Sedgemoor, 1685: An Account and an Anthology

by David G. Chandler

This is the definitive account of the last pitched battle fought on English soil, when the attempt by James Scott, Duke of Monmouth and son of Charles II, to seize the throne was crushed by the Royalist army under Lord Feversham. 300 of his followers were sentenced to death during the infamous Judge Jeffrey's Bloody Assizes and Monmouth was subsequently beheaded on Tower Hill.

Genres: History

216 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1985

About the author

David G. Chandler was a British historian whose study focused on the Napoleonic era. As a young man he served briefly in the army, reaching the rank of captain, and in later life he taught at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst. According to his obituary in the The Daily Telegraph, his "comprehensive account of Napoleon's battles" (his classic "The Campaigns of Napoleon") is "unlikely to be improved upon, despite a legion of rivals". He was also the author of a military biography of John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough and of "The Art of War in the Age of Marlborough".

Reviews

[Joseph Ficklen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book, with a brief 100 page narrative of Monmouth’s Rebellion in 1685 and the climactic battle of Sedgemoor, followed by another 100 pages of eyewitness accounts and appendices. Chandler clearly believes that Charles II was married to Lucy Walters when Monmouth was born, making him by rights a true-born Prince of Wales, a tempting conclusion to be sure. If Argyll’s rising in Scotland had been successful, or if Monmouth had been able to leave Holland sooner, if the weapons at Lyme had not been seized, if Monmouth had been able to capture Bristol, if the rebel army had been able to press their success at Philips Norton, if Monmouth had only succeeded in his daring flank march on the Royal Army the night of July 6th… No matter what counterfactuals one proposes, it does not change the fact that Monmouth was defeated, captured, and executed by his vengeful uncle, James II. Great book, well written, good maps and illustrations, highly recommended!

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good book split into two parts 1st part the story 2nd part statements and witnesses so I just read part 1.