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72-1807: Captain General John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough Infantry Lieutenant General John, Lord Cutts Brigadier General Archibald Rowe Major General John Wilkes Brigadier General James Ferguson Major General St. Paul (Includes Hulson's Brigade) Cavalry Support Lieutenant General Henry Lumley Brigadier General Francis Palmes Major General Cornelius Wood Major General Charles Ross (Includes Lord John Hay 's Brigade) Lieutenant General Charles Churchill 1st Line (Infantry) Lieutenant General Richard Ingoldsby Major General d'Herleville (Includes Stückrad's Brigade) Brigadier General Friederich Heinrich, Graf von Seckendorff 1st Line (Infantry) Lieutenant General Horn Major General Anton Günther, Fürst von Holstein-Beck (Includes Heidebrecht's Brigade) Major General Johan van Pallandt Left-center (cavalry) Lieutenant General Cuno Josua von Bülow Major General Jacques-Louis Comte de Noyelles and Falais Major General Viller 2nd Line (cavalry) Lieutenant General Graf von Hompesch Major General Friedrich, Prinz von Hessen-Homburg Major General Alexander von der Schulenburg Major General Erbach Cavalry Lieutenant General Friedrich Ulrich, comte de Oostfries Lieutenant General Vittinghoff Major General Auroch Lieutenant General Karl Rudolf, Fürst von Württemberg-Neuenstadt Brigadier General Jørgen von Rantzau Brigadier General Ditlev von Brockdorff Major General Jørgen von Rantzau Infantry Lieutenant General Lord Orkney Major General John Richmond Webb Field Marshal Prince François Eugène von Savoy-Carignan Cavalry General of

144-552: A duel ". Since January 1691 Marlborough had been in contact with the exiled James II in Saint-Germain , anxious to obtain the erstwhile King's pardon for deserting him in 1688 – a pardon essential for the success of his future career in the not altogether unlikely event of a Jacobite restoration. James himself maintained contact with his supporters in England whose principal object was to re-establish him upon his throne. William

216-772: A decade; James had four acknowledged children by her, including James FitzJames, 1st Duke of Berwick . Their relationship led to appointments for her brothers; John was appointed page to James, and in September 1667 made an ensign in the Foot Guards . Claims that Churchill served with the Tangier Garrison cannot be confirmed, but he is recorded as being with Sir Thomas Allin in the Mediterranean from March to November 1670. He returned to London, where in February 1671 he engaged in

288-537: A duel with Sir John Fenwick . He allegedly had an affair with Barbara Villiers , a mistress of Charles II, and may have fathered her daughter Barbara Fitzroy , although he never formally acknowledged her. In 1670 Treaty of Dover , Charles II agreed to support a French attack on the Dutch Republic and supply a British brigade of 6,000 troops for the French army. Louis XIV paid him £230,000 per year for this. When

360-520: A front-rank power, while his ability to maintain unity in the fractious coalition demonstrated his diplomatic skills. He is often remembered by military historians as much for his organisational and logistic skills as his tactical abilities. However, he was also instrumental in moving away from the siege warfare that dominated the Nine Years' War . Churchill secured a reputation in Europe that was unrivalled until

432-416: A great dynasty of his own reposed in his eldest and only surviving son, John , who, since his father's elevation, had borne the courtesy title of Marquess of Blandford. But while studying at Cambridge in early 1703, the 17-year-old was stricken with severe smallpox . His parents rushed to be by his side, but on Saturday morning, 20 February (O.S.), the boy died, plunging the duke into "the greatest sorrow in

504-594: A house in London, he purchased Holywell House, near St Albans . He also gained control of the Parliamentary constituency of St Albans ; his brother George held the seat from 1685 to 1708. Charles Churchill served at the Danish court, where he became friends with Prince George of Denmark , who married James's younger daughter Anne in 1683. His senior aide was Colonel Charles Griffin, brother-in-law to Sarah, appointed Lady of

576-440: A long series of wars ... He is assuredly one of the most gallant men I know". Since Walcourt, though, Marlborough's popularity at court had waned. William and Mary distrusted both Lord and Lady Marlborough's influence as confidants and supporters of Princess Anne (whose claim to the throne was stronger than William's). Sarah had supported Anne in a series of court disputes with the joint monarchs, infuriating Mary who included

648-534: Is now only awarded as an honorary rank. The rank of general has a NATO-code of OF-9 , and is a four-star rank . It is equivalent to a full admiral in the Royal Navy or an air chief marshal in the Royal Air Force . Officers holding the ranks of lieutenant-general and major-general may be generically considered to be generals. A general's insignia is a crossed sword and baton. This appeared on its own for

720-460: The Earl of Nottingham , Secretary of State , ordered Marlborough to dispose of all his posts and offices, both civil and military, and consider himself dismissed from all appointments and forbidden the court. No reasons were given but Marlborough's chief associates were outraged: Shrewsbury voiced his disapproval and Godolphin threatened to retire from government. Admiral Russell , now commander-in-chief of

792-707: The Franco-Dutch War began in 1672, Churchill was present at the Battle of Solebay on 28 May, possibly aboard James's flagship, the Prince , which was crippled. Shortly thereafter, Churchill was commissioned Captain in the Duke of York's Admiralty Regiment , part of the British brigade, commanded by the Duke of Monmouth . The alliance with Catholic France was extremely unpopular and many doubted

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864-737: The House of Bourbon . In 1665, the infirm and childless Habsburg Charles II became the King of Spain. Spain was no longer the dominant global power it once was but remained a vast global confederation , with possessions in Italy, the Spanish Netherlands , the Philippines and large parts of the Americas. It proved remarkably resilient; when Charles died in 1700, it was largely intact and had even expanded in areas like

936-715: The Monmouth Rebellion in 1685 helped secure James on the throne, but he was a key player in the military conspiracy that led to James being deposed during the Glorious Revolution . Rewarded by William III with the title Earl of Marlborough , persistent charges of Jacobitism led to his fall from office and temporary imprisonment in the Tower of London . William recognised his abilities by appointing him as his deputy in Southern Netherlands (modern-day Belgium ) before

1008-729: The Treaty of Ryswick brought an end to the Nine Years' War, that the corner was finally turned in William's and Marlborough's relationship. On the recommendation of Lord Sunderland (whose wife was a close friend of Lady Marlborough), William eventually offered Marlborough the post of governor to the Duke of Gloucester , Anne's eldest son; he was also restored to the Privy Council, together with his military rank. When William left for Holland in July, Marlborough

1080-524: The 1660 Restoration of Charles II , Winston became Member of Parliament for Weymouth and from 1662 served as Commissioner for Irish Land Claims in Dublin . On returning to London in 1663, he was knighted and received a position at Whitehall , with John attending St Paul's School . The family fortune was made in 1665 when Arabella Churchill became maid of honour to Anne Hyde and began an affair with her husband, James, Duke of York . This lasted over

1152-536: The Bedchamber to Anne. The Churchills and their relatives formed a central part of the so-called 'Cockpit circle' of Anne's friends, named after her apartments in Whitehall. Churchill was reportedly concerned at being too closely associated with James, particularly since Sarah's sister Frances was married to Irish Catholic Richard Talbot , appointed Lord Deputy of Ireland in 1687. This was offset by their connection with

1224-647: The Earl in her disfavour of his wife. Yet for the moment the clash of tempers was over-shadowed by more pressing events in Ireland where James had landed in March 1689 in an attempt to regain his thrones. When William left for Ireland in June 1690 Marlborough became commander of all troops and militia in England and was appointed a member of the Council of Nine to advise Mary on military matters in

1296-460: The Earl received no offer of employment. In 1696 Marlborough, together with Godolphin, Russell, and Shrewsbury, was yet again implicated in a treasonous plot with James II, this time instigated by the Jacobite militant John Fenwick . The accusations were eventually dismissed as a fabrication and Fenwick executed – the King himself had remained incredulous – but it was not until 1698, a year after

1368-702: The French throne; Louis' decision to ignore this once again threatened French domination over Europe and led to the Grand Alliance being reformed in 1701. With his health deteriorating, William III appointed Marlborough Ambassador-Extraordinary and commander of English forces to attend the conference at the Hague. On 7 September 1701, the Treaty of the Second Grand Alliance nominated Emperor Leopold I 's second son Archduke Charles as King of Spain instead of Phillip. It

1440-496: The Holy Roman Empire , KG , PC (26 May 1650 – 16 June 1722 O.S. ) was an English soldier and statesman. From a gentry family, he served as a page at the court of the House of Stuart under James, Duke of York , through the 1670s and early 1680s, earning military and political advancement through his courage and diplomatic skill. He is known for never having lost a battle. Churchill's role in defeating

1512-458: The King's absence, but she made scant effort to disguise her distaste at his appointment – "I can neither trust or esteem him", she wrote to William. William III's victory at the Battle of the Boyne on 1 July 1690 (O.S.) forced James II to abandon his army and flee back to France. In August Marlborough himself left for Ireland engaged upon his first independent command – a land/sea operation upon

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1584-467: The King's growing religious ardour against the Protestant establishment. James II's promotion of Catholics in royal institutions – including the army – engendered first suspicion, and ultimately sedition in his mainly Protestant subjects; even members of his own family expressed alarm at the King's zeal for Roman Catholicism. When the queen gave birth to a son, James Francis Edward Stuart , it opened up

1656-551: The Ministry's Continental strategy of thrusting the army into the heart of France. This support wilted somewhat following the Allies' recent campaign, but the Duke, whose diplomatic tact had held together a very discordant Grand Alliance, was now a general of international repute, and the limited success of 1703 was soon eclipsed by the Blenheim campaign. Pressed by the French and Bavarians to

1728-519: The Navy, personally accused the King of ingratitude to the man who had "set the crown upon his head". The nadir of Marlborough's fortunes had not yet been reached. The spring of 1692 brought renewed threats of a French invasion and new accusations of Jacobite treachery. Acting on the testimony of one Robert Young , the Queen had arrested all the signatories to a letter purporting the restoration of James II and

1800-595: The Pacific. Its possession could change the balance of power in favour of either France or Austria. Attempts to partition the Empire between the French and Austrian candidates or install an alternative from the Bavarian Wittelsbach dynasty failed. When Charles died, he left his throne to Louis XIV 's grandson, who became Philip V of Spain on 16 November 1700. However, this was on condition Philip renounced his claim to

1872-904: The Prince that, "Nineteen parts of twenty of the people ... are desirous of change". William needed no further encouragement. Although the invitation was not signed by Churchill (he was not, as yet, of sufficient political rank), he declared his intention through William's principal English contact in The Hague – "If you think there is anything else that I ought to do, you have but to command me". William landed at Brixham on 5 November 1688 (O.S.); from there, he moved his army to Exeter . James's forces – once again commanded by Lord Feversham – moved to Salisbury , but few of its senior officers were eager to fight – even Princess Anne wrote to William to wish him "good success in this so just an undertaking". Promoted to Lieutenant-General on 7 November (O.S.) Churchill

1944-595: The Privy Purse giving them a combined annual income of over £60,000 and unrivaled influence at court. During the war, Marlborough, along with his personal friend Grand Pensionary Anthonie Heinsius and Prince Eugene of Savoy , would come to form the triumvirate that, in various respects, governed Europe during the War of the Spanish Succession. On 4 May 1702 (O.S.) England formally declared war on France. Marlborough

2016-547: The Protestant Anne, while Sarah herself was renowned for being virulently anti-Catholic. Despite his Catholicism, James succeeded Charles as king in February 1685 with widespread support. Many feared his exclusion would lead to a repetition of the 1638–1651 Wars of the Three Kingdoms but tolerance for his personal beliefs did not apply to Catholicism in general. His support collapsed when his policies appeared to threaten

2088-513: The Queen, and her subsequent dismissal from court, was central to his own fall. Incurring Anne's disfavour, and caught between Tory and Whig factions, Marlborough was forced from office and went into self-imposed exile. He returned to favour with the accession of George I to the throne in 1714, but a stroke in 1716 ended his career. Marlborough's leadership of the Allied armies fighting Louis XIV from 1701 to 1710 consolidated Britain's emergence as

2160-620: The Spanish Netherlands. To this end, Marlborough moved English and Dutch troops to the Moselle (a plan approved of by The Hague), but once there he planned to slip the Dutch leash and march south to link up with Austrian forces in southern Germany. The Dutch Grand Pensionary Anthonie Heinsius , was likely informed by Marlborough of this secret plan beforehand. General (United Kingdom) General (or full general to distinguish it from

2232-496: The army, Marlborough aroused dissatisfaction concerning William's preferences for foreign commanders, an exercise designed to force the King's hand. Aware of this, William, in turn, began to speak openly of his distrust of Marlborough; the Elector of Brandenburg 's envoy to London overheard the King remark that he had been treated – "so infamously by Marlborough that, had he not been King, he would have felt it necessary to challenge him to

Battle of Blenheim order of battle - Misplaced Pages Continue

2304-506: The attack on Brest was widely known, and the French had already begun to strengthen their defences in April). To Richard Holmes , the evidence linking Marlborough with the Camaret Bay letter (which no longer exists), is slender, concluding, "It is very hard to imagine a man as careful as Marlborough, only recently freed from suspicion of treason, writing a letter which would kill him if it fell into

2376-684: The brigade's reliability against the Dutch. As a result, it served in the Rhineland against the Holy Roman Empire , although Churchill, Monmouth and other volunteers took part in the French siege of Maastricht . England withdrew from the war with the 1674 Treaty of Westminster , but to keep his subsidies, Charles encouraged members of the Anglo-Scots force to remain in French service; many did so, including Monmouth and Churchill, who became Colonel of one such regiment, serving under Marshal Turenne . He

2448-584: The campaign in the Low Countries (the war's principal theatre) began well for Marlborough. After outmanoeuvring Marshal Boufflers , he captured Venlo , Roermond , Stevensweert and Liège , for which in December a grateful Queen publicly proclaimed Marlborough a duke . On 9 February 1703 (O.S.), soon after the Marlboroughs' elevation, their daughter Elizabeth married Scroop Egerton, Earl of Bridgewater . This

2520-618: The celebrated incident of the "Camaret Bay letter" of 1694. For several months the Allies had been planning an attack on Brest , the French port in the West of Brittany. The French had received intelligence alerting them to the imminent assault, enabling Marshal Vauban to strengthen its defences and reinforce the garrison. Inevitably the attack on 18 June led by Thomas Tollemache ended in disaster; most of his men were killed or captured, and Tollemache died of his wounds shortly afterward. Despite lacking evidence, Marlborough's detractors claimed that it

2592-517: The full employment of the Royal Navy in pursuit of trade advantages and colonial expansion overseas. To the Tories an action at sea was preferable to one ashore: rather than attack the enemy where they were strongest the Tories proposed to attack Louis XIV and Philip V where they were weakest – in their colonial empires and on the high seas. In contrast, the Whigs, led by their Junto , enthusiastically supported

2664-1081: The imperial cavalry Maximilian, Prinz von Braunschweig und Lüneburg Major General Dubislav Gneomar von Natzmer auf Gannewitz Major General Graf von Fugger Field Marshal Friedrich, Margraf von Baden-Durlach Cavalry General of cavalry Eberhard Louis, Herzog von Württemberg-Teck Major General Charles Graf de l'Ostange Major General Christoph Erhard von Bibra : Field Marshal Marquis de Cusani Major General von Caraffa Cavalry Reserve General of Cavalry Charles Maximilien, comte de la Tour et Valsassina Field Marshal Christian Ernst, Margraf von Brandenburg-Bayreuth Feldzeugmeister Leopold, Fürst von Anhalt-Dessau Major General Albrecht Conrad Graf Finck v. Finckenstein Major General Christopher Albrecht von Canitz Lieutenant General Jobst von Scholten John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough General John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, 1st Prince of Mindelheim, 1st Count of Nellenburg, Prince of

2736-727: The importance of cooperation and tact when working alongside other senior Allied commanders. It would, however, be more than ten years before he once again took charge in the field. William III recognised Marlborough's qualities as a soldier and strategist, but the refusal of the Order of the Garter and failure to appoint him Master-General of the Ordnance rankled with the ambitious Earl; nor did Marlborough conceal his bitter disappointment behind his usual bland discretion. Using his influence in Parliament and

2808-568: The lower general officer ranks) is the highest rank achievable by serving officers of the British Army . The rank can also be held by Royal Marines officers in tri-service posts, for example, Generals Sir Gordon Messenger and Gwyn Jenkins , former and current Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff . It ranks above lieutenant-general and, in the Army, is subordinate to the rank of field marshal , which

2880-471: The man who had deserted James. Marlborough's apologists, including his biographer and most notable descendant Winston Churchill , have been at pains to attribute patriotic, religious, and moral motives to his action; but in the words of David G. Chandler , it is difficult to absolve Marlborough of ruthlessness, ingratitude, intrigue and treachery against a man to whom he owed virtually everything in his life and career to date. Marlborough's first official act

2952-557: The monarch's policy would either wreck his own career or generate a wider insurrection, he did not intend, like his unfortunate father before him, to be on the losing side. Seven men met to draft the invitation to the Protestant Dutch Stadtholder , William, Prince of Orange, to invade England and assume the throne. The signatories to the letter included Whigs , Tories , and the Bishop of London , Henry Compton , who assured

Battle of Blenheim order of battle - Misplaced Pages Continue

3024-689: The outbreak of the War of the Spanish Succession in 1701, but not until the accession of Queen Anne in 1702 did he secure his fame and fortune. Marriage to Sarah Jennings and her relationship with Anne ensured Marlborough's rise, first to the captain-generalcy of British forces, then to a dukedom. As de facto leader of Allied forces in the Low Countries , his victories at battles of Blenheim (1704), of Ramillies (1706), of Oudenarde (1708), and of Malplaquet (1709) ensured his place in history as one of Europe's great generals. His wife's stormy relationship with

3096-533: The persecution of his followers by Judge Jeffreys . This provides the immediate context for Delamere's acquittal but shortly after the Coronation , Churchill reputedly told French Protestant Henri de Massue that "If the King should attempt to change our religion, I will instantly quit his service." Churchill emerged from the Sedgemoor campaign with great credit, but he was anxious not to be seen as sympathetic towards

3168-434: The power to give orders to Dutch generals only when their troops were in action with his own; at all other times he had to rely on his powers of tact and persuasion, and gain the consent of accompanying Dutch field deputies , the political representatives of the States General . The Dutch generals and deputies were concerned by the threat of an invasion from a powerful enemy. Nevertheless, despite his Allies' initial lassitude

3240-442: The primacy of the Church of England and created the instability his supporters wished to avoid. This preference for stability led to the rapid defeat in June 1685 of Argyll's Rising in Scotland and the Monmouth Rebellion in western England. In the campaign against Monmouth, Churchill led the infantry, under the command of the Earl of Feversham , at Sedgemoor on 6 July 1685, defeating the rebels and effectively putting an end to

3312-447: The prospect of successive Catholic monarchs. Some in the King's service, such as the Earl of Salisbury and the Earl of Melfort , converted to Catholicism and were seen as having betrayed their Protestant upbringing to gain favour at court. Churchill remained true to his conscience, telling the King, "I have been bred a Protestant, and intend to live and die in that communion", although he was also motivated by self-interest. Believing that

3384-447: The rebellion. Although subordinate to Feversham, Churchill's administrative capacity, tactical skill, and courage in battle were pivotal in the victory. In recognition of his contribution, he was promoted Major General and given the colonelcy of the Third Troop of Life Guards . In May, he had been made Baron Churchill of Sandridge , giving him a seat in the House of Lords , which led to the first open breach with James; Lord Delamere

3456-463: The rise of Napoleon . Churchill was the second but eldest-surviving son of Sir Winston Churchill of Glanvilles Wootton , Dorset, and Elizabeth Drake, whose family came from Ash , Devon. Winston served with the Royalist army in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms ; he was heavily fined for doing so, forcing his family to live at Ash House with his mother-in-law. John Churchill was a descendant of Edward I through his daughter, Joan of Acre . After

3528-472: The royal camp and rode towards William in Axminster , leaving behind him a letter of apology and self-justification: I hope the great advantage I enjoy under Your Majesty, which I own I would never expect in any other change of government, may reasonably convince Your Majesty and the world that I am actuated by a higher principle ... When the King saw that he could not keep even Churchill – for so long his loyal servant – he despaired. James II, who in

3600-417: The seizure of William III. Marlborough, as one of these signatories, was sent to the Tower of London on 4 May (O.S.) where he languished for five weeks; his anguish compounded by the news of the death of his younger son Charles on 22 May (O.S.). Young's letters were eventually discredited as forgeries and Marlborough was released on 15 June (O.S.), but he continued his correspondence with James, leading to

3672-410: The southern ports of Cork and Kinsale . It was a bold, imaginative project aimed at disrupting Jacobite supply routes, and one which the Earl conceived and executed with outstanding success. Cork fell on 27 September (O.S.), and Kinsale followed in mid-October. Although the campaign did not end the war in Ireland as Marlborough hoped, it taught him the significance of the minutiae of logistics, and

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3744-471: The wealthy Catherine Sedley , Churchill married Sarah in the winter of 1677–78, helped by Mary. The couple had five children who survived to adulthood: Henrietta Churchill, 2nd Duchess of Marlborough , Lady Anne Churchill , John Churchill, Marquess of Blandford , Elizabeth , and Mary. In November 1677, William of Orange married James's eldest daughter, Mary , and in March 1678, the Earl of Danby negotiated an Anglo-Dutch defensive alliance. Churchill

3816-464: The west and Hungarian rebels to the east, Austria faced the real possibility of being forced out of the war. Concerns over Vienna and the situation in southern Germany convinced Marlborough of the necessity of sending aid to the Danube , but the scheme of seizing the initiative from the enemy was extremely bold. From the start, the Duke resolved to mislead the Dutch States General, who would never willingly permit any major weakening of Allied forces in

3888-570: The words of the Archbishop of Rheims , had "given up three kingdoms for a Mass", fled to France, taking with him his son and heir. As part of William III and Mary II 's coronation honours, Churchill was created Earl of Marlborough on 9 April 1689 (O.S.); he was also sworn as a member of the Privy Council and made a Gentleman of the King's Bedchamber. His elevation, however, led to accusatory rumours from King James's supporters that Marlborough had disgracefully betrayed his erstwhile king for personal gain; William himself entertained reservations about

3960-410: The world". Bearing his grief, and leaving Sarah to hers, the Duke returned to The Hague at the beginning of March. By now Marshal Villeroi had replaced Boufflers as commander in the Spanish Netherlands, but although Marlborough was able to take Bonn , Huy , and Limbourg in 1703, the "Great Design" – the Anglo-Dutch plan to secure Antwerp and thereby open the river lines into Flanders and Brabant –

4032-468: The wrong hands". However, David Chandler surmises that "the whole episode is so obscure and inconclusive that it is still not possible to make a definite ruling". Mary's death on 28 December 1694 (O.S.) eventually led to a formal but cool reconciliation between William III and Anne, now heir to the throne. Marlborough hoped that the rapprochement would lead to his own return to office, but although he and Lady Marlborough were allowed to return to court,

4104-485: Was accused of involvement in the rebellion and tried by 30 members of the House of Lords, including Churchill. As the most junior peer, he went first and his vote for acquittal was viewed as giving a lead to others; Delamere was set free, much to James's annoyance. As early as 1682, Churchill was recorded as being uneasy at James's obstinacy. The conviction he was always right often resulted in what many viewed as vindictive behaviour, including Monmouth's clumsy execution and

4176-513: Was anyone on earth that he feared, it was Marlborough". By the time William and Marlborough had returned from an uneventful campaign in the Spanish Netherlands in October 1691, their relationship had further deteriorated. In January 1692, the Queen, angered by Marlborough's intrigues in Parliament, the army, and even with Saint-Germain, ordered Anne to dismiss Sarah from her household – Anne refused. This personal dispute precipitated Marlborough's dismissal. On 30 January 1692 (20 January 1691 O.S.),

4248-516: Was elected MP for Newtown ; the majority supported James's exclusion and he spent the next three years in exile, Churchill acting as his liaison with the court. Charles defeated the Exclusionists and dismissed Parliament in 1681, allowing James to return to London. In 1682, Churchill was made Lord Churchill of Eyemouth in the peerage of Scotland and the following year, colonel of the King's Own Royal Regiment of Dragoons . These rewards allowed him to live in some style and comfort; in addition to

4320-399: Was expected, it deprived the Alliance of its most obvious leader although Marlborough's personal position was further strengthened by his close relationship with the new Queen. Anne appointed him Master-General of the Ordnance , a Knight of the Garter and Captain-General of her armies at home and abroad. Lady Marlborough was made Groom of the Stool , Mistress of the Robes and Keeper of

4392-404: Was followed in the summer by an engagement between Mary and John Montagu, heir to the Earl of, and later Duke of Montagu , (they later married on 20 March 1705 (O.S.)). Their two older daughters were already married: Henrietta to Godolphin's son Francis in April 1698, and Anne to the hot-headed and intemperate Charles Spencer, Earl of Sunderland in 1700. However, Marlborough's hopes of founding

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4464-590: Was given command of the English, Dutch, and hired German forces, but he had not as yet commanded a large army in the field and had far less experience than a dozen Dutch and German generals who now had to work under him. Moreover, to the Dutch, he was a foreigner and the Dutch States General wanted to prevent British political and military interests from being prioritised over those of the Dutch Republic. The States-General thus put severe limits on his power, which were defined in 12 articles. The most notable articles stated that: As commander of Anglo-Dutch forces, he had

4536-474: Was he who had alerted the enemy. Macaulay states that in a letter on 3 May 1694 Marlborough betrayed the Allied plans to James, thus ensuring that the landing failed and that Tollemache, a talented rival, was killed or discredited as a direct result. Historians such as John Paget and C. T. Atkinson conclude that he probably did write the letter, but did so only when he knew that it would be received too late for its information to be of any practical use (the plan of

4608-428: Was left in ruins by Villeroi's initiative and poor Allied co-ordination, resulting in the near-disaster at the Battle of Ekeren on 30 June. Domestically the Duke also encountered problems. The moderate Tory ministry of Marlborough, the Lord Treasurer Godolphin, and the Speaker of the House of Commons Robert Harley , were hampered by, and often at variance with, their High Tory colleagues whose strategic policy favoured

4680-463: Was logical that Marlborough took charge of the 8,000 English troops sent to the Low Countries in the spring of 1689; yet throughout the Nine Years' War (1688–97) he saw only three years service in the field, and then mostly in subordinate commands. However, at the Battle of Walcourt on 25 August 1689 Marlborough won praise from the Allied commander, Prince Waldeck – "despite his youth he displayed greater military capacity than do most generals after

4752-410: Was one of the Lords Justices left running the government in his absence; but striving to reconcile his close Tory connections with that of the dutiful royal servant was difficult, leading Marlborough to complain – "The King's coldness to me still continues". In the late 17th and early 18th centuries, the single most important theme in European politics was the rivalry between the House of Habsburg and

4824-506: Was present at Sinsheim in June 1674, Enzheim in October, and possibly at Sasbach in July 1675, where Turenne was killed. Sometime around 1675, Churchill met the 15-year-old Sarah Jennings , who came from a similar background of minor Royalist gentry, ruined by the war. The family moved to London after her father died and in 1673, Sarah and her sister Frances joined the household of Mary of Modena , James's second Catholic wife. Despite opposition from his father, who wanted him to marry

4896-410: Was sent to the Hague to make arrangements for an expeditionary force, although English troops did not arrive in significant numbers until after the Peace of Nijmegen ended the war on 10 August. James publicly confirmed his conversion to Catholicism in 1673; as heir to the throne, this led to a political crisis that dominated English politics from 1679 to 1681. In the 1679 General Election , Churchill

4968-411: Was signed by England, the Dutch Republic and the Holy Roman Empire represented by Emperor Leopold I , head of the Austrian Habsburgs ; however, the increasing independence of German states within the Empire meant Bavaria now allied itself with France. William III died on 8 March 1702 (O.S.) from injuries sustained in a riding accident and was succeeded by his sister-in-law Anne . While his death

5040-446: Was still at the King's side, but his displaying "the greatest transports of joy imaginable" at the desertion of Lord Cornbury led Feversham to call for his arrest. Churchill himself had openly encouraged defection to the Orangist cause, but James continued to hesitate. Soon it was too late to act. After the meeting of the council of war on the morning of 24 November (O.S.), Churchill, accompanied by some 400 officers and men, slipped from

5112-423: Was to assist in the remodeling of the army – the power of confirming or purging officers and men allowed the Earl to build a new patronage network that would prove beneficial over the next two decades. His task was urgent, for less than six months after James II's departure, England joined the war against France as part of a powerful coalition aimed at curtailing the ambitions of Louis XIV. With his experience it

5184-436: Was well aware of these contacts (as well as others such as Baron Godolphin and the Duke of Shrewsbury ), but their double-dealing was seen more like an insurance policy, rather than as an explicit commitment. Marlborough did not wish for a Jacobite restoration, but William was conscious of his military and political qualities, and the danger the Earl posed: "William was not prone to fear", wrote Thomas Macaulay , "but if there

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