maren Goldberg.
Britannica Chatbot logo

Britannica Chatbot

Chatbot answers are created from Britannica articles using AI. This is a beta feature. AI answers may contain errors. Please verify important information using Britannica articles. About Britannica AI.