Battlefields›Siege of Taunton Castle (Anarchy)
Medieval

Siege of Taunton Castle (Anarchy)

1138
Somerset, England
Era
Medieval
Battle Type
Siege
Location
Somerset, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Empress Matilda's supporters
Forces
Matilda supporters: c. 200–400 garrison.
VS
Victor
Royalists (Stephen)
Forces
Royalists: c. 2,000–3,500
Outcome
King Stephen's royalist forces successfully captured Taunton Castle after a siege, forcing the surrender of Matilda's supporters and securing the castle for the crown.
The Battle

History & Significance

Taunton held for Matilda; besieged by Stephen

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

Protected heritage nearby

Scheduled Monuments near Siege of Taunton Castle (Anarchy)

Borough Bank, a section of medieval town defences 70m north of St Mary Magdalene Church
Scheduled monument · ~0.3 miles
Taunton Castle: a motte and bailey castle, part of the outer bailey, an Anglo-Saxon cemetery and a Civil War artillery platform
Scheduled monument · ~0.4 miles
Norton Camp large univallate hillfort
Scheduled monument · ~2.2 miles
Poundisford Park pale
Scheduled monument · ~2.6 miles
Bradford Bridge
Scheduled monument · ~3.8 miles
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