Queen Anne and the War of Spanish Succession
In February 1702 William of Orange died and was succeeded by his sister-in-law, Anne. John Churchill’s fortunes revived. His wife Sarah was a close friend to Queen Anne, to the extent that they had nicknames for one another - the Queen called herself Mrs Morley and Sarah and John were known as Mr and Mrs Freeman. Churchill was given the Order of the Garter and made Master of the Ordnance. On the 14th of December 1702 he became the 1st Duke of Marlborough and the Marquis of Blandford. It was shortly after this that Marlborough left for Europe to lead the long campaign against the French. The war in which he directed affairs became known as the War of Spanish Succession.
The King of Spain, Charles II, had no direct heir. The nearest possible heir was the Dauphin of France. For France to gain control of Spain and all its territories was unthinkable in Europe at that time. European diplomacy worked to prevent this. Eventually the French King, Louis XIV agreed that France would not claim the Spanish crown in return for compensation. The aged Spanish King disagreed with this decision and before dying he made a will leaving the Spanish Empire to the grandson of Louis XIV. Louis knew there would be trouble if he allowed this to go ahead but he still sent his grandson south to be crowned Philip V of Spain. This action led to the formation of a Grand Alliance between England, Holland and the Holy Roman Empire. Marlborough was Generalissimo of this Alliance. He fought many battles and had many great successes.
1704 Battle of Blenheim
1706 Battle of Ramillies
1708 Battle of Oudenarde
1709 Battle of Malplaquet
1711 Siege of Bouchain
Marlborough was a great soldier and diplomat. He had earned the reward of the Great House that was to become Blenheim Palace. Winston Churchill wrote in his book Marlborough His Life and Times that he preserved a complete silence, offering neither explanations nor excuses for any of his deeds or achievements. His answer was to be this Great House.