BattlefieldsCornish Rebellion — Battle of Guildford 1497
Tudor

Cornish Rebellion — Battle of Guildford 1497

1497
Surrey, England
Also known as: Guildford 1497 · Cornish at Guildford
Era
Tudor
Battle Type
Skirmish
Location
Surrey, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Crown (no engagement at this point)
Forces
Crown forces c.0–500; unopposed passage, no combat.
VS
Victor
Cornish rebels (no engagement)
Forces
Cornish army c.10,000–15,000
Outcome
Cornish army passed through Guildford without opposition; Lord Daubeney shadowed but did not intercept; Cornish continued toward London
The Battle

History & Significance

The Cornish army's passage through Guildford — deep in the Surrey heartland — without opposition illustrated the inadequacy of early Tudor military organisation. Lord Daubeney's forces shadowed the rebels but did not engage, waiting for a more advantageous position. The army that had marched from Bodmin was now within twenty miles of London, an astonishing achievement for an essentially amateur rebel force.

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