Corneliu Zelea Codreanu was Romanian Clerical Fascist. Born on September 13, 1899 in Romania, he was assassinated on November 30, 1938. He was born and known as Corneliu Zelinski and commonly known as Corneliu Codreanu. He was a known politician of the far right and founder of the Iron Guard, an ultra-nationalist, anti-Semitic organization whose fascist message was the defense of Romanian national identity as a Romanian-Orthodox country. The Iron Guard grew into a major force in Romanian politics. The legionaries (another name for The Iron Guard) referred to Codreanu as their captain (Căpitanul) and he had the most authority through the organization until his death in 1938.