BattlefieldsBattle of Sevenoaks 1450
Medieval

Battle of Sevenoaks 1450

1450
Kent, England
Era
Medieval
Battle Type
Pitched Battle
Location
Kent, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Royal loyalist forces
Forces
royal loyalist troops including Sir Humphrey Stafford and William Stafford
VS
Victor
Jack Cade's rebels
Forces
Kentish rebels under Jack Cade
Outcome
Rebel victory; royal forces under the Staffords were defeated and both commanders killed
The Battle

History & Significance

The Battle of Sevenoaks, also known as the Battle of Solefields, took place on 18 June 1450 during Jack Cade's Rebellion, in which Kentishmen had revolted against King Henry VI of England from 8 May of that year. The engagement resulted in a notable reverse for royal forces, with Sir Humphrey Stafford of Grafton, Worcestershire, and his cousin William Stafford of Southwick being killed on 7 June 1450 at Sevenoaks in Kent. The two Staffords were among the loyal troops sent to suppress the rebellion.

Following the battle, the surviving rebels who had participated in Jack Cade's rebellion were pardoned by King Henry VI on 7 July 1450. Cade himself, who had adopted the alias 'John Mortimer', was pardoned under that name until his true identity was discovered, whereupon he was killed by Alexander Iden on 12 July after resisting arrest for treason. His corpse was subjected to a mock trial at Newgate Prison, beheaded, dragged through the streets of London, and quartered, with his limbs sent throughout the county of Kent where the rebellion had originated.

Confirmed battlefield location
Buried history

Sir Humphrey Stafford of Grafton and his cousin William Stafford of Southwick were killed on 7 June 1450 at Sevenoaks in Kent during Jack Cade's Rebellion, representing a significant blow to royal efforts to suppress the Kentish uprising against Henry VI.

Casualties & Losses

Sir Humphrey Stafford of Grafton and William Stafford of Southwick killed

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