The Battle of Blenheim by John Wootton  The destruction of the Armada had preserved the life of Britain, The charge at Blenheim opened to her the gateways of the modern world, So wrote Sir Winston Churchill, the descendant of Marlborough. the battle fought near the Danube by the village of Blenheim in 1704. Between Marlboroughs Allied Army and the French Forces.  Marlborough Signing Dispatches After the Battle of Blenheim by Robert Hillingford An Equestrian Portrait of Louis XIV by a follower of Adam van der Meulen Portrait of Louis XIV on horseback, probably at the battle of Fleurus during the war of the Grand Alliance or major battle during the war of the Spanish Succession
War of Spanish Succession 1701-1714
1701  Chiari 1702  Cremona 1702  Luzzara 1702  Vigo Bay 1703  Höchstädt 1704  Donauwörth 1704  Gibraltar 1704  Blenheim 1704  Málaga 1705  Cassano d'Adda 1705  Barcelona	1706  Ramillies 1706  Turin 1707  Almansa 1707  Stollhofen 1707  Toulon 1708  Oudenarde 1708  Lille 1709  Tournai 1709  Malplaquet 1710  Brihuega 1712  Denain
The Battle of Ramillies During the two years that followed Blenheim, Marlborough was the soul of the Alliance. His great persuasive power and personal charm were as much in requisition to soothe the apprehensions and susceptibilities of his comrades in the Netherlands, Vienna and Berlin, as were his military gifts to teach Louis XVI that at length he had met his match. In April, 1706, events were in train for a second staggering blow at French power. Marlborough was at the Hague contemplating a transfer of the theatre of war to Italy, partly from disgust of the timidity of the Dutch policy, and partly because he wished to join hands with Prince Eugene, the one colleague who had proved himself worthy of confidence. Circumstance, however, compelled him to remain in the Netherlands, where the French, under Villeroi, were entrenched in their camp behind the Dyle, and the campaign offered but slight prospect of decisive result. By a bold stroke, Marlborough forced an issue.  A threat to besiege Namur brought Villeroi into the open in its defence. At the head of the renowned household troops of France he took up his position on 23rd May on Mont St Andre, a part of the highest ground in Brabant. He adopted a crescent formation, the tips of the half-moon advancing towards the Allies. This gave Marlborough, who lay facing the centre, the supreme advantage of being able to strike where he chose before the enemy could reinforce against him. Part of the ground on the French right was and eminence called the "Tomb of Ottomond", which commanded the whole field. This was the key of the position. The opposing forces each numbered about 60,000 men. The issue lay with superior generalship and valour. Marlborough, whose objective was the "Tomb of Ottomond", made a feigned attack on the enemy's left, which Villeroi took seriously, only to realise, too late, the true intentions of the Allies. Nevertheless a sturdy fight was made for the retention of the Tomb. It was held by the French household cavalry, in whose ranks fought scores of young French nobles, who set fame before life. These beat off the attack of the Dutch horse, and Marlborough had to hasten up with fresh squadrons. In the turmoil he was surrounded , thrown from his charger, and nearly captured, but, taking taking the horse of his aide-de-camp, he renewed the charge with such vigour that the enemy gave way and the height was captured. The success was rapidly followed up in other parts of the field, and three and a half hours after the first encounter the French were in full flight, abandoning their baggage and most of their guns. In killed, wounded and prisoners, they lost 15,000 men, whilst the Allies had over 3,000 casualties.  Text by William Maxwell 1902.
Battle of Malplaquet  It was under very changed conditions from Blenheim when Marlborough met the troops of Louis at Malplaquet. France was well-nigh worn out by the prolonged war. Famine within her borders, military disaster without, had caused her imperious ruler to look anxiously for peace. To this end his craftiest Ministers sought by offers of individual advantage to detach the Allies from the pact. Their efforts failed. The Alliance held fast, and demanded such humiliating conditions that Louis was obliged to renew the struggle. On the other hand, the political situation in England was such that Marlborough felt the necessity of achieving some victory that would justify the continuance of the war. Had he consulted only himself, he would have welcomed a cessation of hostilities, but he knew that France must be further stricken if the peace was to be enduring. In September, 1709, the capitulation of Douai to the Allies, and the approaching investment of Mons, brought the hostile armies closer together. The French, to the number of 110,000 were under the courageous and capable Villars, with whom was Marshal Boufflers, the brave defender of Lille. Marlborough commanded much the same strength of various nationalities with his tried comrade and friend Prince Eugene. Villars encamped in a strong position between two woods near the little village of Malplaquet. The Allies were drawn up opposite to him. For two nights and a day, the French general was allowed to strengthen his position by digging trenches and clearing his front, till early on the morning of the 11th September the Allied troops were led against him, the soldiers expressing their contempt at being "obliged to fight against moles". Villars believed in his trenches and filled them with infantry, posting his cavalry in the rear. The disposition of the Allies was a frontal attack, with a threat to enfilade the enemy's left. Led by Prince Eugene and Marlborough the line advanced against the French left and centre. Several times it was beaten back, but the attack was fiercely renewed. Half an hour after the battle had opened the young Prince of Orange, acting without orders, flung himself against the right of the trenches, only to be repulsed with a loss of 2,000 men. Although the Allies had not made much headway their onslaught on the flanks had withdrawn all the infantry from the centre, leaving the French cavalry exposed. Instantly Marlborough turned his cannon on the horsemen, following up the fire with a cavalry charge headed by the Prince of Auvergne. The charge had to be driven home no less than four times before the French gave way, but in the end the line was pierced. The French retreat was orderly, the Allies being too exhausted for pursuit. The cost to the victors was 18,000 killed and wounded; to the vanquished 14,000. Writing of the battle many years afterwards, Bolingbroke said: " A deluge of blood was spilt to dislodge them, for we did no more at Malplaquet."  Text by William Maxwell 1902.
The First Guards in the great campaigns of Marlborough, from 1702 to 1711.   While a detachment took part in the expeditions to Cadiz and Vigo, the regiment itself fought in the splendid operation in the Low Countries in 1702 and 1703. Marlborough himself became its Colonel in 1704. The fine strategic march on the Danube, that most brilliant conception of the great captain's genius, brought the First Guards with the forces, to Danauwerth and to the foot of the lofty fortified heights of Schellenberg, where the French and Bavarians, under D'Arco, were posted in a position of colossal strength. Fifty grenadiers of the First Guards under Captain Mordaunt, an impetuous son of a famous father, the great Earl of Peterborough celebrated in our military annuls, led the way as a forlorn hope, and in the terrific fire of grape, 40 of them fell dead or wounded. A withering hail met the advancing Guards, with Orkney's and Ingoldsby's regiments, and D'Arco, perceiving that the line wavered ordered a sally. The First Guards stood like a rock to receive the downward charge for a few moments almost alone, but help coming, a furious onslaught was made, and the enemy fled to his lines. Happily some Baden troops made a diversion, and very soon the Englishmen, with an impetuous rush, poured over the entrenchments and drove the enemy in panic from his works. At the decisive victory at Blenheim 6 weeks later (August 13th) the Guards again fought with the greatest intrepidity in the attack on the village palisades. Dormer, in command was killed; Mordaunt lost an arm; others were seriously wounded. (Excerpt from the Navy and Army Gazette November 20th 1896 by Leyland)
The Scots Greys during the Great Campaigns of Marlborough  The attack is delivered, the charge sounded, and away go the stormers, the cavalry moving up in support. The troopers, mounted on their strongly built grey horses, swing slowly along. Orders are suddenly shouted. The regiment dismounts, musket in hand, and with a cheer the gallant Greys, led by their colonel Lord John Hay, charge the French entrenchments. They leap over, an irresistible living flood; the enemy's ranks waver and finally break; they fly in every direction. The Irish Dragoons, who have been brigaded with the Scots, gallop off in pursuit. The Greys hastily remount and dash away to participate in the general rout. The day is decided, and the heights of Schellenberg are won. After this brilliant victory the army went through several manoeuvres and marches which eventually brought on the decisive battle of Blenheim, when 24 battalions of French infantry and 12 squadrons of cavalry were captured. The village of Blenheim covered the right of the enemy's line, and the Greys were ordered to attack and drive out the enemy. Meanwhile the action became general along the whole line. The French and Bavarian allies were driven from their position and routed with immense slaughter. Marshal Tallard, the chief in command, was taken prisoner. The Greys and their comrades in arms dashed at the village, stormed position after position, charged and scattered its defenders. It was a glorious sight, one eminently calculated to stir the blood to madness and to nerve the army of the weakest. 8,000 allied cavalry, in tow long lines, charged the opposing horsemen, 10,000 strong. The artillery played so fiercely on the advance that they were at first forced to retire. Then the enemy's gun fire slackened. Marlborough put himself at the head of the Cavalry and with irresistible vehemence the line dashed forward. The French horsemen wavered and then fled pell-mell. The action was long and arduous, but British  pluck and dash prevailed. The enemy gave way, then rallied and attempted to force the cordon which was being drawn tightly round them. Each successive attempt was repulsed, until surrounded on every side they made on last desperate wild cat rush to secure their retreat. They took advantage of one loophole. But in vain! The Greys were too quick for them. They charged out, swooped down upon them and headed them off. The French were caged like rats in a trap, and sullenly threw down their arms. It was estimated at the time that our loss was about 12,000 killed and wounded, while that of the enemy was at least 40,000. Although the regiment took a very prominent part in the struggle, they had wonderful luck, and lost not a single officer or man. By this great victory the French and Bavarian Forces were hopelessly shattered. The prestige of the former received such a tremendous shock that it never once recovered during the remainder of the war. The great English General very nearly met his death at Blenheim. A cannonball smashed into the ground so near him that he was quite covered with earth and dust, greatly to the consternation of his staff. By this wonderfully narrow escape Marlborough became convinced that it was an evident sign that a special Providence was taking care of him on that eventful day. In consequence of his brilliant victory he was made a Prince of the Roman Empire, which caused him to assume quite a considerable amount of state. He used to eat his meals alone, and made his son-in-law, the Duke of Montague, stand in attendance upon him. But this exhibition of personal vanity occurred only when he was abroad, where he was invariably recognised and saluted by the title of Highness. After the battle the regiment was marched into Holland to winter quarters. Before doing so, however, the King of the Romans visited the English Camp, the Greys with Marlborough at their head, formed a guard of honour to receive him.  Excerpt from the Navy and Army Illustrated January 15th 1897 by G F Bacon
History of the First Royal Scots at Donauwerth At the Schellenberg, commanding Donauwerth, which preceded Blenheim, the Royals, at a frightful cost of life, helped to storm the entrenchments of the French and Bavarians on a hill top; and when, in spite of all their desperate efforts to oust the foe from his terribly strong position, the scales of battle seemed to be against them, the Scots Greys impatiently flung themselves from their saddles, and stormed up the hillside to the succour of their hard-pressed countrymen, with whom they presently shook hands on the abandoned ramparts of the enemy. Curiously enough the Schellenberg had once before (in 1632) been similarly stormed by "Hepburn's Scots", who were the lineal ancestors, i.e, ante-cessores, of the Royals. At Ramillies, which followed two years after Blenheim, the Royals again contributed to a most complete and crushing victory over their old friends the French, under Marshal Villeroi, an immense number of prisoners with guns, standards, and colours being captured. The regiment was posted on the right, and with several other British, Dutch and German corps was employed in making a feint on the French left, while Marlborough himself at the head of his shining cavalry, made a dash for and crumpled up the centre and right. The Royals were passive and impatient spectators of the fight for about an hour; but at length their time came, and with a cheer they dashed forward on the foe. The heroes of the Schellenberg and Blenheim fought like men resolved to die rather than lose their reputation; and the French, Spanish and Bavarians were speedily overthrown and driven headlong from the field with a terrible slaughter. (