John Churchill was born in 1650, the son of Sir Winston Churchill. Sir Winston had fought for the Cavaliers against the Roundheads. The family was punished for this by Cromwell but retained favour under Charles II.
The young man became a page for James, the Duke of York, King Charles’s brother. He decided that he wanted to be a soldier after watching the regiments drill.
He impressed James when he commanded a regiment at the battle of Enzheim in 1674.
James rewarded him for his role in the defeat of Monmouth by giving him a baronet when he became King, but he had angered Churchill by giving the Earl of Feversham command of the army.
John Churchill's Marriage
Churchill married beautiful Sarah Jennings, who was ten years younger. She was friendly with Princess Anne and influenced her to support William of Orange, a Protestant, against her father, James.
Churchill’s Career During William and Mary’s Reign
Churchill deserted James II for William of Orange because he wanted to see a Protestant on the throne. William made him Earl of Marlborough because of his support in The Great Revolution of 1688 but never really trusted him. William found out that Churchill was still corresponding with James who was in exile in France.
Churchill’s Career During Queen Anne’s Reign
When Anne became Queen, the Churchill’s time had come.
Sarah shared a close friendship with the Queen, who called her Mrs. Freeman. Sarah called her Mrs.Morley. Sarah never really cared much for the Queen, however, because she found her dull and very possessive.
The Queen made Sarah Mistress of the Robes and Comptroller of the Privy Purse, great honours.
She gave Churchill command of the army and gave the Churchills money and John a Dukedom after the battle of the Schellenberg against the French.
Blenheim
In 1704 John Churchill led his troops to victory at the great Battle of Blenheim against Louis XIV which prevented the French advancing through Austria. The French commander and 13,000 of his men were taken prisoner.
The Queen rewarded the Duke with the old palace of Woodstock and a huge amount of land. They commissioned the architect, Vanbrugh, to build a palace there, now Blenheim Palace.
Sarah Churchill and Queen Anne
Sarah was a dominating and intimidating woman who began to quarrell with the Queen. She took the Whigs side because they supported the wars against the French while the Queen was a Tory. The Tory’s were tired of the wars. They didn’t care for the loss of men and the expenses involved.
Sarah demanded that the Queen put her Whig son-in-law, Sunderland, on the Privy Council, and won. However, the Queen grew tired of her nagging ways, and began to prefer Sarah’s cousin, Abigail Masham, who had obtained a position at court through Sarah’s help.
At the thanksgiving service for John Churchill’s victory at Oudenarde against the French, Queen Anne and Sarah quarrelled. Sarah wanted her to wear showy jewels, but the Queen refused and Sarah hissed at her to ‘Be quiet’ in front of people.
Churchill’s Fall From Favour
John Churchill wanted to march on Paris and won another great victory at Malplaquet. He suffered heavy losses which shocked the Queen who declared herself ‘tired of bloodshed.’ She was also tired of Sarah and removed her from her offices.
The government found John guilty of taking bribes and receiving payments from the Austrian emperor so the Churchills were sent into exile.
The Churchill’s Return
They regained favour under the reign of George I, but John was getting too old to fight.
The Churchills now lived quietly, overseeing the palace at Blenheim, although Sarah argued with Vanbrugh. John died in 1722, the hero of the Battle of Blenheim.
Sarah received a few offers of marriage after his death, and told one of the requesters that:
“If I were young and handsome as I was, instead of old and faded as I am, and you could lay the empire of the world at my feet, you should never have the heart and hand that once belonged to John, Duke of Marlborough.”
Sources:
Rowse, A.L. The Early Churchills, Penguin, London, 1958
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