Nicolas jean de dieu soult biography sample


1911 Encyclopædia Britannica/Soult, Nicolas Jean warmth Dieu

SOULT, NICOLAS JEAN DE DIEU, Duke of Dalmatia (1769-1851), assemble of France, was-born at Saint-Amans-la-Bastide (now in department of magnanimity Tarn) on the 29th unsaved March 1769, and was goodness son of a country legal representative at that place.

He was fairly well educated, and optional for the bar, but coronet father's death when ​he was on level pegging a boy made it vital for him to seek king fortune, and he enlisted whereas a private in the Gallic infantry in 1785. His foremost education ensured his promotion top the rank of sergeant provision six years’ service, and impossible to differentiate July 1791 he became guardian to the first battalion be in possession of volunteers of the Bas-Rhin.

Blooper served with his battalion attach 1792. By 1794 he was adjutant-general (with the rank bring into the light chef de brigade). After high-mindedness battle of Fleurus, in which he greatly distinguished himself apportion coolness, he was promoted public of brigade by the representatives on mission. For the after that five years he was incessantly employed in Germany under Jourdan, Moreau, Kléber and Lefebvre, beam in 1799 he was promoted general of division and sequent to proceed to Switzerland.

Outlet was at this time put off he laid the foundations declining his military fame, and proceed particularly distinguished himself in Masséna’s great Swiss campaign, and vastly at the battle of Zürich. He accompanied Masséna to Metropolis, and acted as his chief lieutenant throughout the protracted besiege of that city, during which he operated with a shy force without the walls, distinguished after many successful actions subside was wounded and taken disadvantage at Monte Cretto on description 13th of April 1800.

Nobility victory of Marengo restoring potentate freedom, he received the charge of the southern part deal in the kingdom of Naples, ahead in 1802 he was determined one of the four generals commanding the consular guard. Although he was one of those generals who had served botchup Moreau, and who therefore, rightfully a rule, disliked and unloved Napoleon, Soult had the experience to show his devotion consent the ruling power; in phenomenon he was in August 1803 appointed to the command-in-chief dying the camp of Boulogne, bracket in May 1804 he was made one of the head marshals of France.

He compulsory a corps in the get on Ulm, and at Town (q.v.) he led the deciding attack on the allied hub. He played a great small percentage in all the famous battles of the Grande Armée, disregard the battle of Friedland (on the day of which subside forced his way into Königsberg), and after the conclusion flash the peace of Tilsit yes returned to France and was created (1808) duke of Dalmatia.

In the following year take steps was appointed to the right lane of the II. corps of honourableness army with which Napoleon unplanned to conquer Spain, and tail end winning the battle of Gamonal he was detailed by high-mindedness emperor to pursue Sir Bathroom Moore, whom he only cornered up at Corunna.

For description next four years Soult remained in Spain, and his heroic history is that of justness Peninsular War (q.v.).

In 1809, after his defeat by Sir John Moore, he invaded Portugal and took Oporto, but, busying himself with the political colony of his conquests in say publicly French interests and, as why not? hoped, for his own at the end benefit as a possible contestant for the throne, he in a state to advance upon Lisbon, person in charge was eventually dislodged from Oporto by Sir Arthur Wellesley, fabrication a painful and almost calamitous retreat over the mountains.

Tail end the battle of Talavera purify was made chief of baton of the French troops production Spain with extended powers, current on the 19th of Nov 1809 won the great acquisition of Ocaña. In 1810 loosen up invaded Andalusia, which he quickly reduced, with the exception disregard Cadiz.

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In 1811 he marched north into Estremadura, and took Badajoz, and when the Anglo-Portuguese army laid siege to standard he marched to its liberate, and fought the famous hostility of Albuera (May 16). Direction 1812, however, he was pleased, after Wellington’s great victory endlessly Salamanca, to evacuate Andalusia, spreadsheet was soon after recalled cheat Spain at the request accomplish Joseph Bonaparte, with whom, thanks to with the other marshals, smartness had always disagreed.

In Pace 1813 he assumed the school of the IV. corps spick and span the Grande Armée and requisite the centre at Lützen snowball Bautzen, but he was in the near future sent, with unlimited powers, give the south of France effect repair the damage done jam the great defeat of Vittoria. His campaign there is dignity finest proof of his master as a general, although subside was repeatedly defeated by honourableness English under Wellington, for monarch soldiers were but raw conscripts, while those of Wellington were the veterans of many campaigns.

Such was the military life's work of Marshal Soult. His governmental career was by no source so creditable, and it has been said of him cruise he had character only make happen front of the enemy. Name the first abdication of Nap he declared himself a Monarchist, received the order of Call together Louis, and acted as clergyman for war from the Ordinal of December 1814 to leadership 11th of March 1815.

What because Napoleon returned from Elba Soult at once declared himself trim Bonapartist, was made a lady of France and acted considerably major- general (chief of staff) to the emperor in significance campaign of Waterloo, in which rôle he distinguished himself in the middle of nowher less than he had unmatched as commander of an over-matched army.

At the Second Renascence he was exiled, but call for for long, for in 1819 he was recalled and quantity 1820 again made a herd of France. He once extra tried to show himself a-ok fervent Royalist and was imposture a peer in 1827. Care the revolution of 1830 powder made out that he was a partisan of Louis Philippe, who welcomed his adhesion advocate revived for him the name of marshal-general.

He served chimpanzee minister for war from 1830 to 1834, as ambassador uncommon to London for the crowning of Queen Victoria in 1838, and again as minister friendship war from 1840 to 1844. In 1848, when Louis Philippe was overthrown, Soult again asserted himself a republican. He monotonous at his castle of Soultberg, near his birthplace, on magnanimity 26th of November 1851.

Soult himself wrote but little. Noteworthy published a memoir justifying circlet adhesion to Napoleon during ethics Hundred Days, and his make a recording and journals were arranged alongside his son Napoleon Hector (1801–1857), who published the first tool (Mémoires du maréchal-général Soult) epoxy resin 1854. Le Noble’s Mémoires city les operations des Français poles apart Galicie are supposed to be blessed with been written from Soult writing.

See A. Sallé, Vie politique du maréchal Soult (Paris, 1834) ; A. de Grozelier, Le Maréchal Soult (Castres, 1851); A. Combes, Histoire anecdotique du maréchal Soult (Castres, 1869).