Louis-Nicolas Davout

Louis-Nicolas Davout was a prominent French military commander. He served as a Marshal of the Empire during the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars.

Davout is often ranked among the most outstanding military commanders of the modern era. He is listed alongside other famous Marshals like André Masséna and Jean Lannes. Because of his extreme strictness, he earned the nickname "The Iron Marshal." His loyalty to Napoleon Bonaparte was considered absolute throughout his career.

Davout was born on May 10, 1770, in Annoux, Burgundy.

His family belonged to the minor nobility. They had a long tradition of military service, though they were economically struggling. As the eldest son, Davout was expected to follow this path. He attended a military academy in Brienne-le-Chateau, where Napoleon also studied. Later, he transferred to the École Militaire in Paris. He graduated in 1788 and became a sous-lieutenant in the Royal-Champagne Cavalry Regiment.

During the French Revolution, Davout embraced new political principles. He served as a chef de bataillon in a volunteer corps in 1792. He distinguished himself at the Battle of Neerwinden the following spring. However, his noble birth once caused him to be removed from the active list. He later accompanied General Louis Desaix on the Egyptian expedition. Napoleon eventually promoted him to general of division. To strengthen their connection, Napoleon arranged for Davout to marry Aimée Leclerc.

In 1804, Napoleon named Davout as one of the original 18 Marshals of the Empire. He was the youngest and least experienced of these generals. This status caused hostility from other high-ranking officers. Davout achieved his greatest fame as commander of the III Corps of the Grande Armée. At the Battle of Austerlitz, his corps bore the brunt of an attack after a 48-hour forced march. His most famous victory occurred at the Battle of Auerstädt.

There, his 28,000 soldiers defeated a Prussian army of over 63,000 men. This incredible feat earned him the title of Duke of Auerstädt.

Davout was known for being a stern disciplinarian. He demanded precise obedience from every soldier in his command. He even enforced the death penalty to prevent his troops from plundering villages. This strictness made his III Corps one of the most reliable units. In 1812, he organized the "corps of observation of the Elbe." This group became a massive army of over 70,000 men for the invasion of Russia.

During the campaign, his troops suffered greatly from sickness and desertion.

The retreat from Moscow was a period of extreme hardship. Davout conducted the rear guard during this difficult time. During the Battle of Krasnoi, his forces faced potential destruction. He managed to cross the Losvinka brook, but it cost many lives. During this retreat, Davout lost his Marshal baton to the Russian forces.

This loss led to a period of disgrace between him and Napoleon. He returned to France with only 4,000 men remaining from his original 70,000.

Davout later defended the city of Hamburg during a long siege. This period was very difficult for the local population. During the siege, he expelled up to 25,000 of the city's poorest citizens. Many of these people died from the cold and starvation.

Between 1806 and 1814, the population of Hamburg decreased by nearly one-half to 55,000 people. Davout finally surrendered the city in 1814 following orders from King Louis XVIII.

In 1815, Davout rejoined Napoleon during the Hundred Days. He was appointed Minister of War and worked to reorganize the French Army. Napoleon kept him in Paris during the Waterloo campaign. After Waterloo, Davout led the defense of Paris. He was prepared to fight until the provisional government ordered him to negotiate.

Napoleon later remarked that Davout loved France more than he loved the Emperor. Davout eventually retired and submitted to the restored Bourbon monarchy. He died on June 1, 1823.