John Churchill established himself as one of die premier military leaders of the eighteenth century by exhibiting superior tactical and strategic abilities while coordinating a vast allied army from divergent nations. Justifiably criticized for ambition and opportunism, Churchill mastered an ever-changing political arena and loyally represented whoever was in power during internal strife over the crown of England. In doing so, he not only secured his own military career but also elevated Britain from a minor island nation to a great European power. Born to an impoverished Royalist family in Devon on May 26, 1650, Churchill began his career at age seventeen as a page to James, the duke of York. Churchill gained his position with James through his sister, who was the duke’s mistress. Over the next few years Churchill developed a series of personal liaisons with several ladies of the ruling class and established professional relationships with the future leaders of England.
Through his friends in the court, Churchill arranged for a commission in the Foot Guards in 1667 and spent the next two years as a junior officer in operations against the Moors at Tangier and along the North African coast. From 1672 to 1674, Churchill served with English forces allied with the French against the Dutch. During this period, Churchill fought beside many French officers whom he would later face as enemies.
When he returned to England, Churchill, in 1677, married Sarah Jennings, a lady-in-waiting to Princess Anne, daughter of future King James and a future queen herself, and performed diplomatic services for the court as he advanced through the ranks to brigadier general. Churchill also enhanced his position by leading the forces that put down a revolt when James ascended the throne.
Although he initially supported James, Churchill deserted the king when William of Orange arrived in England in 1688 to challenge the crown. Whether his change of allegiance was due to James’s Catholicism or pure opportunism, the decision proved wise, for William promoted Churchill to lieutenant general and named him the Duke of Marlborough when he became king.
Over the next four years, Churchill exhibited personal bravery and tactical abilities during minor conflicts in Flanders and Ireland but was unable to assume command of a large force because not everyone in the new court trusted him. In 1692 a conflict with Queen Mary and a discovery of correspondence between Churchill and the exiled James resulted in the duke’s being imprisoned in the Tower of London. When Mary died in 1694, William released the duke and restored his rank and privileges.
Churchill returned to minor diplomatic and military duties until 1702, when two events occurred that would elevate the Duke of Marlborough to greatness. First, William died, and Anne, daughter of James and longtime friend of Churchill’s, assumed the crown. At about the same time, Charles II of Spain died without an heir to the throne. A European-wide conflict, the War of the Spanish Succession, broke out to determine who would become king of Spain. England, concerned that die grandson of die king of France would gain the crown and unite with Spain into a powerful, threatening coalition, entered the war in alliance with Austria and the Netherlands.
Marlborough, now in favor with the court, Finally had the opportunity to exhibit his military prowess on a grand scale. While their Dutch allies remained reluctant warriors during the entire war, Marlborough and Austrian prince Eugene of Savoy formed one of the most powerful, cooperative partnerships in the history of warfare. Over the next nine years, they never lost a batde as they ended French dominance of the Continent.
The first obstacle both Eugene and Marlborough faced was the state of warfare itself. Since Frenchman Sebastien Le Prestre de Vauban had revolutionized combat with defensive preparations, most European armies relied on strong defenses, making them reluctant to venture from their fortifications to conduct maneuver warfare. Marlborough knew that no one could win a war stricdy on the defense and devised a plan the first rule of which was “Attack!” He tempered this principle, however, with his equally important maxim “Planning!” in order to leave nothing to chance.
Interweaving his maxims of attack and planning widi tactics that centered on rapid movement to an objective, Churchill executed surprise assaults, starting with a strong diversionary attack on one of the enemy’s flanks. Once the enemy committed their reserves, Marlborough, often personally at the lead of his troops, attacked the enemy’s center or opposite flank. Throughout his career, Marlborough possessed an uncanny ability to know the proper time and place to commit his own reserves.
Mobility and morale were the keys to Marlborough’s success, and he became a master of each. He designed carts to carry supplies to lighten each soldier’s load and on long marches sent the supply trains forward to establish camps for the arriving combat troops. He conducted much of this movement at night or during early-morning hours to prevent observation by enemy scouts.
To sustain high morale, Marlborough also ensured the timely payment of his troops and even managed to have new boots issued to his men before major batdes. Marlborough’s soldiers recognized that his superior planning and unwillingness to take unwarranted chances reduced casualties. As a result, Marlborough earned the respect of his men and the affectionate nickname “Corporal John.”
With tactical skills and motivated soldiers, Marlborough won easy victories in the Spanish Netherlands (current Belgium) in 1702. Two years later, Marlborough, now teamed with Eugene, won his greatest battle when he marched his forces 250 miles across Germany to Blenheim in Bavaria to surprise the French stronghold. On August 13, Marlborough attacked and by day’s end had inflicted thirty-four thousand casualties on the enemy at a cost of only thirteen thousand of his own. The Bavarians were out of the war, and France’s reputation as an unbeatable force ceased. England feted Marlborough as a hero, granted him cash, and built him a home appropriately named Blenheim Palace.
After his victory at Blenheim, Marlborough returned to Flanders, where he again decisively defeated French forces at Ramillies on May 23, 1706. Two years later, Marlborough proved that he could attain victory even when his usual tactics failed. At Oude- naarde on July 11, 1708, a larger French force surprised Marlborough, but he managed to maneuver his army and gained an advantage as he rapidly changed from defense to offense.
On September 11, 1709, Marlborough gained his last victory at Mons. The outcome of the fierce batde remained in doubt undl Marlborough once again committed his reserves at exactly the right moment. Although victorious, Marlborough lost twenty-one thousand troops.
The number of casualties at Mons played into the hands of the Tories, who had just come to power in England. Advocating sea power rather than land forces, the Tories used Mons as an excuse to end Marlborough’s military career and relieved him of his command. They also accused him of misappropriating public funds for the construction of Blenheim Palace. When George I ascended the throne in 1714, he restored Marlborough’s rank and privileges, but because of failing health, Marlborough never returned to duty. After a series of strokes, Marlborough, seventy-two, died on June 16, 1722.
Marlborough’s remarkable career yielded four great battle victories and twenty-six successful sieges. No enemy ever defeated a force led by him. For ten years he ruled the batdefields of Europe as his leadership gained England the status of a world power. Marlborough ranks only behind his ally Eugene as the most influential military leader of his time. Although Marlborough’s influence was stronger than Eugene’s when he was at his most powerful, unlike his ally, the duke lost political support during his final years.