Military career Jean-de-Dieu Soult

1 military career

1.1 revolutionary wars
1.2 marshal of empire
1.3 peninsular war
1.4 in germany , defending southern france
1.5 waterloo campaign

military career

well-educated, soult intended become lawyer, father s death when still boy made necessary him seek employment, , in 1785 enlisted private in french infantry.

the revolutionary wars

portrait of jean-de-dieu soult (1800s)

soult s superior education ensured promotion rank of sergeant after 6 years service, , in july 1791 became instructor first battalion of volunteers of bas-rhin. serving in battalion in 1792. 1794, adjutant-general (with rank of chef de brigade). after battle of fleurus of 1794, in distinguished himself coolness, promoted brigadier general representatives on mission.

for next 5 years soult employed in germany under jourdan, moreau, kléber , lefebvre, , in 1799 promoted general of division , ordered proceed switzerland. @ time laid foundations of military fame; particularly distinguished himself in masséna s great swiss campaign, , @ second battle of zurich. accompanied masséna genoa, , acted principal lieutenant throughout protracted siege of city, during operated separate force outside city walls. wounded , taken prisoner @ monte cretto on 13 april 1800.

marshal of empire

the victory of marengo restored freedom, , soult received command of southern part of kingdom of naples. in 1802 appointed 1 of 4 generals commanding consular guard. though 1 of generals had served under moreau, , therefore, rule, disliked napoléon bonaparte, soult had wisdom show devotion ruling power. in consequence appointed in august 1803 commander-in-chief of camp of boulogne, , in may 1804 made 1 of first marshals of empire. commanded corps in advance on ulm, , @ austerlitz led decisive attack on allied centre.

soult played great part in many of famous battles of grande armée, including battle of austerlitz in 1805 , battle of jena in 1806. however, not present @ battle of friedland because on same day conquering königsberg. after conclusion of peace of tilsit, returned france , in 1808 anointed napoléon first duke of dalmatia (french: duc de dalmatie). awarding of honour displeased him, felt title should have been duke of austerlitz, title napoléon had reserved himself. in following year, soult appointed command of ii corps of army napoléon intended conquer spain. after winning battle of gamonal, soult detailed emperor pursue lieutenant-general sir john moore s british army. @ battle of coruña, @ british general killed, duke of dalmatia defeated , british escaped sea.

the peninsular war

soult @ first battle of porto

for next 4 years soult remained in spain engaged in peninsular war. in 1809, invaded portugal , took oporto, isolated general silveira s strategy of contention. busying himself political settlement of conquests in french interests and, hoped, own ultimate benefit possible candidate portuguese throne, attracted hatred of republican officers in army. unable move, driven portugal in second battle of porto lieutenant-general sir arthur wellesley (later created duke of wellington), making painful , disastrous retreat on mountains, pursued beresford , silveira. after battle of talavera (1809) made chief-of-staff of french troops in spain extended powers, , on 19 november 1809, won great victory @ battle of ocana.

a corps commander during campaigns of 1805–1807, soult best known prominent part played in peninsular war in spain , portugal.

in 1810 invaded andalusia, overran. however, because turned seize seville, capture of cádiz eluded him. said, give me seville , answer cádiz. led prolonged , futile siege of cadiz, strategic disaster french. in 1811 marched north extremadura , took badajoz. when anglo-portuguese army laid siege city marched rescue, , fought , won famous , bloody battle of albuera on 16 may.

in 1812, after wellington s great victory of salamanca, soult obliged evacuate andalusia. in subsequent siege of burgos campaign, soult able drive wellington s anglo-allied army salamanca. there, duke of dalmatia, soult known, failed attack lord wellington despite 80,000 65,000 superiority of numbers, , british army retired portuguese frontier. after, recalled spain @ request of joseph bonaparte (who had been installed brother king joseph of spain) whom, other marshals, had disagreed.

in germany , defending southern france

in march 1813 soult assumed command of iv corps of grande armée , commanded centre @ lützen , bautzen, sent, unlimited powers, south of france repair damage done defeat of vitoria. soult s credit able reorganise demoralised french forces.

his last offensives spain turned wellington in battle of pyrenees (sorauren) , freire s spaniards @ san marcial. pursued onto french soil, soult maneuvered out of several positions @ nivelle, nive, , orthez, before suffering technically defeat @ wellington s hands @ battle of toulouse. nevertheless inflicted severe casualties on wellington , able stop him trapping french forces.

waterloo campaign

after first abdication of napoléon (1814), declared himself royalist, received order of st. louis, , acted minister of war 3 december 1814 11 march 1815. when napoléon returned elba, soult @ once declared himself bonapartist, made peer of france , acted chief of staff emperor during waterloo campaign, in role distinguished himself far less had done commander of over-matched army.

in book, waterloo: history of 4 days, 3 armies , 3 battles, bernard cornwell summarizes opinions of several historians soult s presence in army of north 1 of several factors contributing napoleon s defeat, because of animosity between him , marshall ney, other senior commander, , because, in spite of experience soldier, soult lacked predecessor marshal berthier s administrative skills. glaring instance of written order, according napoleon s instructions, marshal grouchy position force on british army s left flank, prevent reinforcement prussian allies. cornwell decries wording of soult s order impenetrable nonsense, , grouchy misinterpreted order , instead marched against prussian rearguard @ wavre.