Philippe Charles de La Fare

Philippe-Charles de La Fare, or Marquis de La Fare, was the 4th marquis of Monclar, Conte of Laugères, born February 15, 1687 – died September 14, 1752 in Paris, France, was General Officer of the Kingdom of France, and maréchal de France.

Philippe-Charles de La Fare is the eldest son of Charles Auguste de la Fare, captain of the King's guards of Philippe de France (1640–1701), and Louise-Jeanne de Lux de Ventelet (1667–1691). He was the brother of Étienne Joseph de La Fare, Bishop of Laon, and the cousin of cardinals Anne Louis Henri de La Fare and François-Joachim de Pierre de Bernis.

Musketeer (1701–1702)
In 1701, the war of the Spanish succession began. The war opposed from 1701 to 1714, Louis XIV's France, allied to Bavaria and the electorate of Cologne, to the rest of Europe : Great Britain, Holland, Austria, Prussia, Hanover, Portugal and Savoie.

Philippe Charles was 14 years of age, and was named on March 26, 1693, musketeer of the King by Philippe I, Duke of Orléans and Elizabeth Charlotte, Princess Palatine.

Régiment du Roi (1703)
He was named sous-lieutenant to the Régiment du Roi, he is involved in the taking of Breisach by the Duc de Bourgogne, on 6. As lieutenant, he is present at the Battle of Speyerbach won by maréchal Camille d'Hostun, duc de Tallard, and participated in the taking of Landau.

Régiment d'Auvergne (1704)
Philippe Charles de La Fare campaigned with the army of Moselle as ensign of the colonelle compagnie of the Régiment du Roi. He became captain in the same regiment.

He passed the beginning of 1704 in Italy, and acceeded to the command of the régiment d'Auvergne in April of 1704, after the dismissal of the vicomte de Poudenx.



Under Maréchal Louis-Joseph de Vendôme
The friend of his father, Louis Joseph, Duke of Vendôme, was one of the last leaders of war in the Kingdom of France. He wanted to take by surprise the strong fortification of Vercelli, but the detachment to this expedition arrives too late and the project is aborted. La Fare then follows the Maréchal who places a siege around Ivrea. Despite the courage of the defenders, because of lack of aid, the city must surrender. The duc and La Fare, after this siege, begin a siege on Verrue.

The duc of Savoie after these defeats is in a precarious situation. La Fare is also present at the siege of Mirandola. He has an important role to play in all the military affairs engaged by the army in Italy.