BattlefieldsWestern Rising — Clyst St Mary Bridge Assault July 1549
Tudor

Western Rising — Clyst St Mary Bridge Assault July 1549

1549
England
Era
Tudor
Battle Type
Pitched Battle
Location
England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Western Rebels
Forces
Western rebels c.10,000
VS
Victor
Lord Russell (Royal Forces)
Forces
Lord Russell with royal forces
Outcome
Russell forced the crossing after heavy fighting; rebel line at Clyst St Mary broken; road to Exeter opened
The Battle

History & Significance

The bridge at Clyst St Mary was a critical chokepoint east of Exeter contested repeatedly during the siege of 1549. Lord Russell advancing to relieve Exeter launched a major assault on rebel positions at the bridge and the village. The fighting here on 3-4 August 1549 was among the bloodiest of the western rising, with hundreds killed on both sides before Russell broke through.

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