BattlefieldsSecond Bishops War — Scottish Seizure of Edinburgh Castle 1640
English Civil War

Second Bishops War — Scottish Seizure of Edinburgh Castle 1640

1640
Midlothian, Scotland
Also known as: Edinburgh Castle Second Bishops War 1640 · Covenanters hold Edinburgh Castle 1640
Era
English Civil War
Battle Type
Siege
Location
Midlothian, Scotland
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Crown (English garrison)
Forces
English attempts to reinforce frustrated
VS
Victor
Covenanters
Forces
Covenanting garrison
Outcome
Edinburgh Castle held by Covenanting forces throughout Second Bishops War; king unable to use it as base
The Battle

History & Significance

By the Second Bishops War Edinburgh Castle was securely in Covenanting hands. Its continued control denied Charles I any military base in Scotland and allowed the Covenanting government to operate freely from Edinburgh while their army invaded England. The castle that had symbolised royal power in Scotland was turned against the Crown for the first time in its modern history.

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