Battle of Lincoln (1141)

The Battle of Lincoln or the First Battle of Lincoln took place in the context of the dispute over the succession to the English king Henry I. died in 1135 during the English Civil War on February 2, 1141.

Battle Record

The army of King Stephen besieged Lincoln Castle, which was defended by a garrison of the Earls of Chester Ranulphs. Ranulph asked his father Robert of Gloucester, the half-brother of Empress Matilda for help, together with Miles de Gloucester and a relieving army marched the end of January to Lincoln. At least one third of the fighters said to have consisted of a terrible Welsh mob who supported Ranulph and was led by the kings Cadwaladr ap Gruffydd of Gwynedd, Madog ap Maredudd of Powys and Owain Morgan from Caerleon .. Stephen, of the Earls of Richmond, Norfolk, Huntingdon, Surrey, Worcester and York, and was supported by William of Ypres, pulled the relieving army counter in front of the city.

While the heavily armed knights of the Earl of York, the lightly armed Welsh were massacred on the wing, the mounted knight of the royal army was defeated by the Knights of the Earl of Chester in the escape. The dismounted fighting king has now enclosed with his contingent from all sides and had to surrender after a brave fight, and the Earl of Richmond was taken prisoner. The city of Lincoln, whose citizens had supported the king, was plundered by the victors.

The captive king was brought to the prison in Bristol. However, the party of the Empress could not use the victorious conclusion of the Civil War victory, as was captured in September Robert of Gloucester in the Battle of Winchester. Matilda exchanged her half- brother to the king, so that went on the fighting.