Duke of Marlborough
Encyclopedia
Duke of Marlborough is a hereditary title in the Peerage of England
. The first holder of the title was John Churchill
(1650–1722), the noted English general, and indeed an unqualified reference to the Duke of Marlborough in a historical text will almost certainly refer to him.
; John Churchill, whose wife was a favourite of the queen, had earlier been made Lord Churchill of Eyemouth in the Scottish
peerage
(1682), which became extinct with his death, and Earl of Marlborough (1689) by King William III
. Anne further honoured Churchill, after his leadership in the victories against the French
of 13 August 1704 near the village of Blenheim (German Blindheim
) on the river Danube
(Battle of Blenheim
), by granting him the royal manor of Woodstock
, and building him a house at her own expense to be called Blenheim. Construction started in 1705 and the house was completed in 1722, the year of his death. Blenheim Palace
remains the Marlborough ducal seat.
The first duke was also honoured with Imperial
titles: Emperor Joseph I
created him a Prince of the Holy Roman Empire in 1704, and in 1705, he was created Imperial Prince of Mindelheim
(once the lordship of the noted soldier Georg von Frundsberg
). However, he was obliged to surrender Mindelheim in 1714 by the Treaty of Utrecht
, which returned it to Bavaria
. According to some sources, he received the principality
of Mellenburg in exchange. Regardless, his Imperial titles did not pass to his daughters (the Empire operated Salic Law which prevented female succession), so became extinct on his death in 1722.
The Duke of Marlborough holds certain subsidiary titles: Marquess of Blandford (created 1702), Earl of Sunderland
(1643), Earl of Marlborough (1689), Baron Spencer, of Wormleighton (1603), and Baron Churchill, of Sandridge (1685) (all are in the English peerage). The title Marquess of Blandford is used as the courtesy title for the Duke's eldest son and heir. The Duke's eldest son's eldest son in turn can use the courtesy title Earl of Sunderland.
The later Dukes of Marlborough are descended from the first duke, but not in the male line. Because the first duke had no surviving sons, the title was allowed (by a special Act of Parliament
) to pass to his eldest daughter in her own right. A younger daughter, Lady Anne Churchill, married Charles Spencer, 3rd Earl of Sunderland
(c. 1674–1722), and from this marriage descend the modern Dukes of Marlborough. They therefore originally bore the surname
Spencer
. However, George Spencer, the 5th Duke of Marlborough, obtained a Royal Licence to assume and bear the additional surname and arms of his famous ancestor, the 1st Duke of Marlborough, and thus became George Spencer-Churchill. This double-barrelled surname
has remained in the family to this day, though some of the most famous members have preferred to style themselves as merely "Churchill".
The 7th Duke of Marlborough was the paternal grandfather of the British Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill
(who was born at Blenheim Palace
on 30 November 1874).
The present Duke of Marlborough is John George Vanderbilt Spencer-Churchill, 11th Duke of Marlborough.
The title of Earl of Marlborough, which was created for Churchill in 1689, had been created one time previously in British history, for James Ley
, in 1626. This title had become extinct in 1679.
that can still pass to a woman and through a woman. However, the Dukedom does not follow male-preference primogeniture as most other peerages that allow succession by females and cognatic descendants do. It actually follows a kind of semi-Salic Law
. The succession for the Dukedom is as follows:
However, it is now very unlikely that the Dukedom will be passed to a woman or through a woman, since all the agnatic heirs of Anne Spencer, Countess of Sunderland - including the line of the Earls Spencer
as well as the Spencer-Churchill family - would have to become extinct. If that were to happen, the Churchill titles would pass to the Earl of Jersey
, the heir-male of Anne Villiers, Countess of Jersey, daughter of Elizabeth Egerton, Duchess of Bridgwater, a younger daughter of the first Duke.
rather than Latin.
Peerage of England
The Peerage of England comprises all peerages created in the Kingdom of England before the Act of Union in 1707. In that year, the Peerages of England and Scotland were replaced by one Peerage of Great Britain....
. The first holder of the title was John Churchill
John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough
John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, Prince of Mindelheim, KG, PC , was an English soldier and statesman whose career spanned the reigns of five monarchs through the late 17th and early 18th centuries...
(1650–1722), the noted English general, and indeed an unqualified reference to the Duke of Marlborough in a historical text will almost certainly refer to him.
History
The dukedom was created in 1702 by Queen AnneAnne of Great Britain
Anne ascended the thrones of England, Scotland and Ireland on 8 March 1702. On 1 May 1707, under the Act of Union, two of her realms, England and Scotland, were united as a single sovereign state, the Kingdom of Great Britain.Anne's Catholic father, James II and VII, was deposed during the...
; John Churchill, whose wife was a favourite of the queen, had earlier been made Lord Churchill of Eyemouth in the Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
peerage
Peerage
The Peerage is a legal system of largely hereditary titles in the United Kingdom, which constitute the ranks of British nobility and is part of the British honours system...
(1682), which became extinct with his death, and Earl of Marlborough (1689) by King William III
William III of England
William III & II was a sovereign Prince of Orange of the House of Orange-Nassau by birth. From 1672 he governed as Stadtholder William III of Orange over Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and Overijssel of the Dutch Republic. From 1689 he reigned as William III over England and Ireland...
. Anne further honoured Churchill, after his leadership in the victories against the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
of 13 August 1704 near the village of Blenheim (German Blindheim
Blindheim
Blindheim is a municipality in the Bavarian district of Dillingen in Southern Germany, consisting of several villages. Its population is roughly 1,700...
) on the river Danube
Danube
The Danube is a river in the Central Europe and the Europe's second longest river after the Volga. It is classified as an international waterway....
(Battle of Blenheim
Battle of Blenheim
The Battle of Blenheim , fought on 13 August 1704, was a major battle of the War of the Spanish Succession. Louis XIV of France sought to knock Emperor Leopold out of the war by seizing Vienna, the Habsburg capital, and gain a favourable peace settlement...
), by granting him the royal manor of Woodstock
Woodstock, Oxfordshire
Woodstock is a small town northwest of Oxford in Oxfordshire, England. It is the location of Blenheim Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.Winston Churchill was born in Blenheim Palace in 1874 and is buried in the nearby village of Bladon....
, and building him a house at her own expense to be called Blenheim. Construction started in 1705 and the house was completed in 1722, the year of his death. Blenheim Palace
Blenheim Palace
Blenheim Palace is a monumental country house situated in Woodstock, Oxfordshire, England, residence of the dukes of Marlborough. It is the only non-royal non-episcopal country house in England to hold the title of palace. The palace, one of England's largest houses, was built between...
remains the Marlborough ducal seat.
The first duke was also honoured with Imperial
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
titles: Emperor Joseph I
Joseph I, Holy Roman Emperor
Joseph I , Holy Roman Emperor, King of Bohemia, King of Hungary, King of the Romans was the elder son of Emperor Leopold I and his third wife, Eleonor Magdalene of Neuburg....
created him a Prince of the Holy Roman Empire in 1704, and in 1705, he was created Imperial Prince of Mindelheim
Mindelheim
Mindelheim is a town in the German Bundesland of Bavaria. The town is the capital of the Unterallgäu district. At various points in history it was the chief settlement of an eponymous state.- Geography :...
(once the lordship of the noted soldier Georg von Frundsberg
Georg von Frundsberg
Georg von Frundsberg was a South German knight and Landsknecht leader in the service of the Imperial Habsburg dynasty of the Holy Roman Empire....
). However, he was obliged to surrender Mindelheim in 1714 by the Treaty of Utrecht
Treaty of Utrecht
The Treaty of Utrecht, which established the Peace of Utrecht, comprises a series of individual peace treaties, rather than a single document, signed by the belligerents in the War of Spanish Succession, in the Dutch city of Utrecht in March and April 1713...
, which returned it to Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
. According to some sources, he received the principality
Principality
A principality is a monarchical feudatory or sovereign state, ruled or reigned over by a monarch with the title of prince or princess, or by a monarch with another title within the generic use of the term prince....
of Mellenburg in exchange. Regardless, his Imperial titles did not pass to his daughters (the Empire operated Salic Law which prevented female succession), so became extinct on his death in 1722.
The Duke of Marlborough holds certain subsidiary titles: Marquess of Blandford (created 1702), Earl of Sunderland
Earl of Sunderland
Earl of Sunderland is a title that has been created twice in the Peerage of England. The first creation came in 1627 in favour of Emanuel Scrope, 12th Baron Scrope of Bolton. The earldom became extinct on his death in 1630 while the barony became either extinct or dormant...
(1643), Earl of Marlborough (1689), Baron Spencer, of Wormleighton (1603), and Baron Churchill, of Sandridge (1685) (all are in the English peerage). The title Marquess of Blandford is used as the courtesy title for the Duke's eldest son and heir. The Duke's eldest son's eldest son in turn can use the courtesy title Earl of Sunderland.
The later Dukes of Marlborough are descended from the first duke, but not in the male line. Because the first duke had no surviving sons, the title was allowed (by a special Act of Parliament
Act of Parliament
An Act of Parliament is a statute enacted as primary legislation by a national or sub-national parliament. In the Republic of Ireland the term Act of the Oireachtas is used, and in the United States the term Act of Congress is used.In Commonwealth countries, the term is used both in a narrow...
) to pass to his eldest daughter in her own right. A younger daughter, Lady Anne Churchill, married Charles Spencer, 3rd Earl of Sunderland
Charles Spencer, 3rd Earl of Sunderland
Sir Charles Spencer, 3rd Earl of Sunderland KG PC , known as Lord Spencer from 1688 to 1702, was an English statesman...
(c. 1674–1722), and from this marriage descend the modern Dukes of Marlborough. They therefore originally bore the surname
Surname
A surname is a name added to a given name and is part of a personal name. In many cases, a surname is a family name. Many dictionaries define "surname" as a synonym of "family name"...
Spencer
Spencer family
The Spencer family are a British noble family descended in the male line from Henry Spencer, claimed to be a descendant of the cadet branch of the ancient House Le Despencer , male-line ancestor of the Earls of Sunderland, the later Dukes of Marlborough, and the Earls Spencer...
. However, George Spencer, the 5th Duke of Marlborough, obtained a Royal Licence to assume and bear the additional surname and arms of his famous ancestor, the 1st Duke of Marlborough, and thus became George Spencer-Churchill. This double-barrelled surname
Double-barrelled name
In English speaking and some other Western countries, a double-barrelled name is a family name with two parts, which may or may not be joined with a hyphen and is also known as a hyphenated name. An example of a hyphenated double-barrelled surname is Bowes-Lyon; an example of an unhyphenated...
has remained in the family to this day, though some of the most famous members have preferred to style themselves as merely "Churchill".
The 7th Duke of Marlborough was the paternal grandfather of the British Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
(who was born at Blenheim Palace
Blenheim Palace
Blenheim Palace is a monumental country house situated in Woodstock, Oxfordshire, England, residence of the dukes of Marlborough. It is the only non-royal non-episcopal country house in England to hold the title of palace. The palace, one of England's largest houses, was built between...
on 30 November 1874).
The present Duke of Marlborough is John George Vanderbilt Spencer-Churchill, 11th Duke of Marlborough.
The title of Earl of Marlborough, which was created for Churchill in 1689, had been created one time previously in British history, for James Ley
James Ley, 1st Earl of Marlborough
James Ley, 1st Earl of Marlborough was Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench in Ireland and then in England; he was an English Member of Parliament and was Lord High Treasurer from 1624 to 1628. On 31 December 1624, James I created him Baron Ley, of Ley in the County of Devon, and on 5 February...
, in 1626. This title had become extinct in 1679.
Succession
The Dukedom of Marlborough is the only dukedom in the United KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
that can still pass to a woman and through a woman. However, the Dukedom does not follow male-preference primogeniture as most other peerages that allow succession by females and cognatic descendants do. It actually follows a kind of semi-Salic Law
Salic law
Salic law was a body of traditional law codified for governing the Salian Franks in the early Middle Ages during the reign of King Clovis I in the 6th century...
. The succession for the Dukedom is as follows:
- The heirs-male of the 1st Duke's body lawfully begotten;
- his eldest daughter and the heirs-male of her body lawfully begotten;
- his second and other daughters, in seniority, and the heirs-male of their bodies lawfully begotten;
- his eldest daughter's oldest daughter and the heirs male of her body lawfully begotten;
- all other daughters of his daughters and the heirs male of their bodies;
- and other descendants into the future in like fashion, with the intent that the Marlborough title never become extinct.
However, it is now very unlikely that the Dukedom will be passed to a woman or through a woman, since all the agnatic heirs of Anne Spencer, Countess of Sunderland - including the line of the Earls Spencer
Earl Spencer
Earl Spencer is a title in the Peerage of Great Britain that was created on 1 November 1765, along with the title Viscount Althorp, of Althorp in the County of Northamptonshire, for John Spencer, 1st Viscount Spencer, a great-grandson of the 1st Duke of Marlborough...
as well as the Spencer-Churchill family - would have to become extinct. If that were to happen, the Churchill titles would pass to the Earl of Jersey
Earl of Jersey
Earl of the Island of Jersey, usually shortened to Earl of Jersey, is a title in the Peerage of England. It was created in 1697 for the statesman Edward Villiers, 1st Viscount Villiers, Ambassador to France from 1698 to 1699 and Secretary of State for the Southern Department from 1699 to 1700...
, the heir-male of Anne Villiers, Countess of Jersey, daughter of Elizabeth Egerton, Duchess of Bridgwater, a younger daughter of the first Duke.
Spanish motto
The meaning of the motto Fiel pero desdichado (Faithful but unfortunate) may allude to the first duke's father's inadequate compensation for his losses in the Civil War as a consequence of his loyalty to the king. Unusually, it is in the Spanish languageSpanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
rather than Latin.
Earls of Marlborough, second creation (1689)
- Other titles: Lord Churchill of Eyemouth, in the county of Berwick (Sc 1682) and Baron Churchill of Sandridge, in the county of Hertford (En 1685)
- John Churchill, 1st Earl of MarlboroughJohn Churchill, 1st Duke of MarlboroughJohn Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, Prince of Mindelheim, KG, PC , was an English soldier and statesman whose career spanned the reigns of five monarchs through the late 17th and early 18th centuries...
(1650–1722), became Duke of Marlborough in 1702
- John Churchill, 1st Earl of Marlborough
Dukes of Marlborough (1702)
- Other titles: Marquess of Blandford (En 1702), Earl of Marlborough, in the county of Wiltshire (En 1689) and Baron Churchill of Sandridge, in the county of Hertford (En 1685)
- Other titles (1st Duke): Lord Churchill of Eyemouth, in the county of Berwick (Sc 1682)
- John Churchill, 1st Duke of MarlboroughJohn Churchill, 1st Duke of MarlboroughJohn Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, Prince of Mindelheim, KG, PC , was an English soldier and statesman whose career spanned the reigns of five monarchs through the late 17th and early 18th centuries...
(1650–1722), soldier and statesman - John Churchill, Marquess of Blandford (1686–1703), elder son of the 1st Duke, died unmarried
- Anne Spencer, Countess of Sunderland (née Lady Anne Churchill; 1683–1716), second daughter of the 1st Duke
- Henrietta Godolphin, 2nd Duchess of Marlborough (1681–1733), eldest daughter of the 1st Duke, succeeded her father due to the 1706 Act of ParliamentAct of ParliamentAn Act of Parliament is a statute enacted as primary legislation by a national or sub-national parliament. In the Republic of Ireland the term Act of the Oireachtas is used, and in the United States the term Act of Congress is used.In Commonwealth countries, the term is used both in a narrow...
- William Godolphin, Marquess of BlandfordWilliam Godolphin, Marquess of BlandfordWilliam Godolphin, Marquess of Blandford was an English nobleman.He was born the eldest son of The Hon. Francis Godolphin and his wife Lady Henrietta Godolphin, née Churchill...
(1700–1731), elder son of the 2nd Duchess, predeceased his mother without issue
- Other titles (3rd Duke onwards): Earl of Sunderland (En 1643) and Baron Spencer of Wormleighton (En 1729)
- Charles Spencer, 3rd Duke of MarlboroughCharles Spencer, 3rd Duke of MarlboroughCharles Spencer, 3rd Duke of Marlborough KG, PC , known as The Earl of Sunderland between 1729 and 1733, was a British soldier and politician. He briefly served as Lord Privy Seal in 1755...
(1706–1758), third son of Lady Sunderland - George Spencer, 4th Duke of MarlboroughGeorge Spencer, 4th Duke of MarlboroughGeorge Spencer, 4th Duke of Marlborough KG, PC, FRS , styled Marquess of Blandford until 1758, was a British courtier and politician...
(1739–1817), elder son of the 3rd Duke - George Spencer-Churchill, 5th Duke of MarlboroughGeorge Spencer-Churchill, 5th Duke of MarlboroughGeorge Spencer-Churchill, 5th Duke of Marlborough FSA , styled Marquess of Blandford until 1817, was a British peer and collector of antiquities and books.-Background and education:...
(1766–1840), elder son of the 4th Duke - George Spencer-Churchill, 6th Duke of MarlboroughGeorge Spencer-Churchill, 6th Duke of MarlboroughGeorge Spencer-Churchill, 6th Duke of Marlborough DCL , styled Earl of Sunderland until 1817 and Marquess of Blandford between 1817 and 1840, was a British peer...
(1793–1857), eldest son of the 5th Duke - John Winston Spencer-Churchill, 7th Duke of MarlboroughJohn Spencer-Churchill, 7th Duke of MarlboroughJohn Winston Spencer-Churchill, 7th Duke of Marlborough, KG, PC , styled Earl of Sunderland from 1822 to 1840 and Marquess of Blandford from 1840 to 1857, was a British statesman and nobleman...
(1822–1883), eldest son of the 6th Duke and paternal grandfather of Winston ChurchillWinston ChurchillSir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice... - George Charles Spencer-Churchill, 8th Duke of MarlboroughGeorge Spencer-Churchill, 8th Duke of MarlboroughGeorge Charles Spencer-Churchill, 8th Duke of Marlborough DL , styled Earl of Sunderland until 1857 and Marquess of Blandford between 1857 and 1883, was a British peer.-Background and education:...
(1844–1892), eldest son of the 7th Duke - Charles Richard John Spencer-Churchill, 9th Duke of MarlboroughCharles Spencer-Churchill, 9th Duke of MarlboroughCharles Richard John Spencer-Churchill, 9th Duke of Marlborough KG, PC , styled Earl of Sunderland until 1883 and Marquess of Blandford between 1883 and 1892, was a British soldier and Conservative politician...
(1871–1934), only son of the 8th Duke - John Albert William Spencer-Churchill, 10th Duke of MarlboroughJohn Spencer-Churchill, 10th Duke of MarlboroughJohn Albert William Spencer-Churchill, 10th Duke of Marlborough , styled Marquess of Blandford until 1934, was a British peer....
(1897–1972), elder son of the 9th Duke - John George Vanderbilt Henry Spencer-Churchill, 11th Duke of MarlboroughJohn Spencer-Churchill, 11th Duke of MarlboroughJohn George Vanderbilt Henry Spencer-Churchill, 11th Duke of Marlborough, DL, JP , is the son of Lt.-Col. John Spencer-Churchill, 10th Duke of Marlborough and his wife, Hon. Alexandra Mary Hilda Cadogan. His principal seat is Blenheim Palace, in Woodstock, Oxfordshire...
(b. 1926), elder son of the 10th Duke
- Charles Spencer, 3rd Duke of Marlborough
- Heir apparentHeir apparentAn heir apparent or heiress apparent is a person who is first in line of succession and cannot be displaced from inheriting, except by a change in the rules of succession....
: Charles James Spencer-Churchill, Marquess of BlandfordJamie Spencer-Churchill, Marquess of BlandfordCharles James Spencer-Churchill, Marquess of Blandford , commonly known as Jamie Blandford, is an English aristocrat and the heir apparent to the Dukedom of Marlborough ....
(b. 1955), eldest surviving son of the 11th Duke
- Lord Blandford's heir apparent: George John Godolphin Spencer-Churchill, Earl of Sunderland (b. 1992), his elder son