Napoleon's Marshals

[dexter]

In 1804 Napoleon created 18 'Marshals of the Empire', to serve as the senior officers of the Grande Armée. He created a further 8 before his abdication. A few were aristocrats, but others were the sons of shopkeepers or tailors. The most favoured became princes and kings. Among their ranks were legendary figures such as Marshals Lannes, Soult, Davout and Massena, but also much less well know figures like Pérignon, Brune and Moncey. Our series will explore the lives of all 26 Marshals, and rank them according to our own judgement of their achievements as Marshals.

 

[Figaro]

In 1804 Napoleon created 18 'Marshals of the Empire', to serve as the senior officers of the Grande Armée. He created a further 8 before his abdication. A few were aristocrats, but others were the sons of shopkeepers or tailors. The most favoured became princes and kings. Among their ranks were legendary figures such as Marshals Lannes, Soult, Davout and Massena, but also much less well know figures like Pérignon, Brune and Moncey. Our series will explore the lives of all 26 Marshals, and rank them according to our own judgement of their achievements as Marshals.

Everyone knows Ney was Napoleon's most capable marshal by far.

 

[Ocelot]

Everyone knows Ney was Napoleon's most capable marshal by far.

Hope that's sarcasm. The man was rather on the spectrum of incompetent marshals of Napoleon. A brave, charismatic figure but nothing more. He got slapped at Dennewitz, bungled up Napoleon's orders at Bautzen and wasted the precious cavalry at Waterloo. Napoleon should take some blame in trusting physically impressive men a bit too much. Davout, Massena, Lannes wipes the floor with him any day of the week.

 

[dexter]

 

[dexter]

 

[dexter]