Bavarian Flags at Blenheim (1704)

The Elector of Bavaria charges into battle

In the battle of Blenheim, the Elector of Bavaria and his French allies were defeated by the Duke of Marlborough and Prince Eugene.  Nine Bavarian flags were captured in the course of the battle, and they were listed in a London newspaper as follows:


"Nine standards of blue satin, richly embroidered with the Bavarian arms; six belonging to the Elector's own troops, and three to those of Cologne, having the following devices and mottoes."
1st. A laurel; motto, Aut Coronari aut rumpi.
2d. An olive-tree on a rock; motto, Per Ardua Laurus.
3d. A pillar reaching to the clouds; motto, Tantum Umbra movetur.
4th. A bear rampant; motto, Ex Vulnere Crudelior.
5th. A dove with a laurel branch; motto, Uni servo fidem.
6th. A chaos; motto, Obstantia firmant.
7th. A helmet with a feather on a pedestal; motto, Ex duris Gloria.
8th. An olive-tree shading serpents; motto, Nocet Umbra nocenti.
9th. A standard of the Elector's guards with the colour torn to pieces."


The source for this report is The Historical Record of the 5th, or Princess Charlotte of Wales' Regiment of Dragoon Guards, available at http://www.gutenberg.org/files/54607/54607-h/54607-h.htm

Queen Anne on the Victory at Ramillies

After the Battle of Ramillies (May 23, 1706), the Duke of Marlborough wrote to Queen Anne to tell here of his victory.  Here is her reply: "The great glorious success which God almighty has been pleased to bless you with, and his preservation of your person*, one can never thank him enough for, and next to Him all things are owing to you; it is impossible for me every to say as much as I ought in return of your great and glorious services to me."

"British infantry attacking French infantry at the Battle of Ramillies" by Richard Simkin

Queen Anne had a good grasp of primary causes (God) and secondary causes (the Duke of Marlborough) that contributed to the victory at Ramillies.

*Marlborough had been in personal danger at least twice during the battle: once when his horse threw him and he was pursued by French cavalry, and again when a cannonball killed the aide holding his stirrup so the Duke could mount.

Escape of the Elector of Bavaria (1702)

"Our proceedings soon attracted a number of the burghers, one of whom, becoming impatient at seeing our examination of the place, began to abuse us, and eventually so lost his self control, that he took aim at the Elector, declaring that he would smash his "Shrove Tuesday Mask" for him.
Happily a worthy lawyer was of their number, who knocked aside the gun and advised the man to be careful what he was doing, saying that the Bavarians wished for nothing better than to have such a pretext for ravaging their own towns and lands.  But the brute was obstinate and aimed a second time at the Elector, exclaiming that the mask annoyed him, and that he did not care for consequences of any sort.  The lawyer, who kept a sharp eye on him, once again prevented him from firing, and thus saved the life of the Elector.  It made one tremble to learn from the burghers, after the surrender of the town, the risk His Highness had run.  Had not the lawyer prevented this single shot the Bavarian War would have come to an end."

Quote from pg. 93, Chronicles of an Old Campaigner by M. De la Colonie, translated by Walter C. Horsley

Image by Richard Knotel

Theresa Sobeska, Electress of Bavaria

"He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: for there were many with me"--Psalm 55:18

"The lamentable situation of the Electress and her children appealed strongly to the chivalry of Marlborough.  "It has made my heart ache," he wrote to the Duchess, "being very sensible how cruel it is to be separated from what one loves."

"On November 10 a treaty was concluded by the King of the Romans and the Bavarian representatives, whereby the Electress undertook to disband her husband's army, to surrender his fortunes, and to restore his conquests.  In return she was permitted to reside at Munich, to receive a sufficient revenue, and to maintain a personal guard of 400 men."--pp. 245, 251, Wars of Marlborough by Frank Taylor

Theresa Kundegarde Sobieska was born in 1676.  In 1695, she married Maximilian II Emmanuel, Elector of Bavaria.  1695 was the middle of the Nine Years War, as France and the Holy Roman Empire clashed in Europe.  The Nine Years War ended in 1697, and Bavaria enjoyed peace.

But the peace was broken in 1702 with the outbreak of the War of the Spanish Succession.  Max Emmanuel changed sides, joining France against the Holy Roman Empire.  This new Franco-Bavarian force was poised along the Rhine, until the Duke of Marlborough shattered it at the Battle of Blenheim.  The Elector with the remains of his army joined the French in their retreat, leaving his wife as vice-regent of Bavaria.  The Allies wasted Bavaria with fire and sword, to compel the Elector to surrender.  On November 10, 1704, the Electress signed a treaty with the Holy Roman Emperor.  When the war ended in 1713, the Elector returned to his dominions, which had been saved for him by his wife, Theresa Kundegarde Sobieska.

Queen Anne

"Honour all men.  Love the brotherhood.  Fear God.  Honour the king."--1 Peter 2:17

Queen Anne, "in dying" says Klose, confirmed the belief, that had long prevailed, of her partiality for the exiled Prince, by exclaiming, "Oh, my dear brother, how I pity you!"--pg. 322, History of the Irish Brigades in the Service of France by John Cornelius O'Callaghan.

Prince George and Princess Anne of Denmark

Queen Anne I of Great Britain was born February 6, 1665 to James, Duke of York and Anne Hyde.  On July 28, 1683, she married Prince George of Denmark, becoming Princess Anne of Denmark.  When William III invaded England, George and Anne deserted James II and joined William.

In 1702, William III died and the crown passed to Anne, who was, author G. A. Henty says "good-nature itself".  Anne determined to let her brother succeed her, perhaps in hopes of undoing her desertion of her father, and reorganized the army to that end.  Most of the people were in favor of her brother, James III, having the crown. In God's providence, however, she died just before her plans could be finished, saying that she pitied her "dear brother".

Despite the fact that her plan was undone, Queen Anne is remembered fondly today.  Under her, British troops won the War of the Spanish Succession with the Duke of Marlborough leading them.

Rather than idly wishing that her brother would succeed, she worked towards it.  So should we.