"The Iron Marshal"

1770 May 10 - Born at Annoux (Burgundy)
1788 February 2 - Commisioned into the Royal Champagne Cavalry
1791 November 8 - Marries Marie-Nicolle Adelaide (nee de Seuguenor, / divorces her January 4, 1794)
1793 July 25 - Promoted general de brigade
1795 September 18 - Taken prisoner at Mannheim (later exchanged)
1799 February 12 - Defeats Hassan Bey at Redecieh in Upper Egypt
1799 July 25 - Present at Aboukir (and captures castle August 2)
1800 March - Captured by Royal Navy en route for France (subsequently freed) 1800 July 3 - Promoted general de division
1801 November 9 - Marries Aimee Leclerc
1804 May 19 - Appointed Marechal d'Empire (13th in seniority)
1805 December 2 - Commands III Corps at Austerlitz
1806 October 14 - Commands III Corps at Auerstadt
1807 February 8 - Commands III Corps at Eylau; slightly wounded
1807 July 15 - Appointed governor general of the Grand Duchy of Warsaw
1808 March 28 - Created Duke of Auerstadt (confirmed by letters patent, July 2)
1809 April 22 - Commands III Corps at Eckmuhl
1809 July 5 and 6 - Commands III Corps at Wagram with distinction
1809 August 15 - Created prince of Eckmuhl (confirmed by letters patent Noevember 28)
1810 January 1 - Appointed to command l'Armii d'Allemagne
1812 June 24 - Enters Russia in Command of I Corps
1812 September 7 - Commands I Corps at Borodino; wounded
1812 October 26 - Placed in command of rear guard of retreating
1812 November 17 - Fights at Krasnoe
1813 March 9 - 19 - Defends Dresden at head of I Corps
1813 May 30 - Assumes command of Hamburg and area
1814 May 27 - Evacuates Hamburg on orders of Louis XVIII; exiled to his estates
1815 March 20 - Appointed minister of war by Napoleon (holds post until July 8)
1815 June 2 - Created a peer of France
1815 June 24 - Appointed military governor of Paris
1815 July 3 - Evacuates Paris (takes command of l'Armee de la Loire, July 5)
1815 July 14 - Resubmits to Louis XVIII; exiled to his estetes
1817 August 27 - Restored to the dignity of marechal de France
1819 March 5 - Readmitted to the French peerage
1823 June 1 - Dies of consumption at Paris

Davout "[He] will have his place in History because of Auerstadt. He also performed well at Eylau, but although urged on at Wagram... [his slowness] was the cause of the failure to conclude the battle on the first day... He also made mistakes at the Moskowa [Borodino]".

by Gipsy