The Great Siege of Newcastle 1644 - Softcover

Sadler, John; Serdville, Rosie

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0752459899 ISBN 13: 9780752459899

Publisher: The History Press, 2011

Synopsis

In the autumn of 1644 was fought one of the most sustained and desperate sieges of the First Civil War when Scottish Covenanter forces under the Earl of Leven finally stormed Newcastle-upon-Tyne, the King’s greatest bastion in the north-east and the key to his power there. The city had been resolutely defended throughout the year by the Marquis of Newcastle, who had defied both the Covenanters and Northern Parliamentarians. Newcastle had held sway in the north-east since the outbreak of the war in 1642. He had defeated the Fairfaxes at Adwalton Moor and secured the City of Newcastle as the major coal exporter and port of entry for vital Royalist munitions and supply. Without this the north was lost, if anything Newcastle was more important, in strategic terms, than York and it was the City’s fall in October which marked the final demise of Royalist domination of the north. The book tells the story of the people who fought there, what motivated them, and who led them there. It is also an account of what happened on the day, a minute-by-minute chronicle of Newcastle’s bloodiest battle. The account draws heavily on contemporary source material, some of which has not received a full airing in the past. The siege is celebrated by the motto under the city coat of arms. It reads Fortiter Defendit Triumphans, which means "She bravely and triumphantly defends."

About this title

About the Author:

John Sadler has had a lifelong interest in military history. He now combines writing with lecturing in history at Newcastle University and working as a battlefield tour guide, living history interpreter, and heritage consultant. His other books include Culloden and Clan Donald’s Greatest Defeat.

About this edition

• Publisher: The History Press
• Publication date: 2011
• ISBN 10: 0752459899
• ISBN 13: 9780752459899
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 128