VENDOME (vong-domi), a town of France; in the department of Loir-et Cher; on the Loir; 42 miles N. N. E. of Tours and 111 S. W. of Paris. Above it rise the picturesque ruins of the castle of the Dukes of Vendome, destroyed at the Revolution, and within the town is a fine 15th-century abbey church, with early Gothic tower and spire. Gloves and paper are made. Pop. about 10,000.
VENDoME, an ancient countship of France; erected into a duchy by Francis I., for behoof of Charles de Bourbon, through whom it fell to his grandson, Henry IV., who again conferred it on Cesar, the eldest of his sons, by Gabrielle d'Estrees. Cesar's eldest son, Louis, Duke of Vendome, married Laura Mancini, one of Mazarin's nieces, and had by her three sons, the eldest of whom was the famous soldier, Louis-Joseph, Duke of Vendome, called till his father's death the Due de Penthievre. He was born in Paris, July 1, 1654, and saw his first service in the Dutch campaign of 1672. He next served with distinction under Turenne in Germany and Alsace, again in the Low Countries under Luxembourg, in Italy under Chtinat, and received in 1695 the command of the army in Cata lonia. He shook off his indolence, and closed a series of brilliant successes by the capture of Barcelona (1697). After
five years of sloth and sensuality he su perseded Villeroi in Italy, much to the delight of the soldiers. He fought an undecided battle with Prince Eugene at Luzzara (Aug. 15), then burst into the Tyrol, returning to Italy to check the united Savoyards and Austrians. On Aug. 16, 1705, he fought a second in decisive battle with Prince Eugene at Cassano, and at Calcinato he crushed the Austrians (April 19, 1706). That sum mer he was recalled to supersede Villeroi in the Low Countries under nominal com mand of the Duke of Burgundy. The defeat at Oudenarde (July 11, 1708) cost him his command, but in 1710 he was sent to Spain to aid Philip V. His ap pearance turned the tide of disaster; he brought the king back to Madrid, and defeated the English at Brihuega, and next day the Austrians at Villaviciosa. After a month of gluttony beyond even his wont, he died in Vinaroz, in Valen cia, June 11, 1712. Saint-Simon hated Vendome, and has gibbeted to all eter nity his sloth, his gluttony, and his shameless debauchery.