什麼是馬博羅公爵

Marlborough, Duke of，原名約翰.邱吉爾（John Churchill）。

英國軍事首領，他曾在馬斯垂剋建立戰功，並很快受到了提拔，在宮廷中也很受親近，部分原因是由於他的妻子（參閲Marlborough, Duchess of）是安妮公主（後來的女王）的親近侍女。在1685年詹姆斯二世即位後，他被授予中將軍銜和實際的總司令職務。1688年，他轉而為威廉三世效忠，被封為馬博羅伯爵，並受命接任法蘭德斯和愛爾蘭的司令官作為酬報。他同威廉三世的關係在1690年代惡化。安妮女王在西班牙王位繼承戰爭期間任命他為英國和荷蘭軍隊的司令，並因在該職位上立下的功勞而受封為馬博羅伯爵（1702）。他在布倫海姆戰役（1704）中取得的勝利幫助歐洲恢復了勢力平衡。作為對他的感謝，他被封為皇室領主，並在領地上修建了布倫海姆宮。他出色的軍事策略使他取得了很多戰爭的勝利，其中最着名的有拉米伊（1706）和奧德納爾德（1708）戰役的勝利。他同安妮女王的影響力和對戰爭的經濟支援遭到了託利黨和輝各黨的破壞。在他的輝各黨聯盟在1710年大選中敗北後，他因濫用公共財產而被解職。雖然在1714年喬治一世恢復了對他的寵信，但他從此便已退休。他被認為是英國最偉大的將軍，在拿破崙崛起前一直在歐洲享有很高的聲譽。

1650～1722年

Marlborough, Duke of

British military commander. He served with distinction at Maastricht (1673), was promoted rapidly, and advanced at court, in part because his wife (see Duchess of Marlborough) was a confidant of Princess (later Queen) Anne. On the accession of James II in 1685, he was made a lieutenant general and effective commander in chief. In 1688 he transferred his allegiance to William III, who rewarded him with the earldom of Marlborough and a succession of commands in Flanders and Ireland. His relationship with William deteriorated in the 1690s. Queen Anne appointed him commander of English and Dutch forces in the War of the Spanish Succession, and for his successes he was created duke of Marlborough (1702). His victory at the Battle of Blenheim (1704) helped change the balance of power in Europe. In gratitude, he was granted a royal manor, where Blenheim Palace was built. His outstanding military tactics continued to produce victories, notably at Ramillies (1706) and Oudenaarde (1708). His influence with Queen Anne and financial backing for the war were undermined by intrigue between Tories and Whigs. After his Whig allies lost the election of 1710, he was dismissed on charges of misuse of public money. He retired from public life, though he was restored to favor by George I in 1714. Considered one of England's greatest generals, he secured a reputation in Europe that was unrivaled until the rise of Napoleon.