Jean Lannes (1769 - 1809) was a French Marshal and military commander of the Napoleonic Wars. He was one of the most talented and courageous Generals that served in Napoleon Bonaparte's Great Army. He was born in Gascony, southern France, on April 10, 1769, to Jean Lannes Sr., a farmer, and Jeannette Lannes, a landowner.
He received little education as he attended only primary school. In 1792, Jean Lannes voluntary joined the Revolutionary Army, which had been formed during the French Revolution. From Sergeant, he was raised to the rank of officer (second lieutenant) due to the bravery he had shown on the battlefield. Although he was discharged from the army in 1795 by the Thermidorian Convention that was set up after the fall of Robespierre, he would join the French Army of the Italian Campaign, under Napoleon Bonaparte.
Because he distinguished himself in combat, Napoleon promoted Jean Lannes to Brigadier General. In 1799, he became commander of the consular guard. In 1800, he commanded the vanguard of the French Italian Army, defeating the Austrian forces at Montebello. In 1805, he was the commander of the left wing of Napoleon's Great Army in the Battle of Austerlitz, and commander of the center in the Battle of Jena in 1806.
Between 1808 and 1809, Jean Lannes was commander of the French forces in Spain, leading the siege and storm of Zaragoza. During the War of the Fifth Coalition, he was the head of the French Army vanguard and courageously led the charge that drove the Austrian forces, under Rosenberg, out of the town of Essling during the Battle of Aspern-Essling. Although he resisted tenaciously, he was gravely wounded, and he died from his battle wounds on May 31, 1809.
Above, Marshal Jean Lannes when he still was lieutenant.