Battlefields›Siege of Dunster Castle 1139
Medieval

Siege of Dunster Castle 1139

1139
Somerset, England
Also known as: Dunster Anarchy siege · William de Mohun at Dunster
Era
Medieval
Battle Type
Siege
Location
Somerset, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
King Stephen forces
Forces
Stephen forces c.600–1,200
VS
Victor
William de Mohun (Matilda faction)
Forces
Matilda faction c.800–1,500
Outcome
Castle held for Matilda throughout the Anarchy
The Battle

History & Significance

William de Mohun held Dunster Castle for Empress Matilda, making it a persistent Matildine stronghold on the Somerset coast.

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

Protected heritage nearby

Scheduled Monuments near Siege of Dunster Castle 1139

Black Ball Camp: a later prehistoric defended settlement on Gallox Hill
Scheduled monument · ~0.7 miles
Bat's Castle: a small multivallate hillfort and associated outwork
Scheduled monument · ~0.9 miles
Early Christian to medieval settlement and cemetery
Scheduled monument · ~1.3 miles
Later prehistoric defended enclosure, Long Wood
Scheduled monument · ~2 miles
Three round barrows on Withycombe Common, 360m north of Fire Tower
Scheduled monument · ~2.3 miles
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Submission of Canterbury to William I 1066
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