Rice Powell
Encyclopedia
Rice Powell was a Colonel in the Parliamentary army during the First English Civil War
. In the Second English Civil War
he allied himself with the Royalist cause. English Civil Wars. He fought in South Wales
and played a significant part in events between 1642 and 1649 including a senior role during the Battle of St. Fagans
.
, first coming to notice for his service in Ireland prior to the start of what was to become the First English Civil War
, playing a part in quelling an insurrection in Ireland which was presumably his first taste of military life.
and Rowland Laugharne
in the defence of Pembroke Castle
and offensive actions throughout Pembrokeshire. He was appointed governor of Cardigan Castle
by Laugharne in 1644 as soon as it was captured and successfully defended it against a Royalist attack led by Sir Charles Gerard, 1st Earl of Macclesfield
.
and by 1648 he was deputising for Laugharne when he was called to London and held command of all the forces in West Wales
at the time of the order for supernumeraries to lay down their arms. Rice Powell followed John Poyer's lead and resisted this order, making a joint declaration in favour of the Royalist cause.
Apparently the rebels has been assured of Royalist support for their stance and at Carmarthen
Powell's forces met those of Colonel Fleming and Colonel Horton, who attempted to bring Powell's force to battle near Llangathen
resulting in a skirmish during which Fleming in retreat was shot and Horton was forced to withdraw as far as Brecon
to resupply.
Powell now led his forces to seize Swansea
, then Neath
before advancing into the Vale of Glamorgan
with Royalists rising in support en route, with Cardiff as their aim.
Horton headed south from Brecon rapidly and caught Powell's force camped at St Fagans within view of Cardiff and drew them to battle at what became known as the Battle of St. Fagans
in May 1648. Laugharne returned in time to retake command but was routed by Hortons force in a decisive victory.
Powell fled back to Pembrokeshire and Tenby castle where he was pursued and after a brief siege
was persuaded to an unconditional surrender
after which he was Court Martialed and sentenced to death.
In 1649 he was offered a Pardon and following the Restoration
he was released. He last comes to notice in 1665 appealing to Charles II of England
for payment of debts Powell accrued in the Royalist cause. There is no record of his debts being paid.
First English Civil War
The First English Civil War began the series of three wars known as the English Civil War . "The English Civil War" was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations that took place between Parliamentarians and Royalists from 1642 until 1651, and includes the Second English Civil War and...
. In the Second English Civil War
Second English Civil War
The Second English Civil War was the second of three wars known as the English Civil War which refers to the series of armed conflicts and political machinations which took place between Parliamentarians and Royalists from 1642 until 1652 and also include the First English Civil War and the...
he allied himself with the Royalist cause. English Civil Wars. He fought in South Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
and played a significant part in events between 1642 and 1649 including a senior role during the Battle of St. Fagans
Battle of St. Fagans
The Battle of St. Fagans was a pitched battle in the Second English Civil War in 1648. A detachment from the New Model Army defeated an army of former Parliamentarian soldiers who had rebelled and were now fighting against Parliament.-Background:...
.
Background
His background is uncertain but he is probably the son of a Lewis Powell and is from South PembrokeshirePembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire is a county in the south west of Wales. It borders Carmarthenshire to the east and Ceredigion to the north east. The county town is Haverfordwest where Pembrokeshire County Council is headquartered....
, first coming to notice for his service in Ireland prior to the start of what was to become the First English Civil War
First English Civil War
The First English Civil War began the series of three wars known as the English Civil War . "The English Civil War" was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations that took place between Parliamentarians and Royalists from 1642 until 1651, and includes the Second English Civil War and...
, playing a part in quelling an insurrection in Ireland which was presumably his first taste of military life.
English Civil War
In 1642 and the start of the war he returned to Pembrokeshire, apparently still owed arrears of pay for his Irish service and joined with John PoyerJohn Poyer
John Poyer was a soldier in the Parliamentary army during the English Civil War in South Wales. He later rebelled and was executed for treason.- Background :...
and Rowland Laugharne
Rowland Laugharne
Major General Rowland Laugharne was a soldier in the English Civil War.His family came from St. Brides House, Pembrokeshire, Wales.Major-General Laugharne, Parliament's commander in south Wales during the First Civil War, sided with the insurgents and took command of the rebel army...
in the defence of Pembroke Castle
Pembroke Castle
Pembroke Castle is a medieval castle in Pembroke, West Wales. Standing beside the River Cleddau, it underwent major restoration work in the early 20th century. The castle was the original seat of the Earldom of Pembroke....
and offensive actions throughout Pembrokeshire. He was appointed governor of Cardigan Castle
Cardigan Castle
Cardigan Castle is a castle located in Cardigan, Ceredigion, Wales.-History:The first motte-and-bailey castle was built a mile away from the present site, probably about the time of the founding of the town by Roger de Montgomery, a Norman baron....
by Laugharne in 1644 as soon as it was captured and successfully defended it against a Royalist attack led by Sir Charles Gerard, 1st Earl of Macclesfield
Charles Gerard, 1st Earl of Macclesfield
Charles Gerard, 1st Earl of Macclesfield PC was an English aristocrat, soldier and courtier.-Life:The eldest son of Sir Charles Gerard, he was a member of an old Lancashire family, his great-grandfather having been Sir Gilbert Gerard of Ince, in that county, one of the most distinguished judges...
.
Rebellion
In 1646 he was governor of Tenby CastleTenby Castle
The ruins of Tenby Castle stand on a headland west of the town of Tenby, Pembrokeshire, Wales. The remaining structure stems from the 13th century but there are mentions of the castle dating back to 1153...
and by 1648 he was deputising for Laugharne when he was called to London and held command of all the forces in West Wales
West Wales
West Wales is the western area of Wales.Some definitions of West Wales include only Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire, an area which historically comprised the Welsh principality of Deheubarth., an area called "South West Wales" in the Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics....
at the time of the order for supernumeraries to lay down their arms. Rice Powell followed John Poyer's lead and resisted this order, making a joint declaration in favour of the Royalist cause.
Apparently the rebels has been assured of Royalist support for their stance and at Carmarthen
Carmarthen
Carmarthen is a community in, and the county town of, Carmarthenshire, Wales. It is sited on the River Towy north of its mouth at Carmarthen Bay. In 2001, the population was 14,648....
Powell's forces met those of Colonel Fleming and Colonel Horton, who attempted to bring Powell's force to battle near Llangathen
Llangathen
Llangathen is a community located in Carmarthenshire, Wales....
resulting in a skirmish during which Fleming in retreat was shot and Horton was forced to withdraw as far as Brecon
Brecon
Brecon is a long-established market town and community in southern Powys, Mid Wales, with a population of 7,901. It was the county town of the historic county of Brecknockshire; although its role as such was eclipsed with the formation of Powys, it remains an important local centre...
to resupply.
Powell now led his forces to seize Swansea
Swansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
, then Neath
Neath
Neath is a town and community situated in the principal area of Neath Port Talbot, Wales, UK with a population of approximately 45,898 in 2001...
before advancing into the Vale of Glamorgan
Vale of Glamorgan
The Vale of Glamorgan is a county borough in Wales; an exceptionally rich agricultural area, it lies in the southern part of Glamorgan, South Wales...
with Royalists rising in support en route, with Cardiff as their aim.
Horton headed south from Brecon rapidly and caught Powell's force camped at St Fagans within view of Cardiff and drew them to battle at what became known as the Battle of St. Fagans
Battle of St. Fagans
The Battle of St. Fagans was a pitched battle in the Second English Civil War in 1648. A detachment from the New Model Army defeated an army of former Parliamentarian soldiers who had rebelled and were now fighting against Parliament.-Background:...
in May 1648. Laugharne returned in time to retake command but was routed by Hortons force in a decisive victory.
Powell fled back to Pembrokeshire and Tenby castle where he was pursued and after a brief siege
Siege
A siege is a military blockade of a city or fortress with the intent of conquering by attrition or assault. The term derives from sedere, Latin for "to sit". Generally speaking, siege warfare is a form of constant, low intensity conflict characterized by one party holding a strong, static...
was persuaded to an unconditional surrender
Unconditional surrender
Unconditional surrender is a surrender without conditions, in which no guarantees are given to the surrendering party. In modern times unconditional surrenders most often include guarantees provided by international law. Announcing that only unconditional surrender is acceptable puts psychological...
after which he was Court Martialed and sentenced to death.
In 1649 he was offered a Pardon and following the Restoration
English Restoration
The Restoration of the English monarchy began in 1660 when the English, Scottish and Irish monarchies were all restored under Charles II after the Interregnum that followed the Wars of the Three Kingdoms...
he was released. He last comes to notice in 1665 appealing to Charles II of England
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
for payment of debts Powell accrued in the Royalist cause. There is no record of his debts being paid.