From the Roman period to the Jacobite rebellions and beyond, the battles fought across these isles have led to dramatic turning points in history. In many cases their impact is still relevant today as they have contributed to the shaping of British laws, institutions and our concepts of identity. This site aims to provide detail on those battles, including interpretation of the action, to aid visitors in their quest to explore and understand these significant events.
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Shrewsbury (1403)
In July 1403 the powerful Percy family rebelled against Henry IV and allied themselves with the Welsh freedom fighter Owain Glyndŵr. As the two rebel forces attempted to rendezvous with each other, the King cornered Sir Henry 'Hotspur' Percy and, at the Battle of Shrewsbury (1403), crushed the English element of the rebellion.
Wakefield (1460)
The Battle of Wakefield (1460) was a calculated attempt by the Lancastrians to eliminate Richard, Duke of York. Little is known about the action but the Duke was successfully enticed out from the safety of Sandal Castle and ambushed. In the subsequent skirmish his forces were massacred and both the Duke and his second eldest son were killed.
Hopton Heath (1643)
After the outbreak of the Civil War, the Royalists withdrew loyal supporters from across the Midlands region in order to create a mobile field army. However, this left the wider area vulnerable and in March 1643 a Parliamentary army moved to capture Stafford. A Royalist force was dispatched to stop them and defeated the Parliamentarians at the Battle of Hopton Heath (1643).
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