The History of William Marshal was commissioned by his son shortly after William’s death in 1219 to celebrate the Marshal’s remarkable life; it is an authentic, contemporary voice. The manuscript was discovered in 1861 by French historian Paul Meyer. Meyer published the manuscript in its original Anglo-French in 1891 in two books. This book is a line by line translation of the first of Meyer’s books; lines 1-10152. Book 1 of the History begins in 1139 and ends in 1194. It describes the events of the Anarchy, the role of William’s father John, John’s marriages, William’s childhood, his role as a hostage at the siege of Newbury, his injury and imprisonment in Poitou where he met Eleanor of Aquitaine and his life as a knight errant. It continues with the accusation against him of an improper relationship with Margaret, wife of Henry the Young King, his exile, and return, the death of Henry the Young King, the rebellion of Richard, the future King Richard I, war with France, the death of King Henry II, and the capture of King Richard, and the rebellion of John, the future King John. It ends with the release of King Richard and the death of John Marshal.
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Marquess of Blandford is in Marquessates of England Alphabetically, Marquessates of England Chronologically, Succeeded Marchionesses of England, Extant Marquessates of England.
Summary
December 1702. John Churchill 1st Duke of Marlborough (age 52) created.
16th June 1722. Daughter Henrietta Churchill 2nd Duchess of Marlborough (age 40) succeeded.
24th October 1733. Nephew Charles Spencer 3rd Duke of Marlborough (age 26) succeeded.
20th October 1758. Son George Spencer 4th Duke of Marlborough (age 19) succeeded.
29th January 1817. Son George Spencer-Churchill 5th Duke of Marlborough (age 50) succeeded.
5th March 1840. Son George Spencer-Churchill 6th Duke of Marlborough (age 46) succeeded.
1st July 1857. Son John Winston Spencer-Churchill 7th Duke of Marlborough (age 35) succeeded.
5th July 1883. Son George Charles Spencer-Churchill 8th Duke of Marlborough (age 39) succeeded.
9th November 1892. Son Charles Richard John Spencer-Churchill 9th Duke of Marlborough (age 20) succeeded.
30th June 1934. Son John Albert William Spencer-Churchill 10th Duke of Marlborough (age 36) succeeded.
11th March 1972. Son John Spencer-Churchill 11th Duke of Marlborough (age 45) succeeded.
16th October 2014. Son James Spencer-Churchill 12th Duke of Marlborough (age 58) succeeded.
In December 1702 John Churchill 1st Duke of Marlborough (age 52) was created 1st Duke Marlborough, 1st Marquess of Blandford. Sarah Jennings Duchess of Marlborough (age 42) by marriage Duchess Marlborough.
On 16th June 1722 John Churchill 1st Duke of Marlborough (age 72) died at Cranbourne Lodge, Windsor. His daughter Henrietta (age 40) succeeded 2nd Duchess Marlborough, 2nd Marchioness of Blandford, 2nd Countess of Marlborough, 2nd Baroness Churchill of Sandridge in Hertfordshire. Francis Godolphin 2nd Earl Godolphin (age 43) by marriage Duke Marlborough.
On 24th October 1733 Henrietta Churchill 2nd Duchess of Marlborough (age 52) died. Her nephew Charles (age 26) succeeded 3rd Duke Marlborough, 3rd Marquess of Blandford, 3rd Earl of Marlborough, 3rd Baron Churchill of Sandridge in Hertfordshire. Elizabeth Trevor Duchess of Marlborough (age 20) by marriage Duchess Marlborough.
On 20th October 1758 Charles Spencer 3rd Duke of Marlborough (age 51) died. His son George (age 19) succeeded 4th Duke Marlborough, 4th Marquess of Blandford, 4th Earl of Marlborough, 4th Baron Churchill of Sandridge in Hertfordshire, 6th Earl of Sunderland, 8th Baron Spencer Wormleighton.
On 29th January 1817 George Spencer 4th Duke of Marlborough (age 78) died. His son George (age 50) succeeded 5th Duke Marlborough, 5th Marquess of Blandford, 5th Earl of Marlborough, 5th Baron Churchill of Sandridge in Hertfordshire, 7th Earl of Sunderland, 9th Baron Spencer Wormleighton. Susan Stewart Duchess of Marlborough (age 49) by marriage Duchess Marlborough.
On 5th March 1840 George Spencer-Churchill 5th Duke of Marlborough (age 73) died. His son George (age 46) succeeded 6th Duke Marlborough, 6th Marquess of Blandford, 6th Earl of Marlborough, 6th Baron Churchill of Sandridge in Hertfordshire, 8th Earl of Sunderland, 10th Baron Spencer Wormleighton. Jane Stewart Duchess of Marlborough (age 42) by marriage Duchess Marlborough.
On 1st July 1857 George Spencer-Churchill 6th Duke of Marlborough (age 63) died. His son John (age 35) succeeded 7th Duke Marlborough, 7th Marquess of Blandford, 7th Earl of Marlborough, 7th Baron Churchill of Sandridge in Hertfordshire, 9th Earl of Sunderland, 11th Baron Spencer Wormleighton. Frances Anne Emily Vane Duchess of Marlborough (age 35) by marriage Duchess Marlborough.
On 5th July 1883 John Winston Spencer-Churchill 7th Duke of Marlborough (age 61) died. His son George (age 39) succeeded 8th Duke Marlborough, 8th Marquess of Blandford, 8th Earl of Marlborough, 8th Baron Churchill of Sandridge in Hertfordshire, 10th Earl of Sunderland, 12th Baron Spencer Wormleighton. Albertha Frances Anne Hamilton Duchess of Marlborough (age 36) by marriage Duchess Marlborough.
Chronicle of a Bourgeois of Valenciennes
Récits d’un bourgeois de Valenciennes aka The Chronicle of a Bourgeois of Valenciennes is a vivid 14th-century vernacular chronicle written by an anonymous urban chronicler from Valenciennes in the County of Hainaut. It survives in a manuscript that describes local and regional history from about 1253 to 1366, blending chronology, narrative episodes, and eyewitness-style accounts of political, military, and social events in medieval France, Flanders, and the Low Countries. The work begins with a chronological framework of events affecting Valenciennes and its region under rulers such as King Philip VI of France and the shifting allegiances of local nobility. It includes accounts of conflicts, sieges, diplomatic manoeuvres, and the impact of broader struggles like the Hundred Years’ War on urban life in Hainaut. Written from the perspective of a burgher (bourgeois) rather than a monastery or royal court, the chronicle offers a rare lay viewpoint on high politics and warfare, reflecting how merchants, townspeople, and civic institutions experienced the turbulence of the 13th and 14th centuries. Its narrative style combines straightforward reporting of events with moral and civic observations, making it a valuable source for readers interested in medieval urban society, regional politics, and the lived experience of war and governance in pre-modern Europe.
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On 9th November 1892 George Charles Spencer-Churchill 8th Duke of Marlborough (age 48) died. His son Charles (age 20) succeeded 9th Duke Marlborough, 9th Marquess of Blandford, 9th Earl of Marlborough, 9th Baron Churchill of Sandridge in Hertfordshire, 11th Earl of Sunderland, 13th Baron Spencer Wormleighton.
On 30th June 1934 Charles Richard John Spencer-Churchill 9th Duke of Marlborough (age 62) died. His son John (age 36) succeeded 10th Duke Marlborough, 10th Marquess of Blandford, 10th Earl of Marlborough, 10th Baron Churchill of Sandridge in Hertfordshire, 12th Earl of Sunderland, 14th Baron Spencer Wormleighton. Alexandra Mary Cadogan Duchess of Marlborough (age 34) by marriage Duchess Marlborough.
On 11th March 1972 John Albert William Spencer-Churchill 10th Duke of Marlborough (age 74) died. He was buried at St Martin's Church, Bladon [Map] next to the grave of his first wife Alexandra Mary Cadogan Duchess of Marlborough who died in 1961. His son John (age 45) succeeded 11th Duke Marlborough, 11th Marquess of Blandford, 11th Earl of Marlborough, 11th Baron Churchill of Sandridge in Hertfordshire, 13th Earl of Sunderland, 15th Baron Spencer Wormleighton.
On 16th October 2014 John Spencer-Churchill 11th Duke of Marlborough (age 88) died. His son James (age 58) succeeded 12th Duke Marlborough, 12th Marquess of Blandford, 12th Earl of Marlborough, 12th Baron Churchill of Sandridge in Hertfordshire, 14th Earl of Sunderland, 16th Baron Spencer Wormleighton.