Portal:Military history of France/Selected biography/1

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Louis Nicolas d'Avout (May 10, 1770 – June 1, 1823), better known as Davout, duc d'Auerstaedt, prince d'Eckmühl, was a marshal of France during the Napoleonic Era. Because of his prodigious talent for war, he was also known as the "Iron Marshal". By 1815, he was the only Napoleonic Marshal not to have been defeated in battle.

Davout was born at Annoux (Yonne), and joined the French army as a sub-lieutenant in 1788. On the outbreak of the French Revolution, he embraced its principles. He was chef de bataillon in a volunteer corps in the campaign of 1792, and distinguished himself at the Battle of Neerwinden the following spring. He had just been promoted to general of brigade when he was removed from the active list because of his noble birth. He nevertheless served in the campaigns of 1794-1797 on the Rhine, and accompanied Desaix in the Egyptian expedition of Napoleon Bonaparte. (More...)