BattlefieldsCornish Rebellion — march through Somerset and Wiltshire 1497
Tudor

Cornish Rebellion — march through Somerset and Wiltshire 1497

1497
Somerset, England
Also known as: Cornish march 1497 Somerset
Era
Tudor
Battle Type
Skirmish
Location
Somerset, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Crown levies
Forces
Crown levies c.1,000–3,000; rebels gained recruits during march.
VS
Victor
Cornish rebels
Forces
Cornish rebels c.8,000–15,000
Outcome
Cornish army of 15,000 marched through Somerset; attracted English supporters; royal forces unable to intercept
The Battle

History & Significance

The Cornish march through Somerset attracted additional English recruits sympathetic to the rebels' grievance against taxation. The ability of a rebel army to march 300 miles without being intercepted demonstrated the weakness of early Tudor military organisation. Henry VII was in the north of England and had to rush south; his available forces in London were insufficient to intercept until the army had nearly reached the capital.

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