Louis-Nicolas d'Avout (May 10, 1770 – June 1, 1823), better known as Davout, 1st Duke of Auerstaedt, 1st Prince of Eckmühl, is a French general who is Marshal of the Empire during the Napoleonic era.

His talent for war along with his reputation as a stern disciplinarian earns him the title "The Iron Marshal".

He is ranked along with Masséna and Lannes as one of Napoleon's finest commanders.

His loyalty and obedience to Napoleon are absolute.

During his lifetime, Davout's name is commonly spelled Davoust, which is how it appears on the Arc de Triomphe and in much of the correspondence between Napoleon and his generals