Blenheim Palace

Blenheim Palace is a large and monumental country house situated in Woodstock, Oxfordshire, England. It is the only non episcopal country house, in England, to hold the title "palace". The Palace, one of England's greatest houses in every sense of the word, was built between 1705 and circa 1722. Its construction was originally intended to be a gift to the 1st Duke of Marlborough from a grateful nation in return for military triumph against the French. However, it soon became the subject of political infighting which led to Marlborough's exile, the fall from power of his Duchess, and the irreparable damage to the reputation of the architect Sir John Vanbrugh. Designed in the rare, and short lived, English baroque style, architectural appreciation of the palace is as divided today as it was in the 1720s. {{fn|1}} It is unique in its combined usage as a family home, mausoleum and national monument.

The Churchills

John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, was born in Devon. Although his family had aristocratic relations, they were gentry rather than high ranking members of the upper echelons of 18th-century society. On joining the British army in 1667, he first served in Tangiers and was then sent to assist Louis XIV in his Dutch wars, where he was promoted to colonel. In 1678 he married Sarah Jennings, and seven years later, on the accession of King James II, was elevated to Baron Churchill. He was then one of the leaders of the suppression of the Monmouth Rebellion. On the accession of William III Churchill was further elevated to Earl of Marlborough, a title which had become extinct in his mother's family. During the War of the Spanish Succession he gained military renown. Beginning in 1702 he began a series of military triumphs: Blenheim in 1704, Ramillies in 1706, Oudenarde in 1708, and Malplaquet in 1709. Rendering England safe from the forces of Louis XIV, he became a national hero and was loaded with honours, including the Dukedom of Marlborough. It was said at the time that together with his wife, Queen Anne's closest friend and confidante, the Duke of Marlborough was virtually ruling the country. It is therefore not surprising that Queen Anne decided that the ultimate honour of the hero would be the gift of a great palace. Marlborough was given the former royal manor of Woodstock to site the new palace and Parliament voted a substantial sum of money towards its creation.

Related Topics:
John Churchill - Duke of Marlborough - Devon - Aristocratic - Gentry - Echelons - 18th-century - Society - 1667 - Tangiers - Louis XIV - Colonel - 1678 - Sarah Jennings - James II - Baron Churchill - Monmouth Rebellion - William III - Earl of Marlborough - War of the Spanish Succession - 1702 - Blenheim - 1704 - Ramillies - 1706 - Oudenarde - 1708 - Malplaquet - 1709 - Louis XIV - Queen Anne - Palace - Manor - Parliament

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Marlborough's wife the former Sarah Jennings was by all accounts a cantankerous woman, though capable of great charm. She had befriended the young Princess Anne, and later when the princess became Queen the Duchess of Marlborough as her Mistress of the Robes exerted great influence over the Queen both on a personal and political level. The relationship between Queen and Duchess later became strained and fraught, and following their final quarrel in 1711, the money for the construction of Blenheim ceased. The Marlboroughs were forced into exile abroad until they returned the day after the Queen's death.

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