Sedgemoor 1685: The Night That Failed a Rebellion

On the night of 6 July 1685, the poorly armed Monmouth rebels slipped onto the wet, uneven moor to launch a daring attack that would ultimately collapse and set the stage for William’s invasion two years later. This episode dissects what really happened, why the terrain turned an advantage into a disaster, how contemporary reports and surviving evidence shape our view, and how the failure at Sedgemoor left a climate of fear that fed into the Glorious Revolution. We separate the facts from the myths, examining Monmouth’s political ambition, royal response, and long‑term implications for Parliament and monarchy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices