Lannes was possibly Napoleon's favourite Marshal, as he has been quoted as missing Lannes the most, following the Marshal's death.

Lannes was an ideal vanguard commander as he had the aggression to pursue his opponent, the wisdom to hold back when necessary and fight delaying actions as his peers rushed to the field of battle, and the generalship to beat his opponents on the field. Again a brave and inspiring leader for the men under his stewardship.

A good Marshal, who's finest moment must have been at Austerlitz wher his three divisions bore the brunt of the early Russian and Austrian assaults in the centre and centre-right, before he advanced and captured the central plateau.

An all-rounder with excellent tactical skills, a capable leader of men, and a reasonable stragtegist.

Probably the most able field commander of the age, bar Napoleon.

Davout was extremly competant and won several battles independantly of Napoleon's presence.

At Austerlitz it was his Corps rapid marching that enabled them to close in on the Allied forces, a feat that could only have been achieved by the men being inspired by the knowledge of their commander's care of them.

At Auderstadt he beat the bulk of the Prussian army with just his Corps, whilst Napoleon dealt with the smaller of the Prussian forces.

In the 100 days campaign leading upto Waterloo, Napoleon made a huge flaw in putting Davout in a wasteful ministerial role, and Soult in the ill-advised role of Chief of Staff.

Davout or Soult leading the forces entrusted to Grouchy or Ney during the campaign would have been far more suitable, and who knows, the course of history may have been different as a result.

The big man himself!!!

Probably one of the most competant field ccomanders ever, with lightning quick assesment of every situation he faced, and a gift for generating loyalty from his men and leading armies to victory all over Europe. Undefeated in open battle for more than 15 years,till the very late days of his reign(s)where the tide had turned.

His one weakness was his ambition and vanity that lead him too far too soon. The invasion of Russia and Spain were steps that lead to his downfall. One man can not fight every battle all over Europe simultaniously.

"The Bravest of the Brave"

Ney was indeed a brave dashing Marshal, and lead attacks personally on hundreds of occasions. At Waterloo several horses were shot from under him, as he lead the futile cavalry charges against the British squares.

Ney was an able general as well as a brave one, though he was not as gifted as Davout or Lannes, he made up for it in his inspiring leadership and loyalty to the Emperor.