BattlefieldsSiege of Faringdon
Medieval

Siege of Faringdon

1145
Oxfordshire, England
Also known as: Battle of Faringdon 1145
Era
Medieval
Battle Type
Siege
Location
Oxfordshire, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Empress Matilda
Forces
Matilda relief force: c.2,000–3,500.
VS
Victor
King Stephen
Forces
Stephen: c.3,000–5,000
Outcome
Stephen took Faringdon Castle; Robert of Gloucester's relief force defeated
The Battle

History & Significance

One of the decisive late-Anarchy engagements. Stephen took the newly-built Angevin castle at Faringdon and repelled a relief force. The loss of Faringdon weakened the Empress's power base in the Thames Valley and marked the effective end of her military capacity in England. She left for Normandy the following year, never to return.

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