Soon afterwards, Louis was under the necessity of recall ing Marshal Villars, in consequence of a revolt in the Cevennes. This revolt was occasioned by the persecutions of the Protestants, who, roused by some pretended prophets and prophetesses, were maddened with religious fury and enthusiasm. Their war-cry was, " No taxes, and liberty of conscience !" The more they suffered, the greater was their inveteracy and constancy. They principally inhabi ted lonely and desolate mountains, from which they rushed like wild beasts, and to which they returned when they were pursued or attacked. Alarshal Villars, ashamed of having been recalled from scenes of real glory to war against these people, and moreover finding that they could not be completely subdued, thought it better to treat with one of their chiefs, a young baker, to whom the rank of colonel was given. The rebels, however, did not submit at this time ; but they were afterwards reduced, and al most exterminated by the Duke of Berwick.
During the absence of Villars, Marshal Tallard was en trusted with the command. The lines of the Elector of Bavaria had been forced by Marlborough, near Donawert, with considerable loss ; but the appearance of Tallard in spired that prince with fresh confidence, and it was deter mined to hazard a general battle. This battle was fought near Blenheim, and, by its result, immortalized Marlbo rough, and exposed the Electorate of Bavaria to the rava ges of the conquerors. Upon this Villars was recalled, and by prudently remaining on the defensive, obliged the Duke Marlborough to relinquish his plan of penetra ting into France by the course of the Moselle.
The Duke of Marlborough having returned to Flanders, Villars was employed in watching the numerous armies of the empire on the Rhine, and succeeded in baffling them by his skill. In Italy, the Duke of Vendome pressed on Prince Eugene and the Duke of Savoy ; bought the bloody but indecisive battle of Cassinato; and menaced Turin with a siege. These advantages of the French were ba lanced by the good fortune of the allies in Spain, where the Archduke Charles, whom they proclaimed king, made himself master of most of that country.
In 1706, the Marshal Villeroi was defeated by the Duke of Marlborough at Ramillies; and the greatest part of Spanish Flanders rewarded the victors. Louis, instead of reproaching, endeavoured to console the Marshal for this defeat ; " People at our time of life, Alonsieur Marshal," said he, " are not fortunate." In Italy, the siege of Turin was begun by the Marshal Feuillarde, son•in-law of the minister Chamillard. The siege was covered by the Duke
of Orleans, the nephew of Louis, who was however con trolled by the superior, but secret powers of the Marshal Marsin. As the preparations for this siege were immense, great expectations were formed of its success ; but Feuil larde was by no mean, fit for his situation ; he was igno rant, obstinate, and so conceited, that when Vauban offered to direct the operations of the siege as engineer, he reject ed the offer with disdain. The city, however, notwith standing the incapacity of the Marshal, was reduced to the greatest distress, when Prince Eugene rapidly approached to its relief. The Duke of Orleans wished to have left his lines, and met the enemy ; but he was overruled by Marshal Marsin, and the French waited the attack in their entrenchments. In two hours, the Prince obtained a com plete victory : the Duke of Orleans was wounded, Marshal Marsin killed, and the duchies of Milan, Mantua, and Pied mont, with the kingdom of Naples, were by this one battle wrested from the House of Bourbon. The affairs of Louis in Spain were equally desperate ; but in a short time for tune changed sides there, and Charles was obliged to eva cuate his capital, and fly before the Duke of Berwick, who triumphed at Almanza over the forces of the confederates.
Louis having in vain endeavoured to engage the King of Sweden in his cause, began seriously to think of put ting an end to a war, by which his arms had been disgra ced, and his subjects impoverished. He accordingly or dered the Elector of Bavaria to write letters to the Duke of Marlborough, and the field deputies of the United Pro vinces, proposing a general congress ; offering, as a proof of his sincerity, to give up all the Spanish dominions in Ita ly to the Archduke Charles; to the United Provinces, a barrier in the Netherlands ; and to the Duke of Savoy, a compensation for the waste made by the war in his territo ries. In return, he asked the restoration of Bavaria to its native Prince ; and that Philip V. should be allowed to possess Spain and her American colonies. This offer was, however, indignantly and wantonly rejected, the views of the allies extending with their successes. Having hum bled France, they now wished to conquer Spain. They accordingly informed Louis, that no peace could be made with the House of Bourbon, so long as a prince of that house sat on the throne of Spain.