The coat of arms of the Dukes of Marlborough

The Dukedom of Marlborough (named after Marlborough, pronounced "Maulbruh" - /ˈmɔːlbɹə/ in the IPA), is an hereditary title of British nobility in the Peerage of England. The first holder of the title was John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough (1650–1722), the noted English general, and indeed an unqualified reference to the Duke of Marlborough in a historical text will almost certainly be a reference to him. Download high resolution version (471x695, 90 KB)The Marlborough/Churchill family coat of arms. ... Download high resolution version (471x695, 90 KB)The Marlborough/Churchill family coat of arms. ... Marlborough (pronounced Maulbruh - /ˈmɔːlbɹə/ in IPA) is a market town in the English county of Wiltshire on the Old Bath Road, the old main road from London to Bath. ... The International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) is a system of phonetic notation devised by linguists to accurately and uniquely represent each of the wide variety of sounds (phones or phonemes) used in spoken human language. ... For the Peerage in France, see French peerage. ... The Peerage of England comprises all peerages created in the Kingdom of England before the Act of Union in 1707. ... John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, in his Garter robes John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, KG, PC (26 May 1650 – 16 June 1722) was an English military officer during the War of the Spanish Succession. ...

The Dukedom was created in 1702 by Queen Anne; John Churchill, whose wife was a favorite of the Queen, had earlier been made Earl of Marlborough by King William III. Anne further honoured Churchill, after his leadership of the victories against the French of 13 August 1704 near the village of Blenheim (German Blindheim) on the Danube River (Battle of Blenheim), by granting him the royal manor of Woodstock, and building him a house at her own expense to be called Blenheim. It was commenced in 1705, and was completed in 1722, the year of his death. Blenheim Palace remains the Marlborough ducal seat. Anne Stuart Oldenburg (6 February 1665 – 1 August 1714) became Queen of England, Scotland and Ireland on 8 March 1702. ... William III of England (14 November 1650 – 8 March 1702; also known as William II of Scotland and William III of Orange) was a Dutch aristocrat and a Protestant Prince of Orange from his birth, King of England and King of Ireland from 13 February 1689, and King of Scots... August 13 is the 225th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (226th in leap years), with 140 days remaining. ... Events Building of the Students Monument in Aiud, Romania. ... Length 2,888 km Elevation of the source 1,078 m Average discharge 30 km before Passau: 580 m³/s Vienna: 1,900 m³/s Budapest: 2,350 m³/s just before Delta: 6,500 m³/s Area watershed 817,000 km² Origin Black Forest (Schwarzwald-Baar, Baden- Württemberg, Germany... Combatants England Austria United Provinces, Allies France Bavaria Commanders Duke of Marlborough Eugene of Savoy Camille de Tallard Maximilian II Emanuel Strength 52,000 60,000 Casualties 12,000 dead or wounded 15,000 dead or wounded 15,000 captured The Battle of Blenheim was a major battle of the... // Events Construction begins on Blenheim Palace, in Oxfordshire, England. ... Blenheim Palace, The Great Court. ...

The first Duke was also honored 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 passed to his daughters but not to their descendants, and so became extinct in 1751 on the death of his daughter Lady Mary Churchill, Duchess of Montagu. This page is about the Germanic empire. ... Joseph I. Joseph I (July 26, 1678 – April 17, 1711), Holy Roman Emperor, King of Hungary and Bohemia, Archduke of Austria, was the elder son of the emperor Leopold I and his third wife, Eleanora, Countess Palatine, daughter of Philip William of Neuburg, Elector Palatine. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Events Building of the Students Monument in Aiud, Romania. ... // Events Construction begins on Blenheim Palace, in Oxfordshire, England. ... Mindelheim is a city in the German Bundesland of Bavaria. ... Georg von Frundsberg (1473-1528) was a German Knight and landowner. ... // Events August 1 - George, elector of Hanover becomes King George I of Great Britain. ... The Treaty of Utrecht was a series of peace treaties signed in Utrecht in 1713 that helped end the War of the Spanish Succession (Queen Annes War) By its provisions, Louis XIVs grandson Philip V of Spain was recognized as King of Spain, but Spains European empire... The Free State of Bavaria  (German: Freistaat Bayern), with an area of 70,553 km² (27,241 square miles) and 12. ... Events Adam Smith is appointed professor of logic at the University of Glasgow March 25 - For the last time, New Years Day is legally on March 25 in England and Wales. ...

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), Baron Churchill of Sandridge (1685) and Lord Churchill of Eyemouth (1682). (Lord Churchill of Eyemouth is in the Scottish peerage, while the rest 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 title of Earl of Sunderland was created in the Peerage of England in 1643. ... For the Peerage in France, see French peerage. ... A courtesy title is a form of address in the British peerage system used for wives, children, and other close relatives of a peer. ...

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". In Westminster System parliaments, an Act of Parliament is a part of the law passed by the Parliament. ... Charles Spencer, 3rd Earl of Sunderland (c. ... A family name, or surname, is that part of a persons name that indicates to what family he or she belongs. ... 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, for example Bowes-Lyon or Fraser Darling. ...

The Dukedom of Marlborough is the only Dukedom in the United Kingdom that can still pass in the female line. However, the Dukedom does not follow male-preference primogeniture as most other peerages that can pass in the female line do. It actually follows a kind of Semi-Salic Law. The succession for the Dukedom is as follows:

1. The heirs-male of the 1st Duke's body lawfully begotten;
2. his oldest daughter and the heirs-male of her body lawfully begotten;
3. his second and other daughters, in seniority, and the heirs-male of their bodies lawfully begotten;
4. his oldest daughter's oldest daughter and the heirs male of her body lawfully begotten;
5. all other daughters of his daughters and the heirs male of their bodies;
6. and other descendants into the future in like fashion, with the intent that the Marlborough title never become extinct.

So, it is very unlikely that the Dukedom will be inherited in the female line again, as all the male heirs of Anne Spencer, Countess of Sunderland would have to go extinct. If that did happen, then by the above terms, the Earl of Jersey would become the next Duke, as he is the male-line descendant of Anne Villiers, Countess of Jersey, daughter of Elizabeth Egerton, Duchess of Bridgwater, a younger daughter of the first Duke. Earl of Jersey is a title in the Peerage of England. ...

The 7th Duke of Marlborough was the paternal grandfather of the British Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill (who was born at Blenheim Palace). Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, KG, OM, CH, TD, FRS, PC (30 November 1874 – 24 January 1965) was a British politician, best known as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. ... Blenheim Palace, The Great Court. ...

The present Duke of Marlborough is John George Vanderbilt Spencer-Churchill, 11th Duke of Marlborough. John George Vanderbilt Spencer-Churchill (born April 13, 1926) is the 11th and present 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. Events Louis XIV of France passed the Code Noir, allowing the full use of slaves in the French colonies. ... James Ley, 1st Earl of Marlborough James Ley (1552-1629), the 1st Earl of Marlborough, was Lord Chief Justice of the Kings Bench in Ireland and then in England; he was an English member of parliament and was Lord High Treasurer from 1624 to 1628. ... Events September 30 - Nurhaci, chieftain of the Jurchens and founder of the Qing Dynasty dies and is succeeded by his son Hong Taiji. ... Events January 24 - King Charles II of England disbands Parliament August 7 - The brigantine Le Griffon, which was commissioned by René Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, is towed to the southern end of the Niagara River, to become the first ship to sail the upper Great Lakes. ...

Earls of Marlborough, first creation (1626)

• James Ley, 1st Earl of Marlborough (1552–1629)
• Henry Ley, 2nd Earl of Marlborough (1595–1638)
• James Ley, 3rd Earl of Marlborough (1618–1665)
• William Ley, 4th Earl of Marlborough (1612–1679)

Events September 30 - Nurhaci, chieftain of the Jurchens and founder of the Qing Dynasty dies and is succeeded by his son Hong Taiji. ... James Ley, 1st Earl of Marlborough James Ley (1552-1629), the 1st Earl of Marlborough, was Lord Chief Justice of the Kings Bench in Ireland and then in England; he was an English member of parliament and was Lord High Treasurer from 1624 to 1628. ... Events April - War between Henry II of France and Emperor Charles V. Henry invades Lorraine and captures Toul, Metz, and Verdun. ... Events March 4 - Massachusetts Bay Colony is granted a Royal charter. ... Events January 30 - William Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet is performed for the first time. ... Events March 29 - Swedish colonists establish first settlement in Delaware, called New Sweden. ... Events March 8 - Johannes Kepler discovers the third law of planetary motion (he soon rejects the idea after some initial calculations were made but on May 15 confirms the discovery). ... Events March 4 - Start of the Second Anglo-Dutch War. ... Events January 20 - Mathias becomes Holy Roman Emperor. ... Events January 24 - King Charles II of England disbands Parliament August 7 - The brigantine Le Griffon, which was commissioned by René Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, is towed to the southern end of the Niagara River, to become the first ship to sail the upper Great Lakes. ...

Earls of Marlborough, second creation (1689)

• John Churchill, 1st Earl of Marlborough (1650–1722), became Duke of Marlborough in 1702

Events Louis XIV of France passed the Code Noir, allowing the full use of slaves in the French colonies. ... John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, in his Garter robes John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, KG, PC (26 May 1650 – 16 June 1722) was an English military officer during the War of the Spanish Succession. ... // Events June 23 - Claimant King Charles II of England, Scotland and Ireland arrives in Scotland, the only of the three Kingdoms that has accepted him as ruler. ... // Events Abraham De Moivre states De Moivres theorem connecting trigonometric functions and complex numbers Publication of the first book of Bachs Well-Tempered Clavier Fall of Persias Safavid dynasty during a bloody revolt of the Afghani people. ... Events March 8 - William III died; Princess Anne Stuart becomes Queen Anne of England, Scotland and Ireland. ...

Dukes of Marlborough (1702)

• John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough (1650–1722)
• Henrietta Churchill, 2nd Duchess of Marlborough (1681–1733)
• Charles Spencer, 3rd Duke of Marlborough (1706–1758)
• George Spencer, 4th Duke of Marlborough (1739–1817)
• George Spencer-Churchill, 5th Duke of Marlborough (1766–1840)
• George Spencer-Churchill, 6th Duke of Marlborough (1793–1857)
• John Winston Spencer-Churchill, 7th Duke of Marlborough (1822–1883)
• George Charles Spencer-Churchill, 8th Duke of Marlborough (1844–1892)
• Charles Richard Spencer-Churchill, 9th Duke of Marlborough (1871–1934)
• John Albert William Spencer-Churchill, 10th Duke of Marlborough (1897–1972)
• John George Vanderbilt Spencer-Churchill, 11th Duke of Marlborough (b. 1926)

Heir Apparent: Charles James Spencer-Churchill, Marquess of Blandford (b. November 24, 1955)
Lord Blandford's Heir: George Spencer-Churchill, Earl of Sunderland (b. July 28, 1992) Events March 8 - William III died; Princess Anne Stuart becomes Queen Anne of England, Scotland and Ireland. ... John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, in his Garter robes John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, KG, PC (26 May 1650 – 16 June 1722) was an English military officer during the War of the Spanish Succession. ... // Events June 23 - Claimant King Charles II of England, Scotland and Ireland arrives in Scotland, the only of the three Kingdoms that has accepted him as ruler. ... // Events Abraham De Moivre states De Moivres theorem connecting trigonometric functions and complex numbers Publication of the first book of Bachs Well-Tempered Clavier Fall of Persias Safavid dynasty during a bloody revolt of the Afghani people. ... The Most Noble Henrietta Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough, Countess of Godolphin (July 19, 1681–October 24, 1733) was the daughter of John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough and Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough. ... Events March 4 - Charles II of England grants a land charter to William Penn for the area that will later become Pennsylvania. ... Events February 12 - British colonist James Oglethorpe founds Savannah, Georgia. ... Charles Spencer, 3rd Duke of Marlborough (1706-1758) was a British politician of the 18th century. ... Events March 27 - Concluding that Emperor Iyasus I of Ethiopia had abdicated by retiring to a monastery, a council of high officials appoint Tekle Haymanot I Emperor of Ethiopia May 23 - Battle of Ramillies September 7 - The Battle of Turin in the War of Spanish Succession - forces of Austria and... 1758 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... The Fourth Duke of Marlborough, painted by Joshua Reynolds George Spencer, 4th Duke of Marlborough (January 26, 1739) - (January 29, 1817) was a British nobleman. ... Events January 1 - Bouvet Island is discovered by French explorer Jean-Baptiste Charles Bouvet de Lozier. ... 1817 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... The Most Noble George Spencer-Churchill, 5th Duke of Marlborough DCL MA FSA (March 6, 1766–March 5, 1840) was the son of George Spencer, 4th Duke of Marlborough. ... 1766 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... 1840 is a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... George Spencer-Churchill, 6th Duke of Marlborough DCL (December 27, 1793 – July 1, 1857) was the son of George Spencer-Churchill, 5th Duke of Marlborough. ... 1793 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... 1857 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... His Grace The Duke of Marlborough John Winston Spencer-Churchill, 7th Duke of Marlborough (2 June 1822 - 4 July 1883); English statesman. ... 1822 (MDCCCXXII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... 1883 (MDCCCLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... The Most Noble George Charles Spencer-Churchill, 8th Duke of Marlborough (May 13, 1844–November 9, 1892) was the son of John Spencer-Churchill, 7th Duke of Marlborough. ... 1844 was a leap year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... 1892 (MDCCCXCII) was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... The Ninth Duke of Marlborough, painted by John Singer Sargent Charles Richard John Spencer-Churchill (November 13, 1871–June 30, 1934) became the 9th Duke of Marlborough upon the death of his father in 1892. ... 1871 (MDCCCLXXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... 1934 (MCMXXXIV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... John Albert William Spencer-Churchill, 10th Duke of Marlborough (18 September 1897 – 1972) the son of Charles Spencer-Churchill, 9th Duke of Marlborough and his wife (the former Consuelo Vanderbilt). ... 1897 (MDCCCXCVII) was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1972 calendar). ... John George Vanderbilt Spencer-Churchill (born April 13, 1926) is the 11th and present Duke of Marlborough. ... 1926 (MCMXXVI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... Contrasting with heir presumptive, an heir apparent is one who cannot be prevented from inheriting by the birth of any other person. ... (Charles} James Jamie Spencer-Churchill (b. ... November 24 is the 328th day (329th on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1955 (MCMLV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... George John Godolphin Spencer-Churchill, Earl of Sunderland (born 28 July 1992) is the heir , after his father, to the dukedom of Marlborough. ... July 28 is the 209th day (210th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 156 days remaining. ... 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ...

See also

• Spencer family
• Blenheim Palace