Soult, Nicolas Jean de Dieu 1769-1851
French general

Born in Saint-Amans-la-Bastide, Tarn, he was made general of division (April 1799) by Andr� Mass�na, who owed him much of the credit for his Swiss and Italian campaigns. In 1804 Soult was appointed a Marshal of France by Napoleon I. He led the right wing in the campaign that closed at Austerlitz, and fought in the Prussian and Russian campaigns (1806-07). In Spain he pursued the retreating British and, though repulsed at La Coru�a, forced them to evacuate the country. He then conquered Portugal, governing it until the arrival of the Duke of Wellington at Coimbra forced him to retreat to Galicia. In 1809-10, as Commander-in-Chief in Spain, he overran Andalusia, but was defeated by William Beresford at Albuera (1811). After the advance of the British on Madrid, Soult, vexed at the obstinacy of Joseph Bonaparte and the rejection of his plans, demanded his recall; but Napoleon, after Vitoria, sent him back to Spain. He neutralized the strategy of Wellington, but was defeated at Orthez and Toulouse. He turned a Royalist after Napoleon's abdication, but joined him again on his return from Elba and was made Chief of Staff. After Waterloo he rallied the wreck of the army at Laon, but agreed with Lazare Carnot as to the uselessness of further resistance. He was banished until 1819, when he was gradually restored to all his honours.

Bibliography: Pater Hayman, Soult: Napoleon's Much Maligned Marshal (1990)