ALVENSLEBEN, CONSTANTIN VON Prussian general, was born on Aug. 26, 1809, at Eichenbarleben in Prussian Saxony, and entered the Prussian guards from the cadet corps in 1827. He served with distinction in the campaign of 1866. In 187o, on the outbreak of war with France, von Alvensleben succeeded Prince Frederick Charles in command of the III. army corps which formed part of the II. German army commanded by the prince. Under their new general, the Branden burg regiments forming the III. corps proved themselves col lectively the best in the whole German army, with the possible exception of the Prussian guards, and, if Prince Frederick Charles may have the chief credit in training the III. corps, Alvensleben had contributed in almost equal degree to the efficiency of the Guard infantry, while his actual leadership of the III. corps in the battles of 187o and 1871 showed him as a fighting general of the very first rank. The battle of Spicheren, on Aug. 6, was initiated and practically directed throughout by him, and in the confusion which followed this victory, for which the superior commanders were unprepared, Alvensleben showed his energy and determination by resuming the advance on his own responsi bility. This led to the great battles of Aug. 14, 16 and 18 around Metz, and again the III. corps was destined, under its resolute leader, to win the chief credit. Crossing the Moselle the instant that he received permission from his army commander to do so, Alvensleben struck the flank of Bazaine's whole army (Aug. 16) in movement westward from Metz. The III. corps attacked at once, and for many hours bore the whole brunt of the battle at Vionville. By the most resolute leading, and at the cost of very heavy losses, Alvensleben held the whole French army at bay while other corps of the I. and II., German armies gradually closed up. In the battle of Gravelotte, on the 18th, the corps took little part. Its work was done, and it remained with the II. army before Metz until the surrender of Bazaine's army. He became full general of infantry in 1873 and retired immediately afterwards. He died on March 28, 1892, at Berlin.
His brother, GUSTAV VON ALVENSLEBEN (1803-81), Prussian general of infantry, and another brother, ALBRECHT, COUNT VON ALVENSLEBEN (I Prussian statesman, also had distinguished careers in the Prussian service.