Origins & Early Life

Marshal General Jean-de-Dieu Soult, 1st Duke of Dalmatia (English: SOOLT, French: [ʒɑ̃dədjø sult]; 29 March 1769 – 26 November 1851) was a French military commander and statesman. He was a Marshal of the Empire during the Napoleonic Wars, and served three times as President of the Council of Ministers (prime minister) of France. Soult is referred to as one of the outstanding military commanders of the modern era. Son of a country notary from southern France, Soult enlisted in the French Royal Army in 1785 and quickly rose through the ranks during the French Revolution.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

He was promoted to brigade general after distinguishing himself at the Battle of Fleurus in 1794, and by 1799 he was a division general. He fought a drawn battle against equally numbered troops of Alexander Suvorov at Glarus in 1799 and in the same year notably defeated the Austrians under the lead of Friedrich von Hotze at the Linth River as Hotze died at the very beginning of battle leaving his Austrians without organization. In 1804, Napoleon made Soult one of his first eighteen Marshals of the Empire. Soult played a key role in many of Napoleon's campaigns, most notably in the Ulm campaign (e.g., Battle of Memmingen...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

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