This major civil war battle took place on Lansdown Hill, just outside Bath. The area was controlled by Parliamentary forces, commanded by Major General Sir William Waller. They were outnumbered by Royalist troops commanded by Sir Ralph Hopton.
When the two armies engaged, the parliamentarians occupied the crest of the hill and so had the advantage, forcing Hopton to retreat. Waller then unleashed his cavalry down the steep slopes to attack the retreating Royalist troops.
However, the Royalist infantry and in particular its Cornish pikemen stood firm. They forced the Parliamentary cavalry back up the steep slope, and then the troops attacked.
After fierce fighting, the Parliamentary forces retreated. The Royalists had won the battle – but suffered extremely heavy losses - it was a pyrrhic victory.
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