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François de Neufville, duc de Villeroi
French marshal
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François de Neufville, duc de Villeroi (born April 7, 1644, Lyon, Fr.—died July 18, 1730, Paris) was a French courtier, a lifelong favourite of King Louis XIV, who became marshal of France in 1693. His ducal father, Nicolas de Neufville, had been governor (educational supervisor) of the infant Louis XIV and marshal of France from 1646.
François is remembered for his misfortunes in the War of the Spanish Succession, being taken prisoner at Cremona in 1702 and defeated at Ramillies in 1706. Minister of state in 1714 and governor of the infant Louis XV under Louis XIV’s will, he was dismissed in 1722.