BattlefieldsAnarchy — Faringdon Castle Siege and Skirmish 1145
Medieval

Anarchy — Faringdon Castle Siege and Skirmish 1145

1145
England
Era
Medieval
Battle Type
Pitched Battle
Location
England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Robert of Gloucester
Forces
Earl Robert of Gloucester garrison
VS
Victor
Stephen of England
Forces
Stephen's royal forces besieging
Outcome
Castle fell to Stephen; imperialist strategic position in the upper Thames weakened
The Battle

History & Significance

Earl Robert of Gloucester built a new castle at Faringdon as an offensive outpost to threaten Stephen's midland positions. Stephen besieged it promptly. The garrison held briefly before being starved out. A rare Anarchy-era example of Stephen taking aggressive initiative to eliminate an imperial strongpoint.

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