BattlefieldsSiege of Lincoln Castle during the Anarchy
Medieval

Siege of Lincoln Castle during the Anarchy

1140
Lincolnshire, England
Also known as: Stephen's Siege of Lincoln Castle 1140
Era
Medieval
Battle Type
Siege
Location
Lincolnshire, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Stephen
Forces
Stephen c.2,000–3,000
VS
Victor
Matilda (Ranulf of Chester)
Forces
Ranulf of Chester c.1,500–2,500
Outcome
Castle held against Stephen; precipitated the Battle of Lincoln 1141
The Battle

History & Significance

Ranulf of Chester seized Lincoln Castle for Empress Matilda in 1140, sparking the crisis that led to Stephen's defeat. The castle's position dominating the Roman city gave it enormous strategic value. Stephen's inability to retake it — and his subsequent defeat trying — was a turning point of the Anarchy.

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

Aubrey Research

Explore the landscape around Lincolnshire

Aubrey generates in-depth historical research for any location in Britain — drawing on Domesday records, scheduled monuments, Victorian OS maps, geological data and archaeological archives to tell the full story of a place.

Research a location near Lincolnshire