BattlefieldsAnarchy — Devizes Relief Operations 1139
Medieval

Anarchy — Devizes Relief Operations 1139

1139
Wiltshire, England
Era
Medieval
Battle Type
Pitched Battle
Location
Wiltshire, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Bishop Roger of Salisbury
Forces
Bishop Roger of Salisbury's garrison
VS
Victor
Stephen
Forces
Stephen besieging
Outcome
Devizes surrendered to Stephen under duress; further alienated the bishops from royalist cause
The Battle

History & Significance

After King Stephen arrested Roger of Salisbury and his family at Oxford, Empress Matilda and her allies scrambled to secure Devizes Castle which Roger held. The castle was besieged by Stephen. Roger's nephew Alexander of Lincoln only surrendered it after Stephen threatened to hang Roger. A pivotal early Anarchy episode for control of the southwest.

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