The Battle of Sedgemoor was the final and decisive engagement of the Monmouth Rebellion, between forces loyal to James II and rebel forces led by the Duke of Monmouth. It was fought on 6 July 1685 at Westonzoyland near Bridgwater in Somerset, England.
The battle followed a series of skirmishes around south-west England between these two forces. King James' forces won the battle, and took about 500 prisoners. Monmouth escaped from the battlefield but was captured, taken to London and executed nine days later. Many of Monmouth's supporters were tried during the Bloody Assizes. Many were transported abroad, while others were executed by drawing and quartering.
It was the final battle of the Monmouth Rebellion, by which the rebel James Scott, Duke of Monmouth, attempted to seize the English throne from his uncle James II of England. James II had succeeded to the throne on the death of his brother Charles II on 2 February 1685; James Scott was Charles's illegitimate son.
After Monmouth landed from the Dutch Republic at Lyme Regis in Dorset, there had been a series of marches and skirmishes throughout Dorset and Somerset. Eventually Monmouth's poorly equipped army was pushed back to the Somerset Levels, becoming hemmed in at Bridgwater on 3 July. He ordered his troops to fortify the town. The force was made up of around 3,500, mostly nonconformist, artisans and farm workers armed with farm tools (such as pitchforks).
The government troops, led by Louis de Duras, 2nd Earl of Feversham, and Colonel John Churchill, were camped behind the Bussex Rhine at Westonzoyland on Sedgemoor. The infantry included:
500 men of the 1st Regiment of Foot (the Royal Scots), known as Dumbarton's Regiment, under Lieutenant-Colonel Douglas;
two battalions of the 1st or King's Royal Regiment of Guards (Grenadier Guards), respectively led by Henry FitzRoy, 1st Duke of Grafton, and Major Eaton;
600 men of the Second Regiment of Guards (later the Coldstream Guards) under Lieutenant-Colonel Sackville;
five companies of the Queen Dowager's or the Tangier Regiment (later 2nd Foot), known as "Kirke's Lambs"; and
five companies of the Queen Consort's Regiment (Kings Own Royal Regiment), also known as Trelawny's Regiment, which was commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Churchill, Colonel John Churchill's younger brother.
The Horse and Foot, the Royal Train of Artillery was camped along the road to Bridgwater.
The Royal Cavalry, with seven troops of 420 men of the Earl of Oxford's,
The Kings Regiment of Horse (Blues and Royals), led by Colonel Sir Francis Compton
The King's Own Royal Dragoons;
Three troops of the King's Horse Guards (Lifeguards).
The government forces included the following regiments:
Royal Regiment of Horse, commanded by Lieutenant General Aubrey de Vere, 20th Earl of Oxford KG
Queen's Regiment of Horse, commanded by Lieutenant General Sir John Lanier