BattlefieldsSiege of Bamburgh Castle (Wars of the Roses — 1462)
Medieval

Siege of Bamburgh Castle (Wars of the Roses — 1462)

1462–1464
Northumberland, England
Also known as: Bamburgh 1462 · Bamburgh 1462–1464
Era
Medieval
Battle Type
Siege
Location
Northumberland, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Lancastrian garrison
Forces
Lancastrian garrison c. 200–400.
VS
Victor
Yorkists (Warwick / Montagu)
Forces
Yorkist (Warwick/Montagu) c. 2,000–3,000
Outcome
Castle eventually taken; first English castle reduced by cannon fire
The Battle

History & Significance

Together with Dunstanburgh and Alnwick, Bamburgh was the last Lancastrian holdout after Towton. The sieges of 1462–64 were notable for the first use of artillery to systematically reduce English castles. Warwick brought cannon by sea and threatened to execute prisoners if the ancient masonry was damaged. The eventual surrender in 1464 ended organised Lancastrian resistance in northern England.

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