Marshal of France, Duke of Auerstedt, Prince Ekmulsky, French Minister of War, participant in the revolutionary and Napoleonic wars Louis-Nicolas Davout was born on May 10, 1770 in the family castle of Anna in Burgundy. He belonged to an old, poor Burgundian noble family, known since the 13th century.
In 1779, Louis-Nicolas was sent to the royal military school in the French city of Auxerre.
In 1788, after graduating from the Royal Military School of Paris, Davout entered the military service as a second lieutenant of the Champagne Cavalry Regiment.
In 1789, during the Great french revolution, Louis-Nicolas Davout went over to the side of the rebels.
In 1794-1797, Davout served in the Army of the Rhine with the rank of brigadier general.
In 1798-1799 he participated in the Egyptian expedition of Napoleon Bonaparte (1798-1801), commanded the cavalry, active actions played important role in the battles for Cape Abukir (1799).
In 1800-1801, Davout commanded the cavalry of the Italian army of Napoleon Bonaparte.
In 1804, after the coronation of Napoleon, he became Marshal of France.
Davout's military talent was clearly manifested in the Russian-Austrian-French campaign of 1805-1807, when he commanded the elite 3rd Corps. French army. His name is associated with the French victories at Ulm (now a city in Germany) and (now Czech city Slavkov-u-Brna) in 1805. In 1806, Davout's corps of 26,000 defeated twice his superior army of the Duke of Brunswick at Auerstedt (now a city in Germany). In 1807, troops under the command of Davout participated in (now the city of Bagrationovsk Kaliningrad region RF).
In 1813, Davout fought near Leipzig (a city in Germany), then led the defense of Hamburg (a city in Germany) and capitulated only after Napoleon abdicated in 1814.
During the "hundred days" (the period between the first and second restoration of the Bourbon dynasty), Davout again stood under the banner of Napoleon, was appointed minister of war, commanded the troops of the Paris district.
After the defeat at Waterloo (now locality in Belgium) Louis-Nicolas Davout signed the surrender of Paris on July 3, 1815, and led the remnants of Napoleon's army in the Loire Valley until peace terms were agreed.
Davout did not recognize the legitimacy of the restoration of the Bourbon dynasty, for which the king deprived him of his ranks and titles. Only in August 1817 did a reconciliation take place, the marshal was forgiven and received access to the court of Louis XVIII.
In 1819, Davout received the peerage of France.
On June 1, 1823, Louis-Nicolas Davout died in his Parisian mansion on the Rue Saint-Dominique of pulmonary tuberculosis.
Marshal Davout was characterized by personal courage and fearlessness in attack, complete self-control and endurance in moments of danger, perseverance and steadfastness in defense.
He was awarded many awards from France and other states. In 1803, Davout became a legionnaire, and in 1804 - the highest officer of the French Legion of Honor. In 1805, the marshal was awarded the badge of the Great Eagle of the Order of the Legion of Honor. He was awarded the Grand Cross of the Portuguese Order of Christ (1806), the Grand Cross of the Saxon Order of St. Henry (1808), the Grand Cross of the Order of the Duchy of Warsaw "Virtuti Militari" (1809), the Grand Cross of the Hungarian Order of St. Stephen (1810). Davout was a holder of the Italian Order of the Iron Crown (1807), the French Order of St. Louis (1819).
Louis-Nicolas Davout was married to Adelaide Seguenot (1768-1795). At the choice of Napoleon, Davout remarried the sister of Bonaparte's son-in-law, Louise-Emoy-Julie Leclerc (1782-1868). There were eight children in the family - four of them died in infancy, the beloved daughter Josephine (1805-1821) died at the age of 16, the son Napoleon-Louis (1811-1853), as well as the daughters Adele (1807-1885) and Adelaide Louise ( 1815-1892).
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