Napoleon's Marshals

Military honours and personal ambition shape R. P. Dunn-Pattison's portraits of Napoleon's commanders. Published in 1909, the book devotes separate chapters to marshals including Berthier, Murat, Ney and Davout. The introduction presents their appointments as part of Napoleon's effort to secure his own authority. Experience, political allegiance and devotion to the emperor all enter its explanation of who received the rank and why.

Davout's account brings those questions into the practical business of command. At Hamburg, he waits for official confirmation of the Empire's fall before relinquishing his command, then faces charges from the restored monarchy. When Napoleon returns from Elba, Davout accepts the role of Minister of War and works to rebuild an army lacking men, horses, guns and supplies. These biographies offer readers a way to examine military careers through the rewards, obligations and divided loyalties that accompanied service under Napoleon.