BattlefieldsCovenanting capture of Edinburgh Castle 1639
English Civil War

Covenanting capture of Edinburgh Castle 1639

1639
Scotland
Era
English Civil War
Battle Type
Pitched Battle
Location
Scotland
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Forces
Not recorded in historical accounts
Forces
Edinburgh Castle royalist garrison
VS
Victor
Not recorded in historical accounts
Forces
Covenanting escalade party
Outcome
Edinburgh Castle seized by Covenanters; royalist governor expelled
The Battle

History & Significance

Edinburgh Castle was held for Charles I by the royalist governor but the Covenanters seized it by surprise in March 1639. A small Covenanting party gained entry through a night escalade and overpowered the garrison. The capture of Edinburgh Castle gave the Covenanters control of the most important military installation in Scotland and denied it to the Crown for the duration of the Bishops Wars.

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

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