The New International Encyclopædia/Vendôme, Louis Joseph

VENDÔME, Louis Joseph, Duke de (1654—1712). A French general, the son of Louis, Duke de Vendôme. He was born in Paris, July 1, 1654 served during the Dutch campaign of 1672, and afterward under Turenne in Germany and Alsace, and under Créqui in Flanders. After the Peace of Nimeguen (1678) he retired to his château of Anet. near Dreux, until the outbreak of war in 1688. He fought under Luxembourg in the Low Countries, and later commanded the left wing of Catinat's army at the battle of Marsaglia (October 4, 1693). In 1695 he was assigned to the head of the army in Catalonia, and achieved a series of brilliant successes, closing with the capture of Barcelona. After the outbreak of the War of the Spanish Succession he succeeded Villeroy in Italy (1702), won the victories of Ustiano and San Vittoria, and compelled the temporarv retirement of Prince Eugene. In 1703 he curried on a successful campaign against the Austrians, and in the summer of 1706 he was recalled to supersede Villeroy in the Low Countries. His quarrels with the Duke of Burgundy, who had received a command under him, led to the defeat of the French at Oudenarde (q.v.). After the capitulation of Lille he was recalled. In 1710 Vendome was sent, at the urgent request of Philip V., to Spain, where the British and Austrians were carrying all before them. His appearance brought together a numerous army of volunteers, and Philip was restored to his capital before the close of the year. Stanhope and the British troops were defeated at Brihuega, December 9tli, and on the following day Starhemberg and the Austrians were routed at Villaviciosa. The King raised his deliverer to the rank of a prince of the blood roval. Vendôme was a great warrior and a man of keen intellect, but indolent and grossly immoral. He died at Vinaroz, Catalonia, June 15, 1712. Saint-Simon, in his Mémoires, gives a highly colored and unfriendly picture of the man. Consult also De Bellerive, Les dernicres campagnes de Louis Joseph de Vendôme (Paris, 1714); Voltaire, Le siecle de Louis XIV.