At twenty-eight he commanded the army of Italy, and at thirty-one gained great glory in the Russian campaign, at the head of the fourth _corps d'armee._ Gouvion-Saint-Cyr enured the army at the beginning of the Revolution, and passing rapidly through the lower grades, became a general of brigade at twenty-nine, and a general of division at thirty.
Suchet became a _chef-de-bataillon_ at twenty, general of brigade at twenty-five, major-general of Brune's army at twenty-seven, and general of division and of a _corps d'armee_ at twenty-eight.
Oudinot became a captain at twenty-three, _chef-de-bataillon_ at twenty-four, general of brigade at twenty-five, and general of division at twenty-eight.
Ney was a captain at twenty-three, adjutant-general at twenty-six, general of brigade at twenty-seven, and general of division at twenty-nine.
Lannes was a colonel at twenty-seven, general of brigade at twenty-eight, and very soon after general of division.
Joubert became adjutant-general at twenty-five, general of brigade at twenty-six, general of division at twenty-eight, and general-in-chief of the army of Italy at twenty-nine.

He died at thirty.
Victor was a _chef-de-bataillon_ at twenty-seven, general of brigade at twenty-nine, and general of division at thirty-two.
Murat was a lieutenant at twenty, and passing rapidly through the lower grades, he became a general of brigade at twenty-five, and a general of division at twenty-seven.
Mortier was a captain at twenty-three, adjutant-general at twenty-five, general of brigade at thirty, and general of division at thirty-one.
Macdonald was a colonel at twenty-seven, a general of brigade at twenty-seven, and a general of division at thirty.
Marmont was a captain at twenty-one, _chef-de-bataillon_ at twenty-two, general of brigade at twenty-four, inspector general at twenty-seven, and general-in-chief of an army at thirty-two.
Bernadotte was a colonel at twenty-eight, general of brigade at twenty-nine, and general of division at thirty.
Lefebvre was made a captain at the organization of the army in 1793; he became a general of brigade at thirty-eight, and general of division at thirty-nine.
Bessieres entered the army at twenty-six, became a colonel at thirty, general of brigade at thirty-two, and general of division at thirty-four.

He died at forty-seven.
Duroc was a captain at twenty-three, _chef-de-bataillon_ at twenty-six, colonel and _chef-de-brigade_ at twenty-seven, and general of division at thirty.

He died at forty-one.
This list might be still further extended with the same results, but names enough have been given to show that the generals who assisted Napoleon in his immortal campaigns were all, with scarcely an exception, _young men_, still burning with the fires of youthful ardor and enthusiasm.

The grade of marshal was not created till after Napoleon became emperor.