“Terror belli… decus pacis.” These Latin words, meaning “Terror in war… ornament in peace,” were inscribed on the baton of every French Marshal. In France, the title of Marshal, or Maréchal, dates back to at least the 13th century, representing the highest military authority. This title was abolished during the French Revolution but was restored by Napoleon in 1804 when he founded a new empire.
This article is a guide to Napoleon’s Marshals, ranked based on their achievements with insights from Lieutenant Colonel Rémy Porte, a former chief historian of the French Army. We will focus on three notable Marshals: Suchet, Ney, and Soult.
Louis-Gabriel Suchet was born in Lyon to a silk merchant family. Initially set to join the family business, his path changed with the French Revolution. Suchet joined the cavalry of the Lyon National Guard and quickly rose through the ranks. He distinguished himself at the Siege of Toulon and formed a friendship with a young Major Bonaparte.
Suchet served under Napoleon in Italy, where he learned the importance of ensuring troops were well-paid, clothed, and fed. Despite his organizational skills and battlefield dependability, Suchet never entered Napoleon’s inner circle. He served as a chief of staff to Generals Brune and Masséna and was promoted to General of Division in 1800.
In 1805, Suchet was given command of a division in Marshal Lannes’ Fifth Corps. His division excelled at battles such as Ulm and Austerlitz. In 1808, Suchet was sent to Spain, where he faced poorly supplied and low-morale troops. He restored discipline and morale, winning over the civilian population by ensuring his troops were well-behaved and properly supplied.
Suchet’s humane approach and military successes in Spain earned him a Marshal’s baton, the only one awarded in Spain. Despite the deteriorating situation in Spain, Suchet remained undefeated and held the French frontier until Napoleon’s defeat at Waterloo. He retired to his estate and died in 1826, remembered as a brilliant commander and administrator.
Michel Ney, known as “the bravest of the brave,” was born in Lorraine. He joined a hussar regiment, quickly rising through the ranks due to his skills as a horseman and fencer. Ney became an officer during the French Revolution and earned a reputation for bravery and tactical skill.
In 1804, Ney was made a Marshal by Napoleon. He played a crucial role in battles such as Elchingen and Friedland, where his aggressive tactics earned him the title Duke of Elchingen. However, Ney’s fiery temperament sometimes led to reckless decisions, as seen at the Battle of Jena.
During the Russian campaign, Ney’s leadership was legendary. He led a heroic rearguard action during the retreat from Moscow, earning Napoleon’s admiration. Despite his tactical brilliance, Ney struggled with high command responsibilities, as evidenced by his actions at Waterloo, where his decisions contributed to the French defeat.
After Napoleon’s fall, Ney was arrested for treason and executed in 1815. He remains one of history’s most inspirational battlefield commanders.
Jean-de-Dieu Soult hailed from southern France and joined the military at 16. He quickly rose through the ranks, becoming a brigadier-general in less than three years. Soult was known for his organizational skills and tactical brilliance, earning him a reputation as one of France’s best divisional commanders.
In 1804, Soult was made a Marshal by Napoleon. He commanded the largest corps of the Grande Armée and played a pivotal role at the Battle of Austerlitz. Soult’s strict discipline and training earned him the nickname “bras de fer” or iron-arm.
Soult’s military career was marked by his ability to command large forces effectively. He was a key figure in many of Napoleon’s campaigns, demonstrating his strategic acumen and leadership skills.
These three Marshals, Suchet, Ney, and Soult, exemplify the diverse talents and challenges faced by Napoleon’s military leaders. Each left a lasting impact on military history through their unique contributions to the Napoleonic Wars.
Research Marshal Suchet’s military strategies and administrative skills. Prepare a presentation highlighting his contributions to the Napoleonic Wars, focusing on his time in Spain. Discuss how his humane approach to leadership influenced his success. Present your findings to the class, emphasizing the lessons modern leaders can learn from Suchet’s methods.
Participate in a debate about Marshal Ney’s leadership style. One side will argue that his bravery was his greatest asset, while the other will discuss how his recklessness sometimes led to poor decisions. Use historical examples from battles such as Elchingen and Waterloo to support your arguments. This will help you understand the complexities of military leadership.
Conduct a strategic analysis of Marshal Soult’s campaigns, focusing on his role at the Battle of Austerlitz. Examine his organizational skills and how they contributed to his success. Write a report comparing Soult’s strategies to modern military tactics, highlighting any enduring principles of warfare.
Engage in a role-playing exercise where you and your classmates assume the roles of Napoleon’s Marshals, including Suchet, Ney, and Soult. Discuss strategies for an upcoming campaign, considering each Marshal’s strengths and weaknesses. This activity will enhance your understanding of teamwork and decision-making in high-pressure situations.
Write an essay exploring the legacy of Napoleon’s Marshals, focusing on Suchet, Ney, and Soult. Analyze how their leadership styles and achievements have influenced military history. Reflect on what modern military leaders can learn from their successes and failures. This will deepen your appreciation for historical military leadership.
Here’s a sanitized version of the provided YouTube transcript, with sensitive or potentially inappropriate content removed or modified for clarity:
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“Terror belli… decus pacis.” Terror in war… ornament in peace… The words inscribed on every French Marshal’s baton. In France, the title of Marshal, or Maréchal, dates back to at least the 13th century. It represents the highest possible position of military authority, symbolized by a marshal’s baton. The title was abolished during the French Revolution, as it was seen as incompatible with the egalitarian spirit of the age. However, in 1804, Napoleon founded a new empire and restored the ancient rank.
This is Epic History TV’s guide to Napoleon’s Marshals. All 26 have been ranked according to our evaluation of their achievements, with expert guidance from Lieutenant Colonel Rémy Porte, former chief historian of the French Army.
So far, we’ve met Marshals Pérignon, Brune, Sérurier, Kellermann, Grouchy, Moncey, Poniatowski, Jourdan, Bernadotte, Augereau, Lefebvre, Mortier, Marmont, Saint-Cyr, Oudinot, Victor, Murat, Bessières, Macdonald, and Masséna.
**6. Marshal Suchet**
Louis-Gabriel Suchet was born in Lyon, the son of a prosperous silk merchant. Plans to join the family business were derailed by the French Revolution, when Suchet, an ardent republican, joined the cavalry of the Lyon National Guard. In 1793, he was elected to lead a volunteer battalion and distinguished himself at the Siege of Toulon by helping to capture the British commander, General O’Hara. He also made friends with a young Major Bonaparte.
Suchet went on to serve under Napoleon in his first campaign in Italy, fighting at Lodi, Castiglione, and Bassano. Transferred to Masséna’s division, he led his battalion with distinction at Arcole and Rivoli, was wounded twice, and promoted to Colonel. It was in Italy that Suchet learned the valuable lesson that for troops to be effective, they must be properly paid, clothed, and fed—something the French Republic consistently failed to achieve.
Despite proving himself to be an excellent organizer and dependable in battle, Suchet never quite made it into General Bonaparte’s inner circle. He served as a highly effective chief of staff to General Brune, then to Masséna in Switzerland, and was with Joubert in Italy when Joubert died in his arms at the Battle of Novi.
Suchet was promoted to General of Division, and in 1800, he was given command of the Army of Italy’s left wing. With Masséna besieged by the Austrians in Genoa, the defense of southern France fell on his shoulders. In a brilliant independent campaign, he held the Austrians near Nice and then chased them back into Italy, taking 15,000 prisoners.
Despite this impressive record, Suchet was not on the list of Marshals created by Napoleon in 1804. In 1805, he was effectively demoted, being given command of a division in Marshal Lannes’ Fifth Corps. Nevertheless, he performed this role with great skill: his division distinguished itself at Ulm and Austerlitz, and the next year led the attack in Napoleon’s victory over the Prussians at Jena.
In Poland, his division saw hard fighting at Pultusk but was then held back to defend Warsaw, missing the battles of Eylau and Friedland. Napoleon rewarded General Suchet with money and titles, but still no Marshal’s baton. In 1808, Suchet’s division was sent to Spain, where he would spend the next six years. His first role was to support the Siege of Saragossa.
Then, on Marshal Lannes’ recommendation, Napoleon gave him command of Third Corps and made him Governor of Aragon. Suchet found his troops to be poorly supplied, ill-disciplined, and low in morale. Their first battle together against General Blake’s Spanish army ended in a rout at Alcañiz. Suchet found the drummer who had started the panic and had him shot in front of the entire corps.
He then reorganized his troops, restoring discipline and pride with two quick victories over the Spanish. He also faced a guerrilla war in Aragon, driven by hatred of the French invader. Suchet realized that winning over the civilian population was essential for progress. He made it his priority to ensure his own men were properly paid and fed—something almost unheard of for French troops in Spain.
He enforced discipline and made sure requisitioned supplies were paid for. He told his troops, “I will look after your well-being… and you, by your discipline, will give security to the inhabitants.” He assured the Spanish people that his troops would not impede their harvests or overcrowd their cities.
Suchet’s humane approach won respect and brought results. He extended French control of eastern Spain with a series of successful sieges, including Tarragona, for which Napoleon finally awarded him his Marshal’s baton—the only one earned in Spain. He then moved south, defeating a larger Spanish force at Saguntum and taking Valencia, along with 18,000 prisoners and nearly 500 guns.
Napoleon rewarded Suchet with the title Duke of Albufera. However, the overall situation in Spain was deteriorating. The partisans became better organized, and the British navy was able to land troops for diversionary attacks while Napoleon withdrew more units for his campaigns in Russia and Germany. After King Joseph and Jourdan were defeated at Vitoria, Suchet had no option but to pull back towards the French frontier, leaving behind several well-supplied garrisons.
On Napoleon’s abdication, Suchet remained undefeated, still holding the French frontier. When Napoleon returned from exile, Suchet went to meet him in Paris. It was the first time they had met in person in eight years. Napoleon entrusted Suchet with command of French forces in the south, an important independent command. Suchet kept France’s enemies at bay until news arrived of Napoleon’s defeat at Waterloo.
Following the second Bourbon restoration, Suchet was dismissed and retired to his country estate, where he died in 1826. He was still held in esteem in Aragon, where a mass was held to pray for his soul in the cathedral of Saragossa. Suchet was a brilliant commander, widely regarded as the best administrator in Napoleon’s army. He thrived with the responsibility of independent command but never had the opportunity to prove himself on the war’s decisive battlegrounds.
When Napoleon, in exile on Saint Helena, was asked to name his best general, he replied, “That is difficult to say… but it seems to me that it is Suchet.”
**5. Marshal Ney**
Michel Ney was a cooper’s son from Lorraine, a German-speaking region of France on the eastern frontier. His father wanted him to become a clerk, but the young Ney, impetuous and headstrong, joined a hussar regiment instead. He soon distinguished himself as a fine horseman and fencer, becoming a senior sergeant by the time of the French Revolution.
When war broke out, Ney was made an officer and became aide-de-camp to General Lamarche. His reports described Ney as active, brave, and a skilled tactician. Ney served in the Netherlands and on the Rhine, fighting at Valmy, Jemappes, and Neerwinden; he was seriously wounded once and captured once. Fellow officers nicknamed Ney ‘the Indefatigable,’ while his men preferred ‘le Rougeaud,’ meaning the ruddy or red-faced.
At 30, Ney was a proven brigade commander, despite refusing promotion more than once, regarding himself as unqualified. In 1799, following glowing reports from General Bernadotte, he finally accepted the rank of General of Division. In 1800, Ney and his division played a major role in General Moreau’s victory over the Austrians at Hohenlinden, bringing him to the attention of France’s new First Consul, Napoleon Bonaparte.
When they met in Paris, they warmed to each other; Napoleon entrusted Ney with the delicate task of imposing his ‘Act of Mediation’ on Switzerland, which he carried out efficiently. The same year, Ney married Aglaé-Louise Auguié, a friend of Josephine’s daughter Hortense, drawing him closer to France’s future imperial family.
In 1804, Napoleon proclaimed a new empire, and Ney was made a Marshal. The next year, he led Sixth Corps to war against Austria, accompanied by Colonel Henri Jomini, a Swiss officer and military theorist. Ney recognized Jomini’s talent and helped publish his work. Jomini would win fame as one of the 19th century’s great military thinkers and served Ney well as his chief of staff on several campaigns.
During the advance against the Austrians, Jomini encouraged Ney to ignore orders from Marshal Murat that would have allowed the enemy to escape. Their decision was vindicated when Sixth Corps won a brilliant action at Elchingen, closing the trap on General Mack’s forces at Ulm. Ney’s corps missed the Battle of Austerlitz but was in action against the Prussians the following year.
There had already been signs that Ney’s aggressive instinct could get him into trouble. At the Battle of Jena, Ney ignored his orders and charged straight at the Prussian lines, becoming cut off. His troops had to be rescued by Marshal Lannes’ corps. A furious Napoleon remarked, “Ney knows less about soldiering than the last-joined drummer boy.” Ney was criticized again by Napoleon three months later when his foraging raids into East Prussia appeared to provoke a Russian offensive.
The winter manoeuvring culminated in the horrific Battle of Eylau, which Ney’s corps reached only as darkness fell. That summer, Bennigsen’s Russian army launched a surprise attack, hoping to encircle and destroy Ney’s Sixth Corps. Outnumbered four to one, Ney conducted a brilliant fighting withdrawal and escaped the trap. A week later, Napoleon caught Bennigsen’s army at Friedland. Ney led a crucial attack on the enemy, prompting Napoleon to remark, “That man is a lion.”
Sixth Corps’ onslaught shattered the Russian left, leading to one of Napoleon’s most decisive victories. For all his flaws, Ney proved himself one of Napoleon’s best tactical commanders and was rewarded with the title Duke of Elchingen. In 1808, Ney commanded a corps during the invasion of Spain, spending more than two years in the Iberian Peninsula and finding it a bitter and frustrating experience.
In 1810, he joined Marshal Masséna for the invasion of Portugal but resented being placed under his command. He criticized every decision, creating a tense atmosphere at French headquarters. The French advance on Lisbon halted at the Lines of Torres Vedras. During the subsequent retreat, Ney demonstrated his tactical skills, fighting a series of rearguard actions that kept Wellington’s troops at bay.
Ney’s frustration with what he considered Masséna’s disastrous leadership boiled over into insubordination; he was relieved of command and returned to France. However, he did not remain in disgrace for long. Napoleon knew Ney’s worth in battle and that the army adored him. He was recalled in 1812 with command of Third Corps.
As the Grande Armée advanced deeper into Russia, Ney was always near the action, leading attacks at Krasny and Smolensk, where he was wounded in the neck. Amid the slaughter of Borodino, Ney led his corps in attack after attack on the Russian earthworks. When he was told that Napoleon would not send in his reserves to follow up their hard-won gains, he exploded with anger, expressing his frustration with Napoleon’s leadership.
During the retreat from Moscow, Ney ensured his place among the legends of military history. Just two weeks into the retreat, the Russians routed Davout’s rearguard at Vyazma, and Ney and Third Corps took over. Ney was not only an instinctive tactician but could inspire or motivate other men into extraordinary feats of bravery and endurance.
At Krasny, when the rearguard got cut off from the rest of the army, Ney rejected calls to surrender and led his men in a forced march across enemy territory, crossing the frozen Dnieper River at night and personally pulling men from the river when they fell through the ice. Surrounded by Cossacks and down to 800 fighting men, they formed square and kept moving. Ney was more than a hero to the army; he was its talisman.
News of his escape caused rejoicing throughout the army. Napoleon himself remarked, “What a soldier! The army is full of brave men, but Michel Ney is truly the bravest of the brave.” Ney led the rearguard for the rest of the retreat and was reportedly the last man to cross the Niemen River into Poland, helping many thousands of soldiers return alive.
Ney was rewarded with the title Prince of the Moskva and continued to serve throughout 1813, though his relations with the Emperor and Marshal Berthier were increasingly strained. At Lützen, Ney was moved by the conduct of his young conscripts, who bore the brunt of Blücher’s surprise attack but fought back bravely, helping to win victory.
Napoleon entrusted Ney with command of three army corps—84,000 men. However, the plan for him to flank the enemy at Bautzen went awry due to poorly drafted orders, allowing the Coalition army to escape. Ney fought in the Emperor’s victory at Dresden, but ten days later at Dennewitz, his limitations as an army commander were exposed.
Throwing himself into an attack, he lost control of the battle and was beaten by Bernadotte’s Army of the North. Ney was devastated by his defeat, but Napoleon kept him in command of his northern wing. At the Battle of Leipzig, he commanded the northern sector, holding the line until a shoulder wound on the last day forced his return to France.
He rejoined the army in 1814 and fought in the defense of France, commanding the Young Guard and personally leading a bayonet charge at the Battle of Montmirail. In April, Ney was among the first to confront Napoleon with the reality of his position, forcing his abdication. Ney was celebrated by the restored Bourbon monarchy as France’s greatest soldier but could not hide his contempt for the returning aristocrats.
In February 1815, Napoleon escaped from exile on Elba and landed in France. Ney was horrified by the prospect of civil war and promised the king that he would bring Napoleon back to Paris in an iron cage. However, he soon saw that the army was flocking to Napoleon’s banner. When Napoleon appealed to him directly, Ney made the fateful decision to support the Emperor once more.
When Napoleon advanced into the Netherlands in June to take on Wellington and Blücher’s armies, Ney commanded his left wing but made a series of blunders. Against Wellington’s troops at Quatre Bras, he was too cautious when he held the advantage. Two days later, at Waterloo, Ney was left with much of the tactical handling of the battle, which proved to be a mistake.
On his own initiative, Ney launched a series of mass cavalry attacks too early and failed to coordinate attacks on Wellington’s position until late in the day. He had four horses killed under him and personally led the last, doomed attack by the Imperial Guard. Ney’s courage that day was awe-inspiring, but his decisions contributed to the French defeat.
In the aftermath, Ney spurned several chances to flee France and was arrested for treason by the restored monarchy. A military court refused to pass sentence, so his case went to the Chamber of Peers. With the king’s allies demanding an example be made of Ney, the outcome of his trial was never in doubt. Five of Ney’s fellow Marshals voted for the death penalty.
On December 7, 1815, he was marched into the Luxembourg Gardens in Paris. “Soldiers, when I give the order to fire, fire at the heart,” he told the firing squad. “Wait for the order. It will be my last to you. I protest against my condemnation. I have fought a hundred battles for France, and not one against her.”
Marshal Ney was among the most inspirational battlefield commanders in history: a born soldier and brilliant tactician, unless his fiery temperament got the better of him. He lacked the confidence for high command, but under the Emperor’s supervision, he proved to be one of the Grande Armée’s greatest combat leaders.
**4. Marshal Soult**
Jean-de-Dieu Soult was from a small town in southern France and enlisted in the Régiment Royal at age 16. He became a capable sergeant and, in the build-up to the Revolutionary Wars, joined a new battalion of volunteers as their drill instructor. Soult’s self-confidence and bearing led to his rapid promotion to officer.
The unit went into action against the Prussians in 1793, suffering heavy casualties, though Soult’s conduct was praised. After a spell on the staff of General Hoche, he joined General Lefebvre’s crack vanguard division. Soult learned much from Lefebvre, serving first as his chief of staff and later as his best brigade commander.
Soult’s rise from sergeant to brigadier-general took less than three years. He won a reputation as an organized and decisive commander and brilliant tactician. He also began a long-lasting feud with General Michel Ney. In 1799, Soult established himself as one of France’s best divisional commanders, fighting under Masséna at the Battle of Zurich.
He was then put in charge of three divisions to pursue General Suvarov through the Alps, proving his ability for high command. In his report to Napoleon, Masséna wrote, “for judgment and courage, Soult has scarcely a superior.” The next year, Soult and Masséna were besieged in Genoa. Soult led daring raids on the Austrian lines until he was shot in the knee and captured.
He spent days in agony in a filthy hospital, which may explain Soult’s later reluctance to lead from the front. Upon his return to Paris, Soult received a hero’s welcome from Napoleon. His rewards included an honorary rank as Colonel-General in the Consular Guard and command of troops assembled for Napoleon’s planned invasion of England.
Soult imposed strict discipline and trained his men hard, earning the nickname ‘bras de fer’ or iron-arm. Even Napoleon wondered if he was being too severe, to which Soult replied, “Those that can’t handle what I endure will be left behind. Those that can will be fit to conquer the world.”
In 1804, Napoleon proclaimed his new Empire, and Soult received his Marshal’s baton. The next year, his impeccably-drilled troops became Fourth Corps, the largest corps of the Grande Armée, and marched east to take on the Third Coalition. At Austerlitz, Napoleon entrusted Soult’s corps with the main attack on the enemy center
Napoleon – A French military leader and emperor who rose to prominence during the French Revolution and led several successful campaigns during the Napoleonic Wars. – Napoleon’s strategic brilliance was evident in his swift and decisive victories across Europe, which reshaped the continent’s political landscape.
Marshals – High-ranking officers in the military, often commanding large units or armies, particularly during the Napoleonic Wars. – The marshals of Napoleon’s army were instrumental in executing his complex battle plans and maintaining discipline among the troops.
Military – Relating to the armed forces or to soldiers, arms, or war. – The military strategies employed during World War II have been extensively studied for their innovative use of technology and logistics.
History – The study of past events, particularly in human affairs, often focusing on the analysis of cause and effect. – Understanding the history of ancient civilizations provides valuable insights into the development of modern societies.
Tactics – The art of deploying and directing troops and equipment in battles to achieve short-term objectives. – The tactics used by the Roman legions were highly effective in expanding and securing the empire’s vast territories.
Battles – Large-scale, organized armed conflicts between different military forces. – The Battle of Waterloo marked the end of Napoleon’s rule and had a profound impact on European history.
Leadership – The ability to guide, direct, or influence people, often in a military context, to achieve a common goal. – The leadership qualities of General Eisenhower were crucial in coordinating the Allied invasion of Normandy during World War II.
Revolution – A fundamental and relatively sudden change in political power and political organization, often accompanied by social upheaval. – The Industrial Revolution dramatically transformed economies and societies, leading to significant advancements in technology and industry.
France – A country in Western Europe with a rich history of cultural, political, and military influence, particularly during the Napoleonic era. – France played a pivotal role in the spread of revolutionary ideas across Europe in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
Campaigns – Series of military operations intended to achieve a particular objective within a given time and space. – The campaigns of Alexander the Great are studied for their strategic brilliance and the rapid expansion of his empire.
