FOLA'RD, JEAN-CHARLES 1/E, was born at Avignon In 1669. Ile entered early into the army, and distinguished himaelf by the attention which he paid to the scientific part of his profession, to the movements and manceuvres of an army in the field : he drew plans and maps, and became a pretty good engineer. Haying been made aide-de-camp to the Duke of Vendome, he attended him in his Italian campaigns, and was wounded at the battle of Cassano. his afterwards served in Flanders under the Duke of Bourgogne, and was wounded again at the battle of Malplaree His zeal, at times indiscreet, his want of tact, his restless activity, and his fondness of giving advice, which, although at times valuable, was not acceptable to his euperiore, made him many etemies. The peace of 1712 having placed him on the reduced list, he repaired to Malta to offer his services to the order of S.A. John, which was then threatened by the Tiirks ; but being offended at some real or supposed alight, he returned to the continent, and visited Sweden, where he was well received by Charles XIL, who employed him on some missions, and whom be accompanied in his expedition to Norway. After Charlee's death in
the trenches of Fredericaldl, Folnrd returned to France, and made one short campaign more in the war against Spain of 1719, after which he withdrew into private life, and occupied himself in writing on military matters. Ile died at Avignon in 1752.
principal work is his 'Commentaries on Polybins,' in which he not only snakes his observations on the events narrated by the Greek historian, but ale° draws parallels between ancient and modern military practices, and reasons on the occurrences of the were which he had witnessed, exposing with the greatest freedom the errors of the various commanders of his own age. Ilia disquisitions, though often prolix, are valuable. Folard'e 'Commentaries' were published in 6 vole. 4to, Paris, 1727-30, and again at Amsterdam, in 7 vole. 4to, the seventh volume containing some treatises and strictures on Folard's system of tactics, with his own replies.