Louis Joseph, 3rd Duke of Vendôme, was born in 1654 and became a soldier while still an adolescent. He rose rapidly in the French army, not only because of his distinguished ancestry, but also because he proved to be a brave and resourceful officer in Louis XIV's wars against the Dutch.

He was given his first major independent command in Spain in 1695, and was victorious on several fields. Among the opponents he faced during the War of Spanish Succession was Prince Eugene of Savoy, often considered the greatest soldier of the age, whom he defeated at Cassano. Transferred to the Low Countries in 1703, Vendôme was subordinated to another general and witnessed the disastrous French defeat at Oudenarde. He retired for a while, but was later ordered to command another French army in Spain, and won a great victory at Villaviciosa. Marshal Vendôme died in 1712 while still campaining in Spain.