Lichfield - Siege and Capture 1643
Rupert left Oxford accompanied  by Lord Digby at the end of March to join up with Hastings at Stafford and march on Lichfield.  Rupert left with 1200 horse and dragoons, 700 foot and 6 light cannon.

If Rupert controlled Stafford and Lichfield this would give the Royalists a platform to win over the Midlands and aim for York, so that he could bring the Queen back to Oxford.

Lichfield was not only strategically important but it also had gunpowder factories and brass foundries.
Apr 3 Rupert arrived outside Birmingham. The parliamentary garrison split their forces between the two entrances to the town, and erected obstacles and barricades. They held off the Royalist attack for some time but the burning down of some of the houses enabled the Royalist horse to get into the town. The parliamentary survivors drew back towards Lichfield. Amongst the Royalist casualties was the Earl of Denbigh.
Apr 8 Rupert met up with Hastings at Stafford and their combined force arrived at Lichfield on April 8th.
Rupert called on the garrison, under Colonel Roweswell, to surrender but they had  gathered behind the walls of the cathedral and refused. There was also a wide and deep moat around the walls.

The Royalist cannon were not powerful enough to breach the walls so Rupert decided to undermine them. They also set about building a bridge across the muddy waters of the moat. The garrison ventured out on several occasions to take prisoners and fight the Royalist attackers.

 One of the prisoners taken was Will Legge, the major of Rupert's regiment.
After about a week, the bridge was built and Rupert decided to attack using scaling ladders. This attack failed and the parliamentarian defenders hanged a Royalist soldier from the walls.

Rupert again called on them to surrender but they refused and defiantly rang the cathedral bells.
Apr 20 Barrels of gunpowder placed under the walls were detonated and blew a 20-foot breach. The Royalist cannon then fired through this gap until the Parliamentary forces called for surrender.

Rupert was so impressed by the defending soldiers that he personally congratulated Colonel Roweswell on his conduct.

Rupert appointed Richard Bagot as Governor of Lichfield and then he hurried back to Wallingford to join the King.

 This was the first time in England a mine was used.