Massena first entered the army at seventeen, but soon married a rich wife, and retired to civil life. He returned to the army at the opening of the revolution, and in two years, before the age of thirty-five, was promoted to the rank of general of division. He immediately acquired that high reputation which he sustained through a long career of military glory. Soult became a sub-lieutenant at twenty-two, a captain at twenty-four; the following year he passed through the several grades of _chef-de-bataillon_, colonel, and general of brigade, and became general of division at twenty-nine. Davoust was a sub-lieutenant at seventeen, a general of brigade at twenty-three, and general of division at twenty-five. Eugene Beauharnais entered the army at a very early age. He became _chef-de-bataillon_ at nineteen, colonel at twenty-one, general of brigade at twenty-three, and Viceroy of Italy at twenty-five. He soon proved himself one of Napoleon's ablest generals. 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.