View source for Duke of Marlborough (title)

{{short description|Title in the Peerage of England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox nobility title
| name              = Dukedom of Marlborough 
| image             = Coat of arms of the duke of Marlborough.png
| image_size        = 240px  
| caption           = [[#Achievement|Coat of arms]]
| creation_date     = 1702 
| monarch           = [[Anne, Queen of Great Britain|Anne]] 
| peerage           = [[Peerage of England]] 
| first_holder      = [[John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough|John Churchill, 1st Earl of Marlborough]] 
| last_holder       =  
| present_holder    = [[James Spencer-Churchill, 12th Duke of Marlborough]] 
| heir_apparent     = [[George Spencer-Churchill, Marquess of Blandford]] 
| heir_presumptive  =  
| remainder_to      = ''[[#Succession to the title|Special case]]'' ([[Semi-Salic]]) 
| subsidiary_titles = Marquess of Blandford<br />{{nowrap|[[Earl of Sunderland]] (from 1733)}}<br />[[Earl of Marlborough]]<br />[[Baron Spencer of Wormleighton|Baron Spencer]] (from 1733)<br />Baron Churchill of Sandridge 
| extinction_date   =  
| family_seat       = [[Blenheim Palace]] 
| former_seat       =  
| motto             = {{Langnf|es|Fiel pero desdichado|Faithful but unfortunate}}<ref name=Debrett>''Debrett's Peerage'', 1876, p. 322.</ref> 
| footnotes         =  
}}

'''Duke of Marlborough''' (<small>pronounced</small> {{IPAc-en|ˈ|m|ɔːr|l|b|r|ə}}) is a title in the [[Peerage of England]]. It was created by [[Anne, Queen of Great Britain|Queen Anne]] in 1702 for [[John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough|John Churchill, 1st Earl of Marlborough]] (1650–1722), the noted military leader. The Queen and the nation also gave him what became [[Blenheim Palace]], unique as a national monument and family home. In historical texts, unqualified use of the title typically refers to the 1st Duke. The name of the dukedom refers to [[Marlborough, Wiltshire|Marlborough]] in [[Wiltshire]].

The [[Earl of Marlborough|earldom of Marlborough]] was held by the family of Ley from its creation in 1626 until its extinction with the death of the 4th earl in 1679. The title was recreated 10 years later for John Churchill (in 1689).

==History of the dukedom==

Churchill had been made ''Lord Churchill of [[Eyemouth]]'' (1682) in the [[Peerage of Scotland]], and ''Baron Churchill'' of [[Sandridge]] (1685) and ''Earl of Marlborough'' (1689) in the [[Peerage of England]]. Shortly after her accession to the throne in 1702, [[Anne, Queen of Great Britain|Queen Anne]] made Churchill the first ''Duke of Marlborough'' and granted him the subsidiary title ''Marquess of [[Blandford]]''.

In 1678, Churchill married [[Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough|Sarah Jennings]] (1660–1744), a courtier and influential favourite of the queen. They had seven children, of whom four daughters married into some of the most important families in [[Great Britain]];<ref>{{cite web
| title = Family Lineage: Duke of Marlborough
| publisher = [[Burke's Peerage]]
|date=August 2004
| url = http://www.burkes-peerage.net/Search/FullRecord.aspx?ID=9123
| access-date = 2007-08-06 }}</ref> one daughter and one son died in infancy. He was pre-deceased by his son, [[John Churchill, Marquess of Blandford]], in 1703; so, to prevent the extinction of the titles, a special [[Act of Parliament]] was passed. When the 1st Duke of Marlborough died in 1722 his title as ''Lord Churchill of Eyemouth'' in the [[Peerage of Scotland]] became extinct and the Marlborough titles passed, according to the Act, to his eldest daughter [[Henrietta Godolphin, 2nd Duchess of Marlborough|Henrietta]] (1681–1733), the 2nd Duchess of Marlborough. She was married to [[Francis Godolphin, 2nd Earl of Godolphin]] and had a son who predeceased her.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The first Parliament of Queen Anne: Second session - begins 3/12/1706 {{!}} British History Online |url=https://www.british-history.ac.uk/commons-hist-proceedings/vol4/pp45-68 |access-date=2023-06-24 |website=www.british-history.ac.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Blenheim |title=Family Tree |url=https://www.blenheimpalace.com/visitus/family-tree/ |access-date=2023-06-24 |website=www.blenheimpalace.com |language=en-GB}}</ref>

When Henrietta died in 1733, the Marlborough titles passed to her nephew [[Charles Spencer, 3rd Duke of Marlborough|Charles Spencer]] (1706–1758), the third son of her late sister [[Anne Spencer, Countess of Sunderland (1683-1716)|Anne]] (1683–1716), who had married the [[Charles Spencer, 3rd Earl of Sunderland|3rd Earl of Sunderland]] in 1699. After his older brother's death in 1729, Charles Spencer had already inherited the [[Spencer family]] estates and the titles of ''[[Earl of Sunderland]]'' (1643) and ''Baron Spencer'' of [[Wormleighton Manor|Wormleighton]] (1603), all in the [[Peerage of England]]. Upon his maternal aunt Henrietta's death in 1733, Charles Spencer succeeded to the Marlborough family estates and titles and became the 3rd Duke. When he died in 1758, his titles passed to his eldest son [[George Spencer, 4th Duke of Marlborough|George]] (1739–1817), who was succeeded by his eldest son George, the [[George Spencer-Churchill, 5th Duke of Marlborough|5th Duke]] (1766–1840). In 1815, [[Francis Spencer, 1st Baron Churchill|Francis Spencer]] (the younger son of the [[George Spencer, 4th Duke of Marlborough|4th Duke]]) was created ''[[Baron Churchill of Whichwood|Baron Churchill]]'' in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. In 1902, his grandson, the [[Victor Spencer, 1st Viscount Churchill|3rd Baron Churchill]], was created '''[[Baron Churchill (1815 creation)#Viscounts Churchill (1902)|Viscount Churchill]]'''.

In 1817, the [[George Spencer-Churchill, 5th Duke of Marlborough|5th Duke]] obtained permission to assume and bear the [[surname]] of Churchill in addition to his surname of [[Spencer family|Spencer]], to perpetuate the name of his illustrious great-great-grandfather.<ref name=Gazette>{{London Gazette |issue=17256 |date=3 June 1817 |page=1277}}</ref> At the same time, he received Royal Licence to quarter the [[coat of arms]] of Churchill with his paternal arms of Spencer.<ref name="Courtenay">Paul Courtenay, [https://winstonchurchill.org/resources/reference/the-armorial-bearings-of-sir-winston-churchill/ ''The Armorial Bearings of Sir Winston Churchill'']. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130718222952/http://www.winstonchurchill.org/learn/reference/armorial-bearings-of-wsc |date=18 July 2013}} (accessed 20 July 2013).</ref> The [[double-barrelled name|double-barrelled surname]] of "Spencer-Churchill" has been used by family members since 1817, although some members have preferred to style themselves simply as "Churchill".

The 7th Duke was the paternal grandfather of [[British Prime Minister]] [[Winston Churchill|Sir Winston Churchill]], who was born at [[Blenheim Palace]] on 30 November 1874.

The 11th Duke, [[John Spencer-Churchill, 11th Duke of Marlborough|John Spencer-Churchill]], died in 2014, having assumed the title in 1972. The 12th and present Duke is [[James Spencer-Churchill, 12th Duke of Marlborough|Charles James Spencer-Churchill]].

==Family seat==

[[File:Blenheim Palace IMG 3675.JPG|thumb|Burial place of most Dukes and Duchesses of Marlborough in the chapel at [[Blenheim Palace]].]]

The family seat is [[Blenheim Palace]] in [[Woodstock, Oxfordshire]].{{fact|date=August 2025}}

After his leadership in the victory against the French in the Battle of Blenheim on 13 August 1704, the 1st Duke was honoured by Queen Anne granting him the royal manor of Woodstock, and building him a house at her expense to be called Blenheim. Construction started in 1705 and the house was completed in 1722, the year of the 1st Duke's death. [[Blenheim Palace]] has since remained in the Churchill and Spencer-Churchill family.<ref>{{cite web |title=History of Blenheim Palace |url=https://www.blenheimpalace.com/our-story/history |website=Blenheim Palace |publisher=Blenheim Palace |access-date=4 October 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite encyclopedia |title=Blenheim Palace |encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Blenheim-Palace |access-date=4 October 2025}}</ref>


With the exception of the [[John Spencer-Churchill, 10th Duke of Marlborough|10th Duke]] and his first wife, the dukes and duchesses of Marlborough are buried in Blenheim Palace's chapel. Most other members of the Spencer-Churchill family are interred in [[St Martin's Church, Bladon|St. Martin's parish churchyard]] at [[Bladon]], a short distance from the palace.{{fact|date=August 2025}}

==Other titles of the Dukes==

===Subsidiary titles===

The Duke holds subsidiary titles: ''Marquess of [[Blandford]]'' (created in 1702 for John Churchill), ''[[Earl of Sunderland]]'' (created in 1643 for the [[Spencer family]]), ''Earl of Marlborough'' (created in 1689 for John Churchill), ''Baron Spencer'' of [[Wormleighton Manor|Wormleighton]] (created in 1603 for the Spencer family), and ''Baron Churchill'' of [[Sandridge]] (created in 1685 for John Churchill), all in the [[Peerage of England]].  On 21 December 1682, the Scottish title Barony of Churchill of Eyemouth was created in the [[Peerage of Scotland]] for John Churchill, but became extinct upon his death in 1722.

The title ''Marquess of Blandford'' is used as the [[Courtesy titles in the United Kingdom|courtesy title]] for the Duke's eldest son and heir. The Duke's eldest son's eldest son can use the courtesy title ''Earl of Sunderland'', and the duke's eldest son's eldest son's eldest son (not necessarily the eldest great-grandson) the title ''Lord Spencer of Wormleighton'' (not to be confused with [[Earl Spencer (peerage)|Earl Spencer]]).

The title of ''Earl of Marlborough'', created for John Churchill in 1689, had previously been created for [[James Ley, 1st Earl of Marlborough|James Ley]], in 1626, becoming extinct in 1679.

===Foreign titles===

The 1st Duke was honoured with land and titles in the [[Holy Roman Empire]]: [[Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor|Emperor Leopold I]] created him a [[Prince of the Holy Roman Empire|Prince]] in 1704, and in 1705, his successor [[Joseph I, Holy Roman Emperor|Emperor Joseph I]] gave him the [[principality of Mindelheim]] (once the lordship of the noted soldier [[Georg von Frundsberg]]). He was obliged to surrender Mindelheim in 1714 by the [[Treaty of Utrecht]], which returned it to [[Bavaria]]. He tried to obtain [[County of Nellenburg|Nellenburg]] in Austria in exchange, which at that time was only a county ('Landgrafschaft'), but this failed, partially because Austrian law did not allow for Nellenburg to be converted into a sovereign principality.<ref>William Coxe, ''Herzogs Johann von Marlborough Leben und Denkwürdigkeiten'', vol. 6, Vienna 1822, pp. 297–8.</ref> The 1st Duke's princely title of Mindelheim became extinct either on the return of the land to Bavaria or on his death, as the Empire operated [[Salic law]], which prevented female succession.

==Coats of arms==

===Original arms of the Churchill family===

The original arms of Sir [[Winston Churchill (Cavalier)|Winston Churchill]] (1620–1688), father of the 1st Duke of Marlborough, were simple and in use by his own father in 1619. The shield was Sable a lion rampant Argent, debruised by a bendlet Gules. The addition of a [[Saint George's Cross|canton of Saint George]] (see below) rendered the distinguishing mark of the bendlet unnecessary.<ref name="Courtenay"/>

The Churchill crest is blazoned as a lion couchant guardant Argent, supporting with its dexter forepaw a banner Gules, charged with a dexter hand appaumée of the first, staff Or.<ref name="Courtenay"/>

In recognition of Sir Winston's services to [[Charles I of England|King Charles I]] as Captain of the Horse, and his loyalty to [[Charles II of England|King Charles II]] as a Member of Parliament, he was awarded an [[augmentation of honour]] to his arms around 1662. This rare mark of royal favour took the form of a [[Saint George's Cross|canton of Saint George]]. At the same time, he was authorised to omit the bendlet, which had served the purpose of distinguishing this branch of the Churchill family from others which bore an undifferenced lion.<ref name="Courtenay"/>

===Arms of the 1st Duke of Marlborough===

Sir Winston's shield and crest were inherited by his son [[John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough]]. Minor modifications reflected the bearer's social rise: the helm was now shown in profile and had a closed grille to signify the bearer's rank as a peer, and there were now supporters placed on either side of the shield. They were the mythical [[Griffin]] (part lion, part eagle) and [[Wyvern]] (a dragon without hind legs).<ref name="Courtenay"/> The supporters were derived from the arms of the family of the 1st Duke's mother, Drake of [[Ash, Musbury|Ash]] (Argent, a wyvern gules; these arms can be seen on the monument in Musbury Church to Sir [[Bernard Drake]], d.1586).

The motto was ''Fiel pero desdichado'' (Spanish for "Faithful but unfortunate").<ref name="Robson, Thomas 1830, p 401">Robson, Thomas, ''The British Herald, or Cabinet of Armorial Bearings of the Nobility & Gentry of Great Britain & Ireland'', Volume I, Turner & Marwood, Sunderland, 1830, p. 401 (CHU-CLA).</ref> The 1st Duke was also entitled to a [[coronet]] indicating his rank.<ref name="Courtenay"/>

When the 1st Duke was made a [[Prince of the Holy Roman Empire]] in 1705, two unusual features were added: the Imperial Eagle and a Princely Coronet.<ref name="Courtenay"/> His estates in Germany, such as [[Mindelheim]], were represented in his arms by additional quarterings.

===Arms of the Spencer-Churchill family===

In 1817, the 5th Duke received a [[Royal Licence]] to place the quarter of Churchill ahead of his paternal arms of Spencer.<ref name=Gazette/> The shield of the [[Spencer family]] arms is: quarterly Argent and Gules, in the second and third quarters a fret Or, over all on a bend Sable three escallops of the first. The Spencer crest is: out of a ducal coronet Or, a griffin's head between two wings expanded Argent, gorged with a collar gemel and armed Gules.<ref name="Courtenay"/> Paul Courtenay observes that "It would be normal in these circumstances for the paternal arms (Spencer) to take precedence over the maternal (Churchill), but because the Marlborough dukedom was senior to the Sunderland earldom, the procedure was reversed in this case."<ref name="Courtenay"/>

Also in 1817, a further [[augmentation of honour]] was added to his armorial achievement. This incorporated the bearings from the standard of the Manor of Woodstock and was borne on an escutcheon, displayed over all in the centre chief point, as follows: Argent a cross of [[St George's cross|Saint George]] surmounted by an [[inescutcheon]] Azure, charged with three [[fleurs-de-lys]] Or, two over one. This inescutcheon represents the royal arms of France.<ref name="Courtenay"/>

These quartered arms, incorporating the two augmentations of honour, have been the arms of all subsequent Dukes of Marlborough.<ref name="Courtenay"/>

===Motto===

The [[motto]] ''Fiel pero desdichado'' is [[Spanish language|Spanish]] for 'Faithful but unfortunate'.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://winstonchurchill.org/resources/reference/the-armorial-bearings-of-sir-winston-churchill/ |title=The Armorial Bearings of Sir Winston Churchill |work=International Churchill Society |accessdate=2023-01-19}}</ref> ''Desdichado'' means without happiness or without joy, alluding to the first Duke's father, [[Winston Churchill (1620–1688)|Winston]], who was a royalist and faithful supporter of the king during the [[English Civil War]] but was not compensated for his losses after the [[Stuart Restoration|Restoration]]. [[Charles II of England|King Charles II]] [[knight]]ed Winston Churchill and other Civil War royalists but did not compensate them for their wartime losses, thereby inducing Winston to adopt the motto. It is unusual for the motto of an Englishman of the era to be in Spanish rather than [[Latin]], and it is not known why this is the case.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.churchill-society-london.org.uk/fielpero.html |title=Churchill's Motto |publisher=Churchill Society of London |access-date=20 July 2013 |archive-date=6 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220106011716/http://www.churchill-society-london.org.uk/fielpero.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Gallery of arms===

<gallery>
File:Churchill Original.svg|Original arms of the Churchill family
File:Coat of arms of John Churchill, Duke of Marlborough.svg|Arms of [[Winston Churchill (Cavalier)|Sir Winston Churchill]], the father of the 1st Duke of Marlborough
File:Coat of arms of the John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough (16xx-1722).svg|Arms of the [[John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough|1st Duke of Marlborough]], with quarterings representing his estates in Germany
MarlboroughCoatOfArms.jpg|Simple arms of the [[Spencer family|Spencer]] Dukes of Marlborough before they changed their name to "Spencer-Churchill" and took the modern arms
George Spencer, 4th Duke of Marlborough Color.jpg|Arms of [[George Spencer, 4th Duke of Marlborough]]
Arms of Spencer-Churchill, Duke of Marlborough.svg|Shield of the Spencer-Churchill Dukes of Marlborough since 1817
File:Coat of Arms of Winston Churchill as a Gentleman.svg|Arms of [[Winston Churchill]] (or any Spencer-Churchill) as a [[gentleman]]
Coat of Arms of Winston Churchill.svg|Arms of Sir Winston Churchill as a [[Knight of the Garter]]
</gallery>

===Achievement===

{{Infobox COA wide
|image = Coat of arms of the duke of Marlborough.png
|year_adopted = 1817 (by the 5th Duke of Marlborough).<ref name=Gazette/>
|coronet = [[Coronet#Commonwealth usage|Coronet of a duke]] (above the escutcheon).<br />[[Princely hat]] of the [[Holy Roman Empire]] (above the [[double-headed eagle]]).
|crest = 1st: a lion couchant guardant Argent supporting a banner Gules charged with a dexter hand couped Argent (Churchill);<br />2nd: out of a ducal coronet Or a griffin's head between two wings expanded Argent gorged with a collar gemel and armed Gules (Spencer).
|escutcheon = Quarterly:  1st and 4th, Sable a lion rampant Argent, on a canton of the second a cross Gules (Churchill);  2nd and 3rd, quarterly Argent and Gules, in the 2nd and 3rd quarters a fret Or, over all on a bend Sable three Escallops of the first (Spencer); over all in the centre chief point (as an [[augmentation of honour]]) an escutcheon Argent charged with [[Saint George's Cross]] surmounted by an inescutcheon Azure charged with three [[fleurs-de-lys]] Or, two over one.
|supporters = On either side: a [[wyvern]] wings elevated Gules.<br />Behind: the [[Reichsadler|imperial eagle]] of the Holy Roman Empire.
|motto = {{Langnf|es|Fiel Pero Desdichado|Faithful but unfortunate}}.<ref name=Debrett/>
}}

==List of title holders==

=== Earls of Marlborough, first creation (1626–1679) ===

{{main|Earl of Marlborough}}

The earldom of Marlborough was held by the family of Ley from 1626 to 1679. [[James Ley, 1st Earl of Marlborough|James Ley]], the 1st Earl (c. 1550 – 1629), was lord chief justice of the King's Bench in Ireland and then in England; he was an English member of parliament and was lord high treasurer from 1624 to 1628. In 1624, he was created Baron Ley and in 1626 Earl of Marlborough. The 3rd earl was his grandson [[James Ley, 3rd Earl of Marlborough|James]] (1618–1665), a naval officer who was killed in action with the Dutch. James was succeeded by his uncle William, a younger son of the 1st earl, on whose death in 1679 the earldom became extinct.<ref name="EB1911">{{EB1911 |inline=y |wstitle=Marlborough, Earls and Dukes of |volume=17 |page=737 }}</ref>

===Earls of Marlborough, second creation (1689)===

:''Other titles: Lord Churchill of Eyemouth, in the county of Berwick (Scotland 1682) and Baron Churchill of Sandridge, in the county of Hertford (England 1685)''

* [[John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough|John Churchill, 1st Earl of Marlborough]] (1650–1722), became Duke of Marlborough in 1702

===Dukes of Marlborough (1702)===

[[File:John Churchill, Marquis of Blandford (1686-1703), studio of Godfrey Kneller.jpg|thumb|140px|[[John Churchill, Marquess of Blandford]] (1686–1703)]]

:''Other titles: Marquess of Blandford (England 1702), Earl of Marlborough, in the county of Wiltshire (En 1689) and Baron Churchill of Sandridge, in the county of Hertford (England 1685)''
:''Other titles (1st Duke): Lord Churchill of Eyemouth, in the county of Berwick (Scotland 1682)''
* [[John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough]] (1650–1722), soldier and statesman
** [[John Churchill, Marquess of Blandford]] (1686–1703), elder son of the 1st Duke, died unmarried
* [[Henrietta Godolphin, 2nd Duchess of Marlborough]] (1681–1733), eldest daughter of the 1st Duke, succeeded her father by [[Act of Parliament]] (1706)
** [[William Godolphin, Marquess of Blandford]] (1700–1731), elder son of the 2nd Duchess, predeceased his mother without issue
* [[Anne Spencer, Countess of Sunderland (1683–1716)|Anne Spencer]], Countess of Sunderland (''née'' Lady Anne Churchill; 1683–1716), second daughter of the 1st Duke, married [[Charles Spencer, 3rd Earl of Sunderland]], predeceased her elder sister, leaving male issue
:''Other titles (3rd Duke onwards): Earl of Sunderland (England 1643) and Baron Spencer of Wormleighton (England 1729)''

* [[Charles Spencer, 3rd Duke of Marlborough]] (1706–1758), 5th Earl of Sunderland, second son of Anne Spencer, Countess of Sunderland
* [[George Spencer, 4th Duke of Marlborough]] (1739–1817), elder son of the 3rd Duke
* [[George Spencer-Churchill, 5th Duke of Marlborough]] (1766–1840), elder son of the 4th Duke
* [[George Spencer-Churchill, 6th Duke of Marlborough]] (1793–1857), eldest son of the 5th Duke
* [[John Spencer-Churchill, 7th Duke of Marlborough|John Winston Spencer-Churchill, 7th Duke of Marlborough]] (1822–1883), eldest son of the 6th Duke and paternal grandfather of [[Winston Churchill]]
* [[George Spencer-Churchill, 8th Duke of Marlborough|George Charles Spencer-Churchill, 8th Duke of Marlborough]] (1844–1892), eldest son of the 7th Duke
* [[Charles Spencer-Churchill, 9th Duke of Marlborough|Charles Richard John Spencer-Churchill, 9th Duke of Marlborough]] (1871–1934), only son of the 8th Duke
* [[John Spencer-Churchill, 10th Duke of Marlborough|John Albert William Spencer-Churchill, 10th Duke of Marlborough]] (1897–1972), elder son of the 9th Duke
* [[John Spencer-Churchill, 11th Duke of Marlborough|John George Vanderbilt Henry Spencer-Churchill, 11th Duke of Marlborough]] (1926–2014), elder son of the 10th Duke
* [[James Spencer-Churchill, 12th Duke of Marlborough|Charles James Spencer-Churchill, 12th Duke of Marlborough]] (b. 1955), eldest surviving son of the 11th Duke

The [[heir apparent]] to the dukedom is [[George Spencer-Churchill, Marquess of Blandford|George John Godolphin Spencer-Churchill, Marquess of Blandford]] (b. 1992), eldest son of the 12th Duke.

==Succession to the title==

The dukedom can theoretically pass through a female line. However, unlike the remainder to [[Hereditary peer#Writ of Summons|heirs general]] found in most other peerages that allow [[male-preference primogeniture]], the grant does not allow for [[Abeyance#Peerage law|abeyance]] and follows a more restrictive [[Semi-Salic]] formula designed to keep succession wherever possible in the male line. 

The patent originally provided that the Dukedom of Marlborough could be inherited by the heirs-male of the body of the first duke, [[Captain-General]] Sir [[John Churchill]]. However, one of his sons had died in infancy and the other died in 1703 from [[smallpox]]. 

In 1706, the [[Parliament of England]] amended the letters patent creating the Dukedom. Under Parliament's amendment to the patent, designed to allow the famous general's honour to survive after his death, the dukedom was allowed to pass to the Duke's daughters; [[Henrietta Godolphin, 2nd Duchess of Marlborough|Lady Henrietta]], the [[Anne Spencer, Countess of Sunderland (1683–1716)|Countess of Sunderland]], the [[Elizabeth Cavendish, Countess of Bridgewater|Countess of Bridgewater]] and [[Mary Montagu, Duchess of Montagu (1689–1751)|Lady Mary]] and their heirs-male—and thereafter "to all and every other the issue male and female, lineally descending of or from the said Duke of Marlborough, in such manner and for such estate as the same are before limited to the before-mentioned issue of the said Duke, it being intended that the said honours shall continue, remain, and be invested in all the issue of the said Duke, so long as any such issue male or female shall continue, and be held by them severally and successively in manner and form aforesaid, the elder and the descendants of every elder issue to be preferred before the younger of such issue."<ref name="HistoricPeerage">{{cite book |last1=Nicolas |first1=Sir Nicholas Harris |last2=Courthope |first2=William |title=The Historic Peerage of England |date=1857 |page=313}}</ref>

Succession to the title under the first and second contingencies has lapsed; holders of the title from the 3rd Duke trace their status from the third contingency:<ref name="HistoricPeerage" />

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Succession !! Notes
|-
| The heirs-male of the 1st Duke's body lawfully begotten.
| ''Extinct in 1703'' (the 1st Duke's sons all remained childless and predeceased him)
|-
| his eldest daughter<br />and the heirs-male of her body lawfully begotten.
| [[Henrietta Godolphin, 2nd Duchess of Marlborough|Henrietta]] succeeded as 2nd Duchess, but her son(s) had predeceased her by 1731
|-
| his second and other daughters, in seniority,<br />and the heirs-male of her body lawfully begotten.
|The present line; through [[Anne Spencer, Countess of Sunderland (1683–1716)|Lady Anne Churchill]]<br />''Male line from Lady Elizabeth Churchill was extinct in 1718/19''<br />''Male line from [[Mary Montagu, Duchess of Montagu (1689–1751)|Lady Mary Churchill]] was extinct in 1727''
|-
| his eldest daughter's oldest daughter<br />and the heirs-male of her body lawfully begotten.
| ''Lady Margaret Godolphin died young''
|-
| his eldest daughter's second and other daughters, in seniority,<br />and the heirs-male of her body lawfully begotten.
| ''[[Harriet Pelham-Holles, Duchess of Newcastle-upon-Tyne|Lady Henrietta Godolphin]] died without issue''<br />''Male line from [[Mary Osborne, Duchess of Leeds|Lady Mary Godolphin]] was extinct in 1964''
|-
| all other daughters of his daughters, in seniority,<br />and the heirs-male of her body lawfully begotten.
| ''Male line from Lady Anne Spencer was extinct in 1802''<br />''Male line from [[Diana Russell, Duchess of Bedford|Lady Diana Spencer]] was extinct in 1732''<br />Male line from [[Anne Russell, Duchess of Bedford|Lady Anne Egerton]] is extant (identical with that of the 3rd [[Earl of Jersey]])<br />''Male line from [[Isabella Montagu, Duchess of Manchester|Lady Isabella Montagu]] was extinct in 1787''<br />''Male line from [[Mary Montagu, Countess of Cardigan|Lady Mary Montagu]] was extinct in 1770''
|-
| colspan=2|and other descendants into the future in like fashion, with the intent that the Marlborough title never become extinct.
|-
|}

It is now very unlikely that the dukedom will be passed to a woman or through a woman, since all the male-line descendants of the 1st Duke's second daughter Anne Spencer, Countess of Sunderland&mdash;including the lines of the [[Baron Churchill (1815 creation)#Viscounts Churchill (1902)|Viscounts Churchill and Barons Churchill of Wychwood]] and of the [[Earl Spencer (peerage)|Earl Spencer]] and of the entire Spencer-Churchill and Spencer family&mdash;would have to become extinct.

If that were to happen, the Churchill titles would pass to the [[Earl of Jersey]], the heir-male of the 1st Duke's granddaughter [[Anne Russell, Duchess of Bedford|Anne Villiers (born Egerton), Countess of Jersey]], daughter of Elizabeth Egerton, Duchess of Bridgewater, the third daughter of the first Duke.

==Line of succession==

{{Collapse top|title={{small|Line of succession (simplified)}}
<ref>{{cite book |year=2019|chapter=Marlborough, Duke of |editor1-last=Morris |editor1-first=Susan |editor2-last=Bosberry-Scott |editor2-first=Wendy |editor3-last=Belfield |editor3-first=Gervase |title=Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage|volume=1 |edition=150th |location=London |publisher=Debrett's Ltd. |publication-date=|pages=2409–2414 |arxiv= |bibcode= |doi= |isbn=978-1-999767-0-5-1}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |year=2019|chapter=Churchill, Baron |editor1-last=Morris |editor1-first=Susan |editor2-last=Bosberry-Scott |editor2-first=Wendy |editor3-last=Belfield |editor3-first=Gervase |title=Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage|volume=1 |edition=150th |location=London |publisher=Debrett's Ltd. |publication-date=|pages=896–898|arxiv= |bibcode= |doi= |isbn=978-1-999767-0-5-1}}</ref>}}
{{tree list}}
* [[File:Coronet of a British Duke.svg|25px]] ''[[John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough]] (1650–1722)''
** [[File:Coronet of a British Duke.svg|25px]] ''[[Henrietta Godolphin, 2nd Duchess of Marlborough]] (1681–1733)''
** ''[[Anne Spencer, Countess of Sunderland (1683–1716)|Anne Spencer, Countess of Sunderland]] (1683–1716)''
*** [[File:Coronet of a British Duke.svg|25px]] ''[[Charles Spencer, 3rd Duke of Marlborough]] (1706–1758)''
**** [[File:Coronet of a British Duke.svg|25px]] ''[[George Spencer, 4th Duke of Marlborough]] (1739–1817)''
***** [[File:Coronet of a British Duke.svg|25px]] ''[[George Spencer-Churchill, 5th Duke of Marlborough]] (1766–1840)''
****** [[File:Coronet of a British Duke.svg|25px]] ''[[George Spencer-Churchill, 6th Duke of Marlborough]] (1793–1857)''
******* [[File:Coronet of a British Duke.svg|25px]] ''[[John Spencer-Churchill, 7th Duke of Marlborough]] (1822–1883)''
******** [[File:Coronet of a British Duke.svg|25px]] ''[[George Spencer-Churchill, 8th Duke of Marlborough]] (1844–1892)''
********* [[File:Coronet of a British Duke.svg|25px]] ''[[Charles Spencer-Churchill, 9th Duke of Marlborough]] (1871–1934)''
********** [[File:Coronet of a British Duke.svg|25px]] ''[[John Spencer-Churchill, 10th Duke of Marlborough]] (1897–1972)''
*********** [[File:Coronet of a British Duke.svg|25px]] ''[[John Spencer-Churchill, 11th Duke of Marlborough]] (1926–2014)''
************ [[File:Coronet of a British Duke.svg|25px]] '''[[James Spencer-Churchill, 12th Duke of Marlborough]]''' (born 1955) 
************* '''(1)''' [[George Spencer-Churchill, Marquess of Blandford]] ({{Born in|1992}})
************* '''(2)''' Lord Caspar Spencer-Churchill ({{Born in|2008}}) {{sup|[[#notes_and_sources|2]]}}
************ '''(3)''' Lord Edward Spencer-Churchill ({{Born in|1974}}) {{sup|[[#notes_and_sources|2]]}}
*********** ''Lord Charles Spencer-Churchill (1940–2016)''
************ '''(4)''' Rupert Spencer-Churchill ({{Born in|1971}}) {{sup|[[#notes_and_sources|2]]}}
************ '''(5)''' Dominic Spencer-Churchill ({{Born in|1979}}) {{sup|[[#notes_and_sources|2]]}}
************* '''(6)''' Ivor Spencer-Churchill ({{Born in|2014}})
************ '''(7)''' Alexander Spencer-Churchill ({{Born in|1983}}) {{sup|[[#notes_and_sources|2]]}}
************* '''(8)''' Jake Spencer-Churchill ({{Born in|2018}})
********** ''[[Lord Ivor Spencer-Churchill]] (1898–1956)''
***********male issue and descendants in remainder
******** ''[[Lord Randolph Churchill|Lord Randolph Spencer-Churchill]] (1849–1895)''
********* ''[[Winston Churchill|Sir Winston Spencer-Churchill]] (1874–1965)''
********** ''[[Randolph Churchill|Randolph Spencer-Churchill]] (1911–1968)''
*********** ''[[Winston Churchill (1940–2010)|Winston Spencer-Churchill]] (1940–2010)''
************male issue and descendants in remainder
***** [[File:Coronet of a British Baron.svg|25px]] ''[[Francis Spencer, 1st Baron Churchill]] (1779–1845)''
******[[File:Coronet of a British Baron.svg|25px]] [[Baron Churchill (1815 creation)|Barons Churchill]]
**** ''[[Lord Charles Spencer]] (1740–1820)''
***** ''John Spencer (1767–1831)''
****** ''Frederick Spencer (1796–1831)''
******* ''Charles Spencer (1827–1898)''
******** ''Sir Charles Spencer (1869–1934)''
********* ''John Spencer (1907–1977)''
**********male issue and descendants in remainder
********* ''Charles Spencer (1909–1963)''
**********male issue in remainder
*** ''[[John Spencer (British politician)|John Spencer]] (1708–1746)''
**** [[File:Coronet of a British Earl.svg|25px]] ''[[John Spencer, 1st Earl Spencer]] (1734–1783)''
*****[[File:Coronet of a British Earl.svg|25px]] [[Earl Spencer (title)|Earls Spencer]]
** ''[[Elizabeth Churchill, Countess of Bridgewater]] (1687–1714)''
*** ''[[Anne Russell, Duchess of Bedford|Anne Villiers, Countess of Jersey]] (1705–1762)''
**** [[File:Coronet of a British Earl.svg|25px]] ''[[George Villiers, 4th Earl of Jersey]] (1735–1805)''
***** [[File:Coronet of a British Earl.svg|25px]] [[Earl of Jersey|Earls of Jersey]]
{{Tree list/end}}

{| class=wikitable
|+ Notes and sources{{anchor|notes_and_sources}}
! Mark !! Note <!--Source for listing or note on exclusion from succession-->
|-
| align="center" | '''2''' || Issue from second marriage
|-
| align="center" | '''3''' || Issue from third marriage
<!--
|-
| align="center" | '''4''' || Issue from fourth marriage
|-
| align="center" | '''A''' || Absolute primogeniture
|-
| align="center" | '''S''' || Salic law
|-
| align="center" | '''I''' || Excluded for being born out of wedlock.
|-
| align="center" | '''B''' || Barred to succeed if there are nearest male relative -->
|}

{{collapse bottom}}

==Family trees==

[[File:The 1st Duke of Marlborough's genealogy.PNG|thumb|center|600px|The 1st Duke of Marlborough's genealogy]]
<section begin=FamilyTree />
{{Marlborough family tree}}
<section end="FamilyTree" />

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==

{{Commons category multi|Dukes of Marlborough|House of Churchill}}
* [https://www.blenheimpalace.com/ Blenheim Palace website]

{{Extant British dukedoms}}
{{Dukes of Marlborough}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Marlborough}}
[[Category:Dukedoms in the Peerage of England]]
[[Category:Spencer-Churchill family| Duke]]
[[Category:Dukes of Marlborough| ]]
[[Category:Peerages created with special remainders]]
[[Category:Noble titles created in 1702]]