Discover how the rivalry between Louis XIV and the Duke of Marlborough shaped the continent through warfare, diplomacy and shifting alliances, leaving a legacy that continues to resonate today.
Author of King of the World: the life of Louis XIV, Dr Philip Mansel recounts Marlborough’s critical role in the struggle to prevent Louis XIV from dominating Europe.
Both men stood at the head of competing European coalitions. While Louis XIV fought to secure Ireland for the Stuarts and Spain for the Bourbons, Marlborough proved a brilliant diplomat, maintaining Britain’s vital alliances with the Netherlands and the Holy Roman Empire, as well as winning victories on the battle-field.
The story stretches across a continent in conflict. Both Louis XIV and Marlborough sought the favour of Charles XII, King of Sweden, who was fighting Russia for control of Poland and Ukraine, until his defeat at Poltava in 1709, near the battlefields of Ukraine today.
Dr Mansel also explores the extraordinary political intrigues surrounding Marlborough’s dismissal as Commander-in-Chief in 1711. From exile in Frankfurt, he planned to lead Dutch and Hanoverian troops to invade England and secure the Protestant Succession for the future George I, at a time when some of Queen Anne’s Tory ministers secretly supported Louis XIV’s ally, the Old Pretender.
Despite Marlborough’s victories, the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713 left Spain in Bourbon hands, a dynasty that continues to reign there today.
From royal courts and battlefields to diplomacy and dynastic rivalries, this fascinating talk explores Britain’s role at the heart of Europe, reminding us that Europe is behind us as well as in front of us.
Event Details:
Date: Wednesday 11 November 2026
Location: Royal Hospital Chelsea State Apartments (enter via London Gate)
Schedule:
18:00 – 18:30: Drinks reception in the State Apartments
18:30 – 19:15: Lecture
19:15 – 19:30: Q&A