Sullivan, Martin Napoleon's undefeated Marshal. Louis Davout and the Art of Leadership

The war of 1809 between France and Habsburg Austria, which culminated in the gigantic Battle of Wagram, has often been described as Napoleon's last successful campaign. Napoleon later said that the manoeuvres and actions of the French army and its German allies in the first two weeks of this conflict were among the most brilliant and skilful of his entire career. But things could have gone very differently. A series of miscalculations, mistakes and poor communication both before Austria's declaration of war and in the first days of hostilities could have led to a major setback, if not disaster, for the French Emperor. That this was not the case is due in large part to the decisions and actions of Marshal Louis Davout, the so-called 'Iron Marshal'. This is the first English study of Marshal Davout's command and leadership in over 50 years. Little known outside France, Louis Davout was one of the best generals in Napoleon's army, as evidenced by his comprehensive defeat of the main Prussian force at Auerstedt in October 1806. A tough, even stern disciplinarian, an utterly ruthless opponent on the battlefield, Davout was also a loving family man who meticulously looked after the health and welfare of his troops and was able to retain the loyalty of his divisional commanders longer than others. In this new study, Martin Sullivan describes in detail the decision-making processes and actions of Marshal Davout and uses this analysis to illustrate leadership concepts and theories that are also relevant to today's world. Focusing on the opening phase of the Wagram Campaign, he examines in detail the decisions and actions of the participants, Davout, his opponent the Archduke Charles, and Napoleon himself. Through this method, the art of leadership can be practised in the heat of an intense and deadly conflict.