Villars, Claude Louis Hector, Duc de (1653–1734)

French soldier. He was renowned for saving his country from humiliation in the War of the Spanish Succession, through his victory at the battle of Denain in July 1712. Here, while in command of the last army that France could put in the field, he repelled British and Dutch forces under Albemarle and Prince Eugène of Savoy. In 1714, he negotiated the Treaty of Rastatt that concluded the war.

Villars was born at Moulins, served in the third Dutch war (1672–78), and also helped the Elector of Bavaria against the Turks. He began the War of the Spanish Succession by defeating the Margrave of Baden at Friedlingen. In 1709 he was sent to command the main army opposing Eugène and Marlborough on the northern frontier, but was wounded at the battle of Malplaquet. In his eighties, he returned to command an army at the beginning of the War of the Polish Succession.