-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 T+07JzeEFs40tYRQ3XHRUOqhZsUqcdXxjSOWA7VH6gKTy96c9O1K9BTtgzyeEPGg
 Xn+pOCAMer3GmT8SBgrsnQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000775368-03-000031.txt : 20030522
<SEC-HEADER>0000775368-03-000031.hdr.sgml : 20030522
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030522163636
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000775368-03-000031
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4/A
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030521
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030522

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ADAMS REX D
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001084798

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4/A
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-09371
		FILM NUMBER:		03716571

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O FUQUA SCHOOL OF BUS DUKE UNIVERSITY
		STREET 2:		BOX 90120 134 TOWERVIEW DR
		CITY:			DURHAM
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			27708

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ALLEGHANY CORP /DE
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000775368
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	TITLE INSURANCE [6361]
		IRS NUMBER:				510283071
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		375 PARK AVENUE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 3201
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10152
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2127521356

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		375 PARK AVENUE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 3201
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10152

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	ALLEGHANY FINANCIAL CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19870115
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4/A
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <documentType>4/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-05-21</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2003-05-22</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000775368</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ALLEGHANY CORP /DE</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>Y</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001084798</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ADAMS REX D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Common Stock</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-05-21</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value></value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>88</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>168.62</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>A</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>384</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeSecurity>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents the average of the high and low sales prices of a share of Common Stock as reported by the New York Stock Exchange for all trading days during April 2003, calculated for purposes of determining the number of shares of Common Stock to be paid to the undersigned as a portion of his annual retainer pursuant to Alleghany Corporation's Directors' Equity Compensation Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes shares of Common Stock paid by Alleghany Corporation as a stock dividend in April 2003.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Christopher K. Dalrymple, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-05-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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