The Siege of Pendennis Castle
Pendennis Castle had a role in the English Civil War. It was the last Royalist position in the West of England, and a Royalist garrison withstood a five-month siege (March 1646 to 17 August 1646) from Parliamentarian forces before surrendering. The English Parliamentary forces attacked the castle from both land and sea, and the Cornish Royalist garrison at Pendennis was under the command of the 70-year-old Sir John Arundel, aided by Sir Henry Killigrew. Pendennis was the antepenultimate stronghold—before Raglan Castle and Harlech Castle—to hold out for the Royalists. About 1,500 men, women and children survived the 155-day siege at the castle before being forced to surrender because of starvation. Previously it had given sanctuary to Queen Henrietta Maria, and the Prince of Wales (Charles II), before their escape to France.
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