Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough
Sarah Churchill, née Jenyns, known from 1689 to 1702 as the Countess of Marlborough, then as Duchess of Marlborough (* May 29, 1660 in Sandridge, Hertfordshire, England; † October 18, 1744 in Marlborough House, London ), was a childhood friend and close confidante of Queen Anne and the wife of John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, whose career they significantly promoted through their influence on the queen. She was one of the most influential women of her time.
Life
Sarah Jenyns ( the spelling Jennings came only in later authors ) was the daughter of MPs Richard Jenyns of Sandridge (around 1618-1668 ) and his wife Frances Thor Hurst ( 1615-1693 ) was born. Since 1673 she lived as a maid of honor of Mary of Modena in the household of the Duke of York, later King James II of England. There she became close friends with his daughter Anne, who was younger a few years. Sarah's older sisters were Frances (1648-1731), later Duchess of Tyrconnell, and Barbara († 1678), who married the lawyer Edward Griffith.
1677 she married the influential John Churchill. Because of its role in the Glorious Revolution, the detachment of James II by with his eldest daughter Mary married William III. led to the English throne, John Churchill was created Earl. Sarah and John Churchill had also an on Anne that they give up their right of succession in favor of William, if Mary were to die before him. Thus they secured Wilhelm the crown for life and ensured political stability.
Despite this political support Williams III. it came both between the king and John Churchill as well as between the Queen Mary and her sister Anne to increasing differences. This led ultimately to the fact that John Churchill resigned all his offices and Sarah Churchill was forbidden by the Queen Mary to appear at the royal court. Princess Anne retired also back from the royal court.
After Anne's accession to the throne in 1702 Sarah Churchill became the chief maid of honor at the royal court and exerted great influence on the queen from. John Churchill, who belonged to the Whigs, was repeatedly attacked by the Tories. In a letter to the Queen Anne wrote towards the end of 1703 to Sarah Churchill and in which they made use of alias names, they assured the couple their loyalty:
"I'm not you, my love, nor Mr. Freeman [ John Churchill ], nor ever let Mr. Montgomery ( Godolphin ) in the lurch, but always remain your faithful servant; and the four of us may never separate till death mows us with his unflinching hand. "
The relationship between the two women was, however, over the years increasingly tense. The Nobel Prize, British Prime Minister and descendant of Sarah and John Churchill, Winston Churchill wrote:
" About this time (1707 ) were the relationships Sarah the Queen in a precarious state. It was made by her mistress into the cabinet as a scapegoat for the penetration of the Whigs. Anna hated the Whigs from the bottom of my heart, but her ministers saw, since only half of the Tory party they supported, no way, the war ( against France ) without the Whigs continue. Sarah lost the friendship of the queen, because she thought it her duty to her to advise a government policy, which was in line with the Parliament. At the same time appeared a rival. When Sarah got older and the responsibilities of a great lady, who commanded more power than a cabinet minister, getting heavier load on her, she sought the permanent stress caused by personal service to the Queen, who had filled so many years of her life to escape. Anna's friends did not have it easy. She demanded of her companions that they were all day around them and until late into the night playing cards with her. Sarah was looking for a way out to get rid of the burden of this lasting togetherness. Abigail Hill, a poor relation, she found a suitable understudy. She led them into the lives of the Queen as a " maid " or maid. After a while the new staff won the affection of the queen. Sarah felt relieved, spent more time on land and devoted himself to her family "
Despite the great military success, the John Churchill had won at the Battle of Blenheim for the British nation, were Sarah and John Churchill, Duke and Duchess now of Marlborough in 1711 into exile. Only after the death of Queen Anne in 1714, they returned to the UK and were resumed with great honor in the royal court.
The construction work at Blenheim Palace, John Churchill had received as a reward for his military success over Louis XIV, were resumed. The Duke died in 1722 and did not live to the completion of this palace. Sarah Churchill, who now held the role of the building owner of this palace, fell out with the great Baroque architect John Vanbrugh - construction management then took Nicholas Hawksmoor.
Sarah Churchill died in 1744 in London.
Works
- An Account of the Conduct of the Dowager Duchess of Marlborough, from Her First Coming to Court to the Year 1710 - London:. Printed by James Bettenham, for George Hawkins, 1742