BattlefieldsSiege of Wallingford Castle 1139
Medieval

Siege of Wallingford Castle 1139

1139
Oxfordshire, England
Also known as: Wallingford Castle Anarchy siege 1139
Era
Medieval
Battle Type
Siege
Location
Oxfordshire, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
King Stephen (siege abandoned)
Forces
Stephen: varied royal forces
VS
Victor
Empress Matilda (castle holds)
Forces
Garrison: Brian fitz Count with Angevin troops
Outcome
Stephen failed to reduce the castle; it remained a Matildine stronghold throughout the Anarchy
The Battle

History & Significance

Wallingford was the most persistently held castle of the entire Anarchy, garrisoned for Matilda by Brian fitz Count. Stephen besieged it repeatedly without success. Its fall would have severed the Thames corridor between Oxford and London. Its stubbornness forced the eventual peace of 1153.

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