BattlefieldsAction at Pontefract Castle 1645
English Civil War

Action at Pontefract Castle 1645

1645
Yorkshire, England
Also known as: Pontefract Castle siege 1645
Era
English Civil War
Battle Type
Siege
Location
Yorkshire, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Parliamentarians
Forces
Parliamentary besiegers c.1,500–2,000
VS
Victor
Royalists (held)
Forces
Royalist garrison c.200–300
Outcome
Royalist garrison held Pontefract Castle through 1645 and into 1646 despite repeated Parliamentary attempts to reduce it
The Battle

History & Significance

Pontefract Castle was one of the strongest Royalist fortresses in the north; its garrison of Cavaliers held through 1644 and 1645 despite Parliamentary blockade; it was briefly retaken for the Royalists by a bold coup in 1648 and only finally surrendered in 1649 on direct order of the executed king.

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