Dagmar Spencer-Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough
Encyclopedia
Rosita Spencer-Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough (born 26 September 1943 Madrid) is a British artist and third (and former wife) of John Spencer-Churchill, 11th Duke of Marlborough
.
She was born Countess Dagmar Rosita Astrid Libertas Douglas in Madrid
, Spain
, the younger daughter of count Carl (Carl Ludvig) Douglas (26 July 1908 Stjärnorp
- 21 January 1961 Rio de Janeiro
), a Swedish
nobleman and diplomat who was Royal Swedish Ambassador to Brazil, and his Prussia
n wife Ottora Maria Haas-Heye (13 February 1910 Partenkirchen - 17 July 2001, died aged 91), maternal granddaughter of Philip, Prince of Eulenburg and Hertefeld, by his wife Augusta, countess Sandels. She grew up as a diplomat’s child, travelling all over the world but spent her summers at the family home, the castle of Stjärnorp, which belonged to Rosita's paternal grandfather, general Archibald Douglas.
Rosita Douglas attended schools in Sweden and in Washington DC. She studied arts at Sweden’s renowned art school Konstfack
in Stockholm, and then at the École nationale supérieure des arts décoratifs
in Paris. While in Paris she also worked for the famed fashion designer, Emanuel Ungaro
and later as a freelance designer in London.
on 20 May 1972, whereupon she became The Duchess of Marlborough. They had three children:
The duke and duchess were divorced in 2008, after several years of living separately. According to several articles, the Duchess moved to a house on the Blenheim estate and also bought herself a house in France.
by marriage, Duchess Marie-Caroline of Wurttemberg, and their three sisters, Helene, Elisabeth, and Maria-Anna, who are all Princesses of Bavaria. Her elder sister Elisabeth
(b. 1940) is married since January 1967 to Prince Max, Duke in Bavaria
, heir presumptive to the Headship of the Royal House of Bavaria, and also heir presumptive to the Jacobite pretensions to the thrones of England, Scotland, Ireland, and France. Her older brother is Swedish
count
and businessman Gustaf Douglas
.
Her maternal aunt was Libertas Schulze-Boysen
, née Haas-Heye (1913–1942), who with her husband, Harro Schulze-Boysen
(1909–1942), were executed by the Nazis. Her maternal great-grandfather was Philip, Prince of Eulenburg and Hertefeld (1847–1921), a friend of Wilhelm II, whose youngest child Viktoria Ada Astrid Agnes Gräfin zu Eulenburg (1886–1967) married 1909 (divorced in 1921) professor Otto Ludwig Haas-Heye (1879–1959), and had issue, including two daughters. Rosita descends through both her mother and father from medieval Scandinavian nobility and rulers. However, her father's patriline is Scottish, of the Swedish-German branch, descended via two obscure generations, descended from the youngest son of James Douglas, 1st Baron of Dalkeith, ancestor of the 15th century Earls of Morton
. All these Douglases were of the Morton branch of the ancient Douglas
family.
John Spencer-Churchill, 11th Duke of Marlborough
John George Vanderbilt Henry Spencer-Churchill, 11th Duke of Marlborough, DL, JP , is the son of Lt.-Col. John Spencer-Churchill, 10th Duke of Marlborough and his wife, Hon. Alexandra Mary Hilda Cadogan. His principal seat is Blenheim Palace, in Woodstock, Oxfordshire...
.
She was born Countess Dagmar Rosita Astrid Libertas Douglas in Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, the younger daughter of count Carl (Carl Ludvig) Douglas (26 July 1908 Stjärnorp
Stjärnorp Castle
Stjärnorp Castle is situated north of Linköping, in the southern province of Östergötland, Sweden. It was built by the Douglas Family, with a view over Lake Roxen.- History :...
- 21 January 1961 Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
), a Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
nobleman and diplomat who was Royal Swedish Ambassador to Brazil, and his Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
n wife Ottora Maria Haas-Heye (13 February 1910 Partenkirchen - 17 July 2001, died aged 91), maternal granddaughter of Philip, Prince of Eulenburg and Hertefeld, by his wife Augusta, countess Sandels. She grew up as a diplomat’s child, travelling all over the world but spent her summers at the family home, the castle of Stjärnorp, which belonged to Rosita's paternal grandfather, general Archibald Douglas.
Rosita Douglas attended schools in Sweden and in Washington DC. She studied arts at Sweden’s renowned art school Konstfack
Konstfack
Konstfack or University College of Arts, Crafts and Design is a university college for higher education in the area of art, crafts and design in Stockholm, Sweden.- History :...
in Stockholm, and then at the École nationale supérieure des arts décoratifs
École nationale supérieure des arts décoratifs
The École Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs is a public university of art and design and is one of the most prestigious French grande école...
in Paris. While in Paris she also worked for the famed fashion designer, Emanuel Ungaro
Emanuel Ungaro
Emanuel Ungaro is a French fashion designer.-Early life:Ungaro's Italian father fled to France from Francavilla Fontana of Brindisi province because of the fascist uprising in Italy...
and later as a freelance designer in London.
Marriage and divorce
She became the third wife of John Spencer-Churchill, 11th Duke of MarlboroughJohn Spencer-Churchill, 11th Duke of Marlborough
John George Vanderbilt Henry Spencer-Churchill, 11th Duke of Marlborough, DL, JP , is the son of Lt.-Col. John Spencer-Churchill, 10th Duke of Marlborough and his wife, Hon. Alexandra Mary Hilda Cadogan. His principal seat is Blenheim Palace, in Woodstock, Oxfordshire...
on 20 May 1972, whereupon she became The Duchess of Marlborough. They had three children:
- Lord Richard Spencer-Churchill (born 1973; died four months later as an infant)
- Lord Edward Albert Charles Spencer-Churchill (born 1974),
- Lady Alexandra Elizabeth Spencer-Churchill (born 1977).
The duke and duchess were divorced in 2008, after several years of living separately. According to several articles, the Duchess moved to a house on the Blenheim estate and also bought herself a house in France.
Rosita Marlborough as a painter
In 1992, the duchess returned to art as a professional. She has had two solo exhibitions in London and one in Palm Beach. Her first show in London in 1995 featured figurative paintings. Since then, she traveled to Morocco in 1996, and her paintings of Moroccan themes sold briskly. She has since exhibited and sold paintings in London, New York, and Palm Beach. Her paintings and sculptures are in collections around the world. She has also had a retrospective Rosita Marlborough: A Retrospective at the Elizabeth de C. Wilson Museum at the Southern Vermont Arts Center from July 15-September 1, 2006.Family connections
Rosita Marlborough is a maternal aunt of Sophie, Hereditary Princess of LiechtensteinSophie, Hereditary Princess of Liechtenstein
Sophie, Hereditary Princess of Liechtenstein , is the wife of Alois, Hereditary Prince of Liechtenstein, Regent of Liechtenstein and heir apparent to the Liechtensteiner throne.-Early life and education:...
by marriage, Duchess Marie-Caroline of Wurttemberg, and their three sisters, Helene, Elisabeth, and Maria-Anna, who are all Princesses of Bavaria. Her elder sister Elisabeth
Princess Elisabeth, Duchess in Bavaria
align="right"|Princess Elisabeth, Duchess in Bavaria is the wife of Prince Max, Duke in Bavaria, heir presumptive to both the former Bavarian Royal House and the Jacobite Succession.-Family background:...
(b. 1940) is married since January 1967 to Prince Max, Duke in Bavaria
Prince Max, Duke in Bavaria
Max-Emanuel Ludwig Maria Herzog in Bayern, sometimes styled Prince Max of Bavaria, Duke in Bavaria, born 21 January 1937 as son of Albrecht, Duke of Bavaria, is the heir presumptive to both the headship of the former Bavarian Royal House and the Jacobite Succession...
, heir presumptive to the Headship of the Royal House of Bavaria, and also heir presumptive to the Jacobite pretensions to the thrones of England, Scotland, Ireland, and France. Her older brother is Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
count
Count
A count or countess is an aristocratic nobleman in European countries. The word count came into English from the French comte, itself from Latin comes—in its accusative comitem—meaning "companion", and later "companion of the emperor, delegate of the emperor". The adjective form of the word is...
and businessman Gustaf Douglas
Gustaf Douglas
Count Gustaf Archibald Siegwart Douglas is a Swedish businessman and politician, member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences since 2007....
.
Her maternal aunt was Libertas Schulze-Boysen
Libertas Schulze-Boysen
Libertas Schulze-Boysen, born Libertas Viktoria Haas-Heye was a German opponent of the Nazis who belonged to the Red Orchestra resistance group during the Third Reich.- Early years :Schulze-Boysen spent her childhood at her grandfather's estate Philip, Prince of Eulenburg and Hertefeld...
, née Haas-Heye (1913–1942), who with her husband, Harro Schulze-Boysen
Harro Schulze-Boysen
Heinz Harro Max Wilhelm Georg Schulze-Boysen was a German officer, commentator, and German Resistance fighter against German dictator Adolf Hitler's Nazi régime.- Early life :...
(1909–1942), were executed by the Nazis. Her maternal great-grandfather was Philip, Prince of Eulenburg and Hertefeld (1847–1921), a friend of Wilhelm II, whose youngest child Viktoria Ada Astrid Agnes Gräfin zu Eulenburg (1886–1967) married 1909 (divorced in 1921) professor Otto Ludwig Haas-Heye (1879–1959), and had issue, including two daughters. Rosita descends through both her mother and father from medieval Scandinavian nobility and rulers. However, her father's patriline is Scottish, of the Swedish-German branch, descended via two obscure generations, descended from the youngest son of James Douglas, 1st Baron of Dalkeith, ancestor of the 15th century Earls of Morton
Earl of Morton
The title Earl of Morton was created in the Peerage of Scotland in 1458 for James Douglas of Dalkeith. Along with it, the title Lord Aberdour was granted. This latter title is the courtesy title for the eldest son and heir to the Earl of Morton....
. All these Douglases were of the Morton branch of the ancient Douglas
Clan Douglas
Clan Douglas is an ancient Scottish kindred from the Scottish Lowlands taking its name from Douglas, South Lanarkshire, and thence spreading through the Scottish Borderland, Angus, Lothian and beyond. The clan does not currently have a chief, therefore it is considered an armigerous clan.The...
family.
Ancestry
Styles
- Countess Dagmar Rosita Astrid Libertas Douglas-Stjernorp auf Mühlhausen und Langenstein (1943–1972)
- Her Grace The Duchess of Marlborough (1972–2008)
- Rosita, Duchess of Marlborough (2008–present)
External links
- Official website, including official biography
- Biography
- Descendants of Count Carl Israel Douglas and his wife, an illegitimate daughter of a Grand Duke of BadenLudwig I, Grand Duke of BadenLudwig I, Grand Duke of Baden became Grand Duke on December 8, 1818.He was the uncle of his predecessor Karl Ludwig Friedrich, and when he died the Zähringen line of the Baden house came to an end...
(patrilineal ancestors of Rosita), also archived at family history website. Retrieved 12 December 2008. - Partial ancestry of Rosita Marlborough with ancestors no. 14 and 15 being her parents.