François de Neufville, duc de Villeroy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
François de Neufville
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| Duke of Villeroy | |
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Portrait by Caminade
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| Full name |
François de Neufville
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| Born | 7 April 1644 Lyon, France |
| Died | 18 July 1730 (aged 86) Hôtel de Villeroy, Paris, France |
| Spouse(s) | Marguerite Marie de Cossé |
| Father | Nicolas de Neufville, Marquis of Villeroy |
| Mother | Jeanne Angélique Roque de Varengeville |
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François de Neufville, Duke of Villeroy (born April 7, 1644 – died July 18, 1730) was an important French nobleman and army leader. He lived during the time of King Louis XIV, one of France's most famous kings. Villeroy was a close friend of the king and served him in many ways, both in the army and at court.
Contents
A Life of Service: François de Villeroy
Early Life and Friendship with the King
François de Neufville was born in Lyon, France. His family, the Neufville de Villeroy, was very important. They had become well-known during the reign of King Charles IX. François's father, Nicolas V de Neufville, was a Marshal of France. He was also the governor for the young King Louis XIV. Later, King Louis XIV made Nicolas a duke.
François grew up very close to King Louis XIV. He was part of the king's inner circle of friends. As a child, he played with Louis XIV and his younger brother, Philippe. They often played at the Palais Royal, where the king lived. They also played at the nearby Hôtel de Villeroy, which was François's home. Even though François was six years younger than the king, they were good friends. Louis XIV seemed to enjoy being a protector to the younger boy.
Military Career and Challenges
Because he was a close friend of the king, Villeroy was chosen for important roles in the army. He was a skilled courtier and a brave man. In 1693, even without leading many big battles, he was made a Marshal of France. This was a very high military rank.
In 1695, Villeroy took command of the French army in Flanders. This was during the War of the Grand Alliance. He faced William III, the King of England. Villeroy ordered the bombardment of Brussels in 1695. This event led to the city being rebuilt with the beautiful, unified style you can see today.
Later, in 1701, Villeroy was sent to Italy during the War of the Spanish Succession. He was defeated by Prince Eugene of Savoy at the Battle of Chiari. In February 1702, he was captured at the Battle of Cremona.
In the years that followed, he fought against the famous Duke of Marlborough in the Low Countries. Marlborough was a very strong opponent. In 1706, Marlborough attacked Villeroy's army and completely defeated him at the Battle of Ramillies. King Louis XIV tried to comfort his old friend. He told Villeroy, "At our age, one is no longer lucky." After this defeat, Louis XIV replaced Villeroy as army commander.
Life at Court and Later Years
After his military commands, Villeroy lived as a courtier. He stayed friends with King Louis XIV. He was sometimes suspected of being involved in plots, but his friendship with the king remained strong.
After Louis XIV died, France was ruled by a regent, Philippe d'Orléans, because the new king, Louis XV, was a child. Villeroy became the governor for the young King Louis XV. He held several other important positions between 1717 and 1722. However, he later lost favor with the regent. He was sent to be governor of Lyon, which was like being sent away from the main court.
When Louis XV became old enough to rule on his own, he brought Villeroy back into important roles. François de Neufville, Duke of Villeroy, died in Paris in 1730.
Family Life
François de Neufville married Marguerite Marie de Cossé in 1662. They had seven children together. Their eldest son, Louis Nicolas de Neufville, became the next Duke of Villeroy. One of their sons, François Paul de Neufville, became the Archbishop of Lyon. Two of their daughters became nuns.
Images for kids
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Portrait of François de Neufville, Duke of Villeroy.
See also
In Spanish: François de Neufville de Villeroy para niños
