The Campaign

"The Campaign" is a poem by Joseph Addison, published in 1705. It celebrates the military victories of John Churchill, the 1st duke of Marlborough, particularly his triumph at the Battle of Blenheim in 1704. The poem was commissioned by the government and was instrumental in boosting Addison's career, leading to important government posts.1

The word "campaign" itself originated from the French word for "countryside" and was adopted into military use by the mid-17th century to describe an army's summer expedition. Addison's poem elevated the term by associating it with significant military achievement and national pride.21