Siege of Exeter | |||||||
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Part of the Norman Conquest | |||||||
Part of the Exeter's Roman city wall, repaired and defended by the English in 1068. | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Exonian rebels and allies from other nearby cities | Royal forces | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Gytha Thorkelsdóttir | William I of England | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
Much of Exeter's population and allies from other local towns | Initially 500 Norman cavalry supported by English fyrd infantry |
The siege of Exeter occurred early in 1068 when King William I of England marched a combined army of Normans and loyal Englishmen westwards to force the submission of the city of Exeter in Devon, a stronghold of Anglo-Saxon resistance against Norman rule following the Norman conquest of England. After a siege lasting eighteen days, the city surrendered to William under generous terms and allowed the Normans to consolidate their hold over the West Country.