List of Marshals of the First French Empire

Unlike the armies of the Ancien Régime and other monarchies, advancement in the Grande Armée was based on proven ability rather than social class or wealth. Napoleon wanted his army to be a meritocracy, where every soldier, no matter how humble of birth, could rise rapidly to the highest levels of command, much as he had done (provided, of course, they did not rise too high or too fast). This was equally applied to the French and foreign officers, and no less than 140 foreigners attained the rank of Général. By and large this goal was achieved. Given the right opportunities to prove themselves, capable men could rise to the top within a few years, whereas in other armies it usually required decades if at all. It was said that even the lowliest private carried a marshal's baton in his knapsack.

Marshals

 * Louis Alexandre Berthier, Prince of Neufchâtel and of Wagram, Duke of Valengin. (1753–1815), Marshal of the Empire in 1804
 * Joachim Murat, Prince d'Empire, Grand Duke of Clèves and Berg, King of Naples (1767–1815), Marshal of the Empire in 1804
 * Bon Adrien Jeannot de Moncey, Duke of Conégliano (1754–1842), Marshal of the Empire in 1804
 * Jean-Baptiste Jourdan, Count Jourdan (1762–1833), Marshal of the Empire in 1804
 * André Masséna, Duke of Rivoli, Prince of Essling (1758–1817), Marshal of the Empire in 1804
 * Charles Pierre François Augereau, Duke of Castiglione (1757–1816), Marshal of the Empire in 1804
 * Jean Baptiste Jules Bernadotte, Prince of Ponte Corvo, Marshal of the Empire in 1804
 * Guillaume Marie Anne Brune, Count Brune (1763–1815), Marshal of the Empire in 1804
 * Jean de Dieu Soult, Duke of Dalmatie (1769–1851), Marshal of the Empire in 1804, Marshal General of France in 1847
 * Jean Lannes, Duke of Montebello (1769–1809), Marshal of the Empire in 1804
 * Édouard Adolphe Casimir Joseph Mortier, Duke of Trévise (1768–1835), Marshal of the Empire in 1804
 * Michel Ney, Duke of Elchingen, Prince of Moscow (1769–1815), Marshal of the Empire in 1804
 * Louis Nicolas Davout, Duke of Auerstaedt, Prince of Eckmühl (1770–1823), Marshal of the Empire in 1804
 * Jean-Baptiste Bessières, Duke of Istria (1768–1813), Marshal of the Empire in 1804
 * François Christophe de Kellermann, Duke of Valmy (1737–1820), Marshal of the Empire in 1804 (Honorary)
 * François Joseph Lefebvre, Duke of Dantzig (1755–1820), Marshal of the Empire in 1804 (Honorary)
 * Dominique Catherine de Pérignon, Marquis of Grenade (1754–1818), Marshal of the Empire in 1804 (Honorary)
 * Jean-Mathieu-Philibert Sérurier, Count Sérurier (1742–1819), Marshal of the Empire in 1804 (Honorary)
 * Claude Victor, Duke of Bellune (1764–1841), Marshal of the Empire in 1807
 * Étienne-Jacques-Joseph-Alexandre MacDonald, Duke of Tarento (1765–1840), Marshal of the Empire in 1809
 * Nicolas Oudinot, Duke of Reggio (1767–1847), Marshal of the Empire in 1809
 * Auguste Marmont, Duke of Ragusa (1774–1852), Marshal of the Empire in 1809
 * Louis Gabriel Suchet, Duke of Albufera (1770–1826), Marshal of the Empire in 1811
 * Laurent, Marquis de Gouvion Saint-Cyr, Marquis of Gouvion-Saint-Cyr (1764–1830), Marshal of the Empire in 1812
 * Józef Antoni Poniatowski, Prince Poniatowski (1763–1813), Marshal of the Empire in 1813
 * Emmanuel, marquis de Grouchy, (1766–1847), Marshal of the Empire in 1815