1-152-205 - Ann Ronan Picture Library/Heritage-Images

Queen Anne receiving the Duke of Marlborough, 19th century. Anne (1665-1714) was Queen of Great Britain and Ireland from 1702. She was the second daughter of James II and sister of Mary II. John Churchill commanded the British and allied forces in the War of the Spanish Succession early in the 18th century. He won a series of victories over the French including Blenheim (1704), Ramillies (1706), Oudenaarde (1708) and Malplaquet (1709). In 1704 after his victory at Blenheim, a grateful Queen Anne rewarded Churchill by making him Duke of Marlborough and providing him with a palace at government expense, which he subsequently named after the site of the battle.