Napoleon was the commander of the French army.
The Grande Armée ( [ ɡʀɑ̃d aʀme ] ; French for Great Army ) was the army commanded by Napoleon during the Napoleonic Wars . Napoleon Bonaparte ( [ nəˈpoʊliən_ˈboʊnəpɑrt ] [ napɔleɔ̃ bɔnapaʁt ] ; 15 August 1769 -- 5 May 1821 ) was a French military and political leader who rose to prominence during the French Revolution and led several successful campaigns during the French Revolutionary Wars . Napoleon quickly defeated Prussia at the battles of Jena and Auerstedt , then marched the Grand Army deep into Eastern Europe and annihilated the Russians in June 1807 at the Battle of Friedland .