BattlefieldsPrayer Book Rebellion — march to London 1549
Tudor

Prayer Book Rebellion — march to London 1549

1549
Devon, England
Also known as: Western Rising march 1549
Era
Tudor
Battle Type
Skirmish
Location
Devon, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Western rebels
Forces
Prayer Book rebels c.1,000–2,000.
VS
Victor
Crown (Somerset)
Forces
Crown forces c.2,000–4,000
Outcome
Small western rebel contingent reached as far as Salisbury plain before being turned back by news of Russell's approach; main rebel force remained in Devon
The Battle

History & Significance

While the main Prayer Book Rebellion was focused on the siege of Exeter, a contingent of rebels from Cornwall and Devon marched eastward, reaching the edge of Wiltshire before being turned back. Had the two great Tudor rebellions of 1549 — the Western Rising and Kett's Rebellion — coordinated their actions, Somerset's government might have collapsed. The failure of coordination between geographically separated rebellions was a recurring weakness of Tudor-era uprisings.

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