Siege of Reading

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Siege of Reading

Part of First English Civil War

Date	4 November 1642-25 April 1643
Location	Reading, Berkshire
Result	Royalist garrison surrendered

Belligerents

Parliamentary army

Royalist garrison

Commanders

Robert Devereux, 3rd Earl of Essex

Sir Arthur Aston
King Charles I
Prince Rupert

Strength

16,000+

2,000+

v • d • e

First English Civil War

1st Hull - Powick Bridge - Edgehill - Aylesbury - Brentford - Turnham Green - Hopton Heath - Chalgrove Field - Braddock Down - Stratton - Lansdowne - Seacroft Moor - Roundway Down - Sourton Down - Adwalton Moor - Gainsborough - 2nd Hull - Winceby - Reading - Gloucester - 1st Newbury - Alton - Cheriton - Nantwich - Boldon Hill - Newark - York - Bolton - Cropredy Bridge - Marston Moor - Lostwithiel - 2nd Newbury - Taunton - Naseby - Langport - Rowton Heath - Stamford Hill - Stow-on-the-Wold - Oxford

The Siege of Reading refers to the English Civil War military campaign waged to besiege a Royalist garrison quartered in the town of Reading, Berkshire from 4 November 1642- 25 April 1643.

[edit] Background

In late October 1642, King Charles returned to Oxford from the indecisive Battle of Edgehill (23 October). On the 4 November, he entered Reading from Oxford and later that month retired leaving a Royalist garrison, of 2,000 foot soldiers and a cavalry regiment, under Sir Arthur Aston.

The town and townspeople suffered many privations due to the demands of the garrison for money and lodging.

On April 13 1643, the Earl of Essex at the head of a Parliamentary army of 16,000 men left Windsor and laid siege to Reading using cannon. Despite attempts by the King and Prince Rupert to lift the siege, the Royalist garrison surrendered on the 26 and 27 April 1643.

Reading stayed a Parliamentary possession for the remainder of the Civil War, except for a single Royalist incursion.